iGurt: BPW makes cargo restraints intelligent

• Efficient and safe transport thanks to the BPW iGurt
  
• Continual monitoring of the cargo restraint system, including during travel
  
• Savings through extensive documentation

Wiehl, 06/09/2018 --- Transport damages caused by poorly-secured freight are routine in the transport business; serious accidents and damages to the load frequently occur due to rolling and tipping truck trailers. BPW is now tackling one of the main causes with intelligent cargo restraints: the iGurt checks and documents the tension of the lashing strap and promises massive savings.

The Association of German Insurers (GDV) settles transport damages totaling 1.2 billion euro every year. The majority are due to insufficient or even missing cargo restraints. More than 70 percent of the examined vehicles are contested by the regulatory bodies due to missing cargo restraints. High penalties with costly and time-consuming restraining and reloading work are the result, as well as high insurance costs. The lack of cargo restraints is estimated to be the cause of accident for approximately 20 to 25 percent of traffic accidents in heavy-load traffic. BPW wants to contribute towards hugely reducing damage claims with intelligent cargo restraints and not only reduce the costs, but also the accident risk: The new “iGurt” from BPW is a smart restraint system, which displays the correct preload force of the lashing strap and continually monitors it during travel.

The handy device can easily be fastened to the lashing strap, making the one-off set-up on the vehicle's lashing straps a quick process. All of the devices in use show the respective preload force on their housing and also send the data to the driver’s smartphone via bluetooth. If one of the lashing straps becomes loose, the iGurt system smartphone app immediately sounds an alarm. An excessive preload force, which might damage a susceptible load, is also displayed.

The sturdy, shockproof iGurt housing is designed for long-term use on the trailer. The battery charge lasts for around one year, while the battery itself can be replaced quickly and easily.

The iGurt smartphone app also provides for full documentation of the correct cargo restraints throughout the entire transport process. This means that sensitive and valuable transports can be transported more reliably and securely. Even a 10% reduction in damages for a medium-sized freight forwarder means that the system will already have paid for itself. It results in lower personnel costs for processing damages claims and reduces the insurance costs considerably. An additional aspect is the reduced risk of accident.

Alongside being displayed on the driver’s smartphone or tablet, the iGurt system data will be able to be processed in future using the open-system Cargofleet 3 telematics platform from idem telematics.

The iGurt system will be demonstrated for the first time at the "IAA Commercial Vehicles" fair (20 – 27 September in Hanover) on the BPW exhibition stand (hall 26, stand C31). Torsten Schubert, Head of Mechatronics: “BPW systematically gauges the possibilities of trailer digitalisation in order to increase safety, transparency and cost-efficiency in transport. The iGurt system has been developed in close cooperation with freight forwarders and successfully tested in practice.”

You can watch and download our high-res Video here or on our YouTube channel, BPW TV.