IoT in Logistics

IoT (Internet of Things) in logistics refers to the network of physical sensors and connected devices that capture real-time data as freight moves through the supply chain. GPS trackers report location. Temperature sensors monitor cold chain integrity. ELD (electronic logging device) units record driver hours and vehicle telemetry. Door sensors confirm trailer open/close events. Humidity, shock, and light sensors verify handling conditions for sensitive cargo. All of this data feeds into logistics platforms to provide visibility that goes beyond "where is the truck" to "what is happening to my freight."

For temperature-controlled supply chains – frozen food, fresh produce, pharmaceuticals – IoT is especially critical. A GPS ping tells you the truck is moving. A temperature sensor tells you whether the reefer unit is holding setpoint or drifting toward a spoilage event. The combination of location and condition data enables proactive intervention: if a sensor flags a temperature excursion mid-transit, the logistics team can act before product is compromised rather than discovering the problem at delivery.

The challenge with IoT in freight has always been data integration. Sensors generate massive volumes of data, but that data is only useful if it flows into the systems where decisions are made – the TMS, the exception management workflow, the customer notification engine. A temperature alert buried in a separate sensor portal doesn't help the logistics coordinator who's managing 50 active shipments in their TMS dashboard. The platforms that get IoT right don't just accept device data – they contextualize it within shipment records, trigger alerts based on configurable thresholds, and make it part of the same workflow the team already uses.