Explainer
Telematics Devices for Plant and Site Equipment, Explained
Updated 29 September 2026 · 6 min read
A telematics device is a small unit fitted to a machine or asset that works out where it is, reads data from its sensors and inputs, and sends that information over a network. This explainer covers what is inside one, what telematics sensors and inputs it can read, and how to choose between manufacturer-fitted and retrofit devices for plant, site equipment and remote assets.
What a telematics device is (and is not)
In this context, a telematics device is a monitoring unit for commercial equipment: excavators, dumpers, generators, lighting towers, CCTV towers, pumps, battery systems and similar assets. It is not the insurance black box fitted to a private car to score driving behaviour, although both use similar location and cellular technology.
The job of the device is to turn an asset that can only be checked in person into one that reports its own condition. It might send a position every few minutes while moving, a battery reading every quarter of an hour, and an immediate message when an alarm is triggered.
The main components inside
Most devices share the same basic building blocks, whatever the brand. What varies is the number and type of inputs, the connectivity options and how rugged the enclosure is.
| Component | What it does |
|---|---|
| GNSS receiver | Works out position using satellite systems such as GPS, Galileo, GLONASS and BeiDou |
| Cellular modem | Sends data over the mobile network, typically 4G LTE, LTE-M or NB-IoT |
| Wired interfaces | Connect to the asset's own electronics, such as CAN bus, RS485 or Ethernet |
| Digital and analogue inputs (GPIO) | Read simple signals such as ignition on, door open or a float switch |
| Internal sensors | Accelerometers for movement and tilt, and sometimes temperature |
| Power supply | Runs from the asset's battery, often 12V or 24V, sometimes with a backup battery |
| Processor and firmware | Decides what to read, how often, and when to send an alert |
Telematics sensors and inputs
A device on its own knows little beyond location and movement. The useful detail comes from what it is connected to. Telematics sensors can be built into the unit, fitted separately, or already present on the equipment and read through a data connection.
- CAN bus: the network used by most engines and machine control units, carrying data such as engine hours, RPM, fuel use and fault codes. J1939 is a common standard on diesel engines.
- RS485 and Modbus: common on controllers, meters, inverters and battery management systems.
- GPIO: simple on/off or voltage inputs for things like ignition, alarm contacts and pump running signals.
- External sensors: fuel level probes, temperature probes, water level sensors and similar.
- Built-in motion sensors: detect tilt, knocks and unexpected movement.
What data it sends
The data falls into a few groups. Location data covers position, speed and geofence entry or exit. Usage data covers running hours, idle time and duty cycles. Health data covers battery voltage, fuel, temperatures and fault codes. Event data covers alarms, tilt, movement out of hours and loss of power.
Devices usually send routine readings on a schedule and events immediately. How often they report is a trade-off between detail, data cost and power use, which matters most on assets without a permanent power supply. Data is typically sent to a cloud platform using protocols such as MQTT, and from there it can feed dashboards, alerts or your own systems through an API.
OEM-fitted vs retrofit devices
Many new machines come with telematics fitted by the manufacturer (OEM). These have direct access to the machine's systems and are well suited to brand-specific data. The drawback is that each manufacturer has its own portal, and older machines or non-plant assets are not covered.
Retrofit or aftermarket devices are fitted after purchase. They can go on almost any asset, including generators, towers and pumps, and can report into a single platform regardless of brand. The trade-off is that they only see what they are wired to, so installation matters.
| Factor | OEM-fitted | Retrofit / aftermarket |
|---|---|---|
| Asset coverage | That manufacturer's newer machines | Any asset with power and a suitable input |
| Data depth | Deep machine-specific data | Depends on connections made at install |
| Portals | One per manufacturer | One platform across brands |
| Older equipment | Often not covered | Can usually be added |
How to choose a telematics device
Start with the assets and the questions you want answered, then work back to the device. A generator in a compound, a CCTV tower on a remote site and a battery system in a welfare unit have different needs.
- Inputs: does it have the interfaces your equipment uses, such as CAN bus, RS485, Modbus, GPIO or Ethernet?
- Connectivity: does it support the networks available where the asset will be, including LTE-M or NB-IoT for weaker coverage?
- Power: can it run from the asset's supply, such as 12V, without draining it?
- Location: does it use multiple satellite systems for a reliable position?
- Data access: can you get your data out over MQTT or an API, with authentication and encryption?
- Platform: will it report into one view alongside your other assets?
Where Neo 2 fits
TrackSyte's Neo 2 gateway is an example of a retrofit device designed for mixed site equipment. It has Ethernet, RS485, Modbus, CAN bus and GPIO inputs, runs from a 12V supply, includes Bluetooth, LTE, LTE-M and NB-IoT cellular, and full-constellation GNSS as standard. It works with Victron equipment, smart lithium battery management systems and the Victron Smart Shunt, and sends data over MQTT or API using authentication, TLS and certificates into the TrackSyte Portal.
FAQs
Is a telematics device the same as a GPS tracker?
A basic GPS tracker only reports location. A telematics device also reads data from the asset, such as engine hours, battery voltage, fuel or alarms, and can raise alerts based on it.
Can I fit a telematics device to older plant?
Usually, yes. Retrofit devices can read simple signals like ignition through GPIO even on older machines, and many engines of the last couple of decades expose data over CAN bus.
Do telematics devices drain the asset battery?
They draw some power, so good devices reduce reporting and enter low-power modes when the asset is idle. It is worth checking this for assets that sit unused for long periods.
What are telematics sensors?
They are the inputs that give a device its data: built-in motion sensors, external probes such as fuel or temperature, and the equipment's own electronics read over CAN bus, RS485 or Modbus.
Find the right device for your assets
Talk to TrackSyte about which gateway suits your plant, site power and remote equipment, and see the data it would send into the portal.