2026
TRUCK TECH HIGHLIGHTS FROM 2026 Batteries, safety tech, autonomous trucks by Jeremy Wolfe The Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas this January showcased several products and announcements for carriers. Here are some transportation takeaways from one of the largest tech events in the world.
Clarios launches trailer battery manager G lobal battery company Clarios announced an expansion of its Connected Services Platform: the Trailer Battery Manager, a new feature with the potential to support refrigerated trailers and liftgate operations. The feature is an expansion of the company’s digital solution for monitoring heavy-duty trucks’ low-voltage batteries. It gathers real-time insights into trailer battery health and charge status. The company said that its solution helps operators avoid liftgate failures and is
especially relevant for refrigerated transport. Fleet managers can better ensure that cooling systems run continuously and notice when batteries are nearing the end of their useful service life. The solution requires a regular subscription and a one-time equipment installation fee to get started. The installation adds a sensor and gateway to the batteries, recording and transmitting battery data every few moments, similar to the Clarios IdleLess program announced last April. FO
Cagatay Topcu, VP of connected service for Clarios, describes the battery monitor to industry journalists. Photo: Steve Fecht | Scott Fosgard Communications
A headrest that scans drivers’ brains? O n the show floor, technology company Neumo displayed its contactless sensor that monitors drivers’ brainwaves. The technology could measure driver fatigue, attention, and cognitive load using a relatively small device mounted on the driver’s headrest. Current fleet safety standards rely heavily on dashcams and video telematics to monitor driver behavior. However, video-based fatigue detection only relies on external symptoms. By the time a driver exhibits physical signs of fatigue, they may have already long suffered cognitive impairment. There are also many online complaints from drivers about the false flags that camera systems pose.
The device is effectively a passive radio receiver within a small package. Photo: Jeremy Wolfe | FleetOwner
Neumo’s device uses electroencephalography (EEG), a method of measuring the brain’s changes by the frequencies of its electromagnetic activity, effectively acting as a passive radio receiver. Traditionally, capturing these signals required sensors placed directly against the head; Neumo said its patented technology can measure signals from 12 inches away. Essentially, Neumo’s sensor comprises an antenna array and processing electronics, all within a relatively small, discrete package. The sensor can be installed quickly without major modifications to the vehicle. It is secured to the headrest via straps and connects to the vehicle’s
10 FleetOwner | February 2026
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