Grote Industries has expanded its 4See Smart Trailer System capabilities with a wired rear-view trailer camera from Stoneridge.

The rear-view trailer camera is connected through the standard J560 7-way connector, meaning no additional front-to-rear wiring is required. It enables real-time video directly from the back of the trailer to a video display in the cab. With the ability to seamlessly integrate into Stoneridge’s entire suite of vision systems, including MirrorEye CMS, drivers will have a greater field of view of the side and rear of the tractor-trailer.

“The need for backup video has been recognized in the industry for years, but nobody has been able to deliver it into the cab effectively in real time – until now,” said Dominic Grote, CEO and president of Grote Industries in a press release.

The 4See technology allows Grote to link with proximity radar systems to alert drivers using bi-color marker lights on the front of the trailer and on the app in the cab, quickly informing them of dangers like obstacles and vehicles in the path of a backing truck or in blind spots when changing lanes.

“Backup video and blind spot radar specific to the trailer have been areas lacking in the trucking industry, even as this technology is becoming standard in the passenger car market,” Grote officials said. “The work Grote and our partners, like Stoneridge, are doing is giving fleet operators even more control over safety and security while also providing insights to help improve efficiency and cost savings.”

When Grote announced 4See in September of 2022, the mission was to evolve its trailer electrical wiring and LED lighting systems into a digital network with technological advances focused on enhancing safety in the smart trailer industry. Grote’s 4See Smart Trailer System connects all modules on the trailer via the 4See Digital Harness, enabling a robust hardwired connection to all smart components on a trailer. All component data is then transmitted to a single connection point – the 4See nose box – which can then communicate directly to the driver or the 4SEE data cloud, or to a telematics provider. The full system is backward compatible, and ready for the future of smart trailer systems, officials said.

“Since 4See’s announcement, several major fleets have committed and completed installations of the 4SeeSmart Trailer System, and we have now completed over 1 million miles since we began testing," company officials said. "Through this testing, we continue to see just how paramount it is for fleet operators to have this data and technology. This critical safety system can make a difference in the trucking industry and help save lives.”

Our 4SEE technology has received a Top 20 Products award from @HDTrucking, honoring the best new or significantly improved products of 2022. HDT stopped by our booth earlier today at #TMCAnnual23 to present the Grote team with the award. #4SEESafetypic.twitter.com/yT9MGOUWET

— Grote Industries (@GroteIndustries) February 28, 2023

For the first time since its launch, Grote showcased its 4See Smart Trailer System during TMC’s 2023 Annual Meeting in Orlando, Florida.

“When people think of Grote, they tend to think of us in terms of lighting systems,” Kent Bode, Grote vice president of sales and marketing, told HDT during an in-both preview of the new systems at TMC. “But the reality is that we’re already in every nook and cranny of the trailer. So adding telematics and camera systems to our architecture just makes and comes really natural to us.”