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Descartes Pushes Dual-Source Tracking to Close Visibility Gaps

The logistics industry is expanding freight visibility beyond basic location data. Descartes advocates for a two-pronged tracking approach combining electronic logging devices with driver-facing mobile applications.

Traditional ELD-only systems have created blind spots in shipment tracking, according to Andrew Wimer, Associate General Manager of Transportation Management at Descartes. The company's MacroPoint ELD+ platform simultaneously monitors ELD data and driver app submissions on the same load, eliminating the need for brokers to select a single data source.

Driver engagement through mobile apps enables real-time shipment validation, proof-of-delivery uploads, and dock arrival confirmations that would otherwise require manual dispatch communication. Wimer said integrating millions of reliable drivers into the tracking workflow creates a more robust data set and accelerates cash collection cycles. The dual-source model maintains continuity even when individual data streams experience connectivity interruptions.