Patent ID: 8862313

Claim:
A vehicle, which is configured to tow a trailer carrying a load, the vehicle comprising: a control computer for the vehicle, the control computer configured to control an operation of the vehicle; a processor operatively coupled to the control computer unit via a bus; a memory device coupled to the processor and storing program instructions, which when executed by the processor, cause the processor to provide load information to the control computer, the load information provided to the control computer causing the operation of the vehicle to change; a communications device coupled to the processor, the communications device receiving load information from a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag reader and providing said load information to the processor, the RFID tag reader being configured to obtain information from a RFID tag attached to a load carried by a trailer that is towed by the vehicle, wherein the control computer is configured to adapt operation of the tow vehicle, responsive to the load information received from the communications device, in at least one way selected from: limiting engine speed; adjusting transmission shift points; adjusting anti-lock brakes; and adjusting vehicle stability control.