The future of IoT in railroads: A revolution in visibility and asset management

In an industry steeped in tradition, railroads are undergoing a technological transformation powered by the Internet of Things (IoT). Marisa Martin, AVP of Sales at Blume Global, recently shared her insights on how IoT is reshaping rail container logistics, providing enhanced visibility and efficiency.

This article explores her perspective, provides a broader outlook on the challenges, benefits, and future of IoT in railroads, and highlights Blume Global’s initiatives in this space.

Watch the video to hear Martin discuss these exciting advancements and see how IoT is revolutionizing rail logistics.

Addressing visibility challenges in railroads

Historically, the railroad industry has struggled with shipment visibility and efficient management.

"In the past, visibility and knowing where my shipment was simply wasn’t possible," Martin explains.

Customers often relied on multiple phone calls and manual updates to track shipments – a process that was both time-consuming and operationally cumbersome.

Railroads operate across vast and often remote regions, where limited infrastructure and legacy systems can make real-time tracking difficult. These challenges have resulted in gaps in timely updates and proactive communication, especially when managing intermodal shipments involving multiple modes of transport, such as rail, truck, and ocean.

Martin asks “So how are we providing the best service possible for our customers? How do we make sure they feel confident and comfortable bringing their cargo on the rails?”

These questions are at the heart of the railroad industry's push towards IoT-enabled solutions.

How IoT is solving visibility and security issues

The rise of IoT has transformed the approach to rail logistics by enabling real-time tracking, operational insights, and better security. Blume Global, part of the WiseTech Global group, has partnered with North American railroads to install IoT devices on their containers, significantly improving the tracking process.

Martin explains that Blume acts as the clearinghouse, ingesting and disseminating IoT sensor to provide real-time insights. This includes information on a container’s location, when it leaves rail yards, its transit status, how long container doors remain open, and more. This data is vital for delivering accurate shipment’s ETAs, improving cargo security, and streamlining downstream truck handoffs.

Key benefits of IoT in railroads

By integrating IoT solutions, railroads can provide more seamless operations and enhanced customer experiences. Below are five key benefits of IoT in railroads:

Real-time location tracking
IoT-enabled devices provide end-to-end visibility through real-time GPS tracking, a leap forward from traditional trackside monitoring systems.

“This ecosystem and connectivity will allow customers to have a much better experience with the railroads,” Martin notes.

Continuous tracking across rail lines and yards means shipments are never out of sight, giving shippers more accurate ETAs and confidence moving their freight by rail.
Improved operational efficiency
IoT enhances shipment management by reducing cycle times and synchronizing supply chain operations. Rail asset owners benefit from greater transparency, which enables more efficient workflows and optimized asset utilization.

By leveraging accurate real-time location data, IoT facilitates the strategic repositioning of railcars and containers, minimizing idle time and ensuring assets are deployed effectively to meet demand. This improved coordination across the network drives better performance and reduces operational bottlenecks.
Enhanced security and monitoring
IoT solutions have the potential to address the growing security challenges faced across the industry.

"Freight security is top of mind," Martin explains. IoT sensors monitor critical conditions such as temperature, humidity, and pressure, detect impacts, and trigger alerts for unauthorized access, helping to prevent theft and ensure cargo safety.
Modal handoff visibility
IoT devices provide accurate data on inbound trains to terminals, ports, and railyards, streamlining modal handoffs. Motor carriers can better plan arrivals and optimize processing times, reducing congestion and delays.
Digital twin technology
With IoT data, rail operators can create digital twins – virtual models of real-world operations. This allows them to simulate different scenarios, optimize workflows, and make informed decisions before implementing changes in the physical environment.

Blume Global’s role in IoT-enabled asset management

Blume Global, with its deep-rooted expertise in North American railroads, is a leader in IoT-driven asset management. Serving as a clearinghouse for IoT data, Blume processes, enriches, and presents actionable insights to improve asset tracking, alerting, and optimization.

Over the past year, Blume has processed more than 275 million IoT events, providing railroads, Intermodal Marketing Companies (IMCs), drivers and shippers with unprecedented insights into container status.

With features like geofencing, historical data analysis, and rule-based alerts, Blume’s tools enable a high level of control and proactive management over IoT-enabled containers. Additionally, its integration with existing Blume visibility solutions enriches data, creating a holistic view of supply chain operations.

The future of IoT in rail

As Martin points out, "Now it’s up to the ecosystem of technology providers and companies like ours to continue embracing this technology."

IoT in railroads is not just about tracking location; it’s about fostering collaboration across the industry to optimize assets and improve service quality. Martin emphasizes the potential of a connected ecosystem where drivers, IMCs, and railroads benefit from shared IoT data.

Looking ahead, the widespread deployment of IoT in rail could lead to AI-driven automation and optimization, as well as advancements in predictive maintenance. By leveraging data insights, railroads can reduce downtime, improve fleet utilization, and ultimately reduce costs. This shift could pave the way for more sustainable and reliable rail operations, strengthening the industry's competitiveness.

With IoT technology, the railroad industry is stepping into a new era of visibility, efficiency, and customer satisfaction. Blume Global, through its IoT initiatives, is helping set a new standard for what’s possible in rail logistics.

As Martin passionately concludes, “It’s all possible. We’re here. We’re here now.”

Want to see IoT in action? Contact us today to learn how Blume Global’s IoT solutions can give you unprecedented visibility and efficiency across your intermodal logistics, or request a detailed demonstration from our solution experts.