RFID Tracking for Transportation and Logistics: What’s Working

Efficient transportation and logistics systems rely on accurate, real-time information. From tracking freight in transit to managing fleet movements and ensuring on-time deliveries, data plays a critical role in every supply chain link. One technology that continues to support these operations across sectors is RFID (Radio Frequency Identification).

While RFID isn’t new, its role in modern transportation and logistics is becoming more defined. As companies look for reliable methods to track goods, monitor equipment, and streamline operations, RFID tracking for transportation and logistics offers a balance of automation, scalability, and data accuracy.

This article explores where RFID is used effectively in logistics, what’s working well, and how businesses apply it in practical, measurable ways.

Understanding RFID in Logistics

RFID uses radio waves to identify and track tags attached to objects automatically. These tags can be passive (powered by a reader) or active (with an internal power source). RFID readers scan these tags without needing line-of-sight, enabling bulk reads, faster processing, and less manual handling.

In logistics, RFID can track:

• Pallets and containers
• Returnable transport items (RTIs)
• Fleet equipment and tools
• Shipments and freight in transit
• Employee check-ins and vehicle access
• Proof-of-delivery events
• Warehouse inventory

When integrated with transportation management systems (TMS) or enterprise resource planning (ERP), RFID provides real-time insights that support planning, tracking, and compliance.

What’s Working: Effective Use Cases

1. Real-Time Visibility of In-Transit Shipments

RFID tags on shipments can be read at checkpoints, such as distribution centers, loading docks, gates, and delivery bays. This gives logistics teams updates on the following:

• Departure and arrival times
• Routing through distribution hubs
• Missed or delayed transfers
• Unauthorized diversions

Unlike barcode scans, RFID tags do not require direct scanning and can be read even when packages are sealed or stacked.

How it helps: Reduces reliance on manual scanning, improves delivery tracking, and gives more visibility into exceptions or delays.

2. Tracking Returnable Transport Items (RTIs)

Returnable items like pallets, crates, and totes represent significant costs when not tracked properly. RFID tags can be applied to these assets to monitor:

• Movements between facilities
• Loss or misplacement
• Usage frequency
• Location and status

How it helps: Increases RTI recovery rates, reduces asset shrinkage, and improves accountability in closed-loop supply chains.

3. Dock Door and Yard Management

RFID gates installed at dock doors or facility exits can scan shipments as they move through loading and unloading zones. This supports:

• Automated check-in/check-out
• Shipment verification against orders
• Yard location mapping for trailers or containers

In yards or distribution centers, tagged trailers can be located more quickly—saving time and improving scheduling accuracy.

How it helps: Speeds up gate operations and reduces trailer search times.

4. Cold Chain Monitoring

RFID with built-in sensors can provide real-time monitoring for temperature-sensitive shipments—such as pharmaceuticals, food, and chemicals. RFID-enabled temperature loggers can transmit data on:

• Ambient temperature
• Handling conditions
• Time outside acceptable ranges

This data supports compliance with regulations and customer requirements when paired with alerts and audit logs.

How it helps: Provides documentation for quality assurance and regulatory compliance in cold chain logistics.

5. Equipment and Fleet Asset Tracking

RFID tags on tools, forklifts, vehicles, and heavy equipment support better resource allocation and loss prevention. These tags can be read as:

• At facility entrances and exits
• When equipment is checked out
• When maintenance is required

How it helps: Reduces time spent searching for shared assets, supports preventive maintenance, and tracks usage patterns.

6. Cross-docking and Sortation

RFID improves cross-docking speed and accuracy by identifying real-time shipments and directing them to the right outbound lanes. In sortation centers, RFID reduces the risk of manual errors.

How it helps: Reduces misroutes and increases throughput during peak volumes.

Integration with Existing Systems

RFID tracking for transportation and logistics must work with the systems already in place to be effective. This typically includes:

• Warehouse management systems (WMS)
• Transportation management systems (TMS)
• Yard management platforms
• ERP software

By feeding RFID data into these platforms, logistics teams can:

• Generate real-time reports
• Trigger alerts for delays or exceptions
• Compare actual vs expected shipment paths
• Support billing and proof-of-delivery workflows

Platforms like Sonaria, developed by Lowry Solutions, help centralize this information across multiple facilities and devices, making it easier to use RFID data in daily operations.

RFID Tags and Hardware Options

Different use cases require different RFID technologies. Selection depends on factors like tag placement, environment, read range, and durability.

In addition to tags, systems may require:

• Fixed RFID readers (for dock doors, gates, conveyor systems)
• Handheld RFID scanners (for mobile reading and inventory)
• Antennas and readers on forklifts or mobile carts

Lowry Solutions helps configure RFID systems with the right hardware combination for each facility’s environment and operational flow.

Considerations Before Implementation

RFID is not a plug-and-play solution. Planning is essential to ensure success. Logistics teams should evaluate the following:

• Tag placement: Will the RFID tags be readable in stacked, metal, or liquid environments?
• Read zones: Where should fixed readers be installed for optimal data capture?
• Integration: How will RFID data flow into your existing logistics platforms?
• Data structure: Are EPCs, SKUs, and shipment IDs aligned with existing databases?
• Testing and calibration: How will you verify system accuracy before full rollout?

Lowry Solutions provides on-site evaluation, system design, testing, and training to support RFID adoption in transportation and logistics.

Benefits Observed Across Deployments

While results depend on use case and implementation quality, several benefits have been reported consistently:

In multi-node supply chains, RFID provides a shared language for tracking—bridging data gaps between facilities, vendors, and carriers.

Conclusion

RFID tracking for transportation and logistics offers a structured way to capture and use real-time data—whether for shipments, assets, equipment, or inventory. From automated yard check-ins to cold chain monitoring and RTI tracking, RFID applications are expanding across the supply chain.

Success with RFID depends on careful planning, proper tag selection, and integration with business systems. When designed with specific workflows in mind, RFID becomes more than just a tracking tool—it becomes a part of how logistics runs daily. Lowry Solutions designs and deploys RFID systems for transportation, warehousing, and fleet management.