Multiple vehicle allocation is only needed when tracking the tractor (the pulling unit). When tracking the trailer, it typically travels from the first to the last location without requiring any "tractor switches."

A single transport may involve multiple tracked vehicles.

This typically occurs when one tractor carries the trailer from a loading stop to a switch location (such as a cross-dock, warehouse, or 3PL site), and then a second tractor takes over to deliver it to the unloading stop:

Tractor A collects the goods at the loading point and delivers the trailer to a switch location. Tractor B hooks to the trailer there and continues to the unloading site.

A transport can involve any number of vehicles. The sequence of allocations determines the switching order. Routes can include multiple intermediate stops with various combinations of loading and unloading points. We will use the example above to demonstrate this behavior for the various switch types below.

Visibility offers different types for switching between tractors. You can select the type from the dropdown menu when adding multiple vehicles for allocation:

Different tractor switch types can be selected in the drop down menu

This option allows you to plan the tractors involved in transport ahead of time.

Visibility will automatically detect when and where to switch from one tractor to the next.

The next vehicle begins tracking after meeting the previous vehicle at the same location. This handoff is time-flexible—the first vehicle can drop the trailer at a specific location and leave, while the second tractor can pick it up later.

Example: Tractor A brings the trailer to a switch location and departs. When Tractor B later arrives at the switch location and connects to the trailer, the system automatically switches tracking from Tractor A to Tractor B.

In addition to auto-detection, you can set a deadline for when the tracking should switch from the previous tractor to the current one. This serves as a backup if auto-detect fails due to missing or infrequent GPS updates.

Example: If Tractor B is scheduled to take over the trailer from Tractor A by 3 PM tomorrow, you can set this time as a fallback deadline:

Adding the latest date and time to the switch enables tracking of the next tractor even after an unsuccessful auto-detection.

When Tractor B is allocated alongside an existing Tractor A allocation, Visibility immediately switches the tracking to Tractor B.

As a result, Tractor A's tracking stops and Tractor B's tracking begins.

The allocator must therefore make this allocation precisely when they want the tracking to switch from Tractor A to Tractor B.

This option allows you to plan the tractors involved in the transport in advance.

You'll need to specify the date and time when Visibility should switch from one tractor to another. Unlike the Auto-switch option, this method requires the allocator to know the exact timing of the switch.

Example:

Tractor A is the first vehicle to be tracked.

Tractor B should then be tracked from 10:30 AM on April 9 onwards.

Multiple vehicle allocation methods for transport are available, which are described in detail here. Please review this resource if you're unfamiliar with these options or uncertain which one best suits your needs.

Below, we'll explain how each option handles the allocation of multiple vehicles when the tractor (pulling unit) changes during transit.