Wabash recently debuted a cargo assurance solution that transforms the trailer itself into a secure, connected system designed to prevent cargo theft rather than simply document losses after they occur. The announcement at Manifest 2026 is a major step in the trailer manufacturer’s push to transform traditional trailers into what it calls “platform trailers” capable of delivering end-to-end cargo assurance. AI , integrates a physical locking mechanism inside the trailer with a mobile application that creates a digital seal and provisions cargo access throughout transit.
6 billion annually. “The industry can no longer afford to rely on disconnected cargo security tools that lack true access control and don’t verify who is touching the freight,” said Brett Suma, managing director at Wabash. ” The technology stack addresses what Suma described as a fundamental gap in traditional cargo security.
Disposable seals and passive tracking devices offer limited protection and little control. The Wabash solution creates multiple secure points of contact at the cargo door, enabling encrypted communication, in-transit monitoring and proactive intervention. “The trailer essentially becomes an extension of the shipper’s warehouse while it’s in transit,” Suma said.
” The system requires rigorous driver verification before freight ever moves. Drivers upload their commercial driver’s license, use phone biometrics to access the application and complete verification linking them to their carrier. The platform then captures tractor license plates, verifies the vehicle identification number against the carrier’s Department of Transportation number and confirms insurance coverage.
“We’re verifying not only the driver, we’re verifying the tractor, we’re verifying the insurance, we’re verifying the carrier, we’re doing an association record between that driver and that carrier,” Suma said. ” The platform replaces traditional wrap-around seals with a fully digital system that logs the “who, what, where, when and why” of every cargo access event. Shippers can configure access permissions to allow drivers entry once they reach a geofenced receiver location, trigger automatic access at specific coordinates or require the consignee to physically authorize door opening through the application.
The solution also targets “strategic” or orchestrated cargo theft, where legitimate drivers are unknowingly used in fraud schemes because of broken information chains. By validating driver identity and carrier relationships and connecting those checks to physical access at the cargo door, customers can reduce uncertainty at handoffs. Real-time alerts notify stakeholders of unauthorized breaches or changes in cargo status.
The system monitors continuity between the driver’s phone and trailer telematics — if they separate, alerts fire immediately. A mounted camera system uses computer vision to count every pallet entering and exiting the trailer while assessing cargo condition, enabling automated digital bills of lading along with damage attribution and subrogation packet generation. Wabash has integrated the platform with Highway for carrier verification and is working on integration with GenLogs for additional tracking continuity.
The company has partnered with Orderful for electronic data interchange (EDI) and trading partner connectivity, allowing communication with any transportation management system (TMS). The hardware runs on tractor power with battery backup and optional solar redundancy. While Wabash will offer factory-installed technology on new trailers beginning in 2027, the system can be retrofitted on any trailer brand.
“We already have more than 2,000 drivers who have downloaded the application and are using it for chain-of-custody records,” Suma said.
