Plano-based Geoforce, a leader in asset tracking solutions for physically demanding industries, has been awarded the U.S. Army Transportation Command (ARTRANS) Rail Car In-Transit Visibility contract via its wholly owned subsidiary,  AssetLink Global. The competitive multi-year contract—first deployed last December—provides tracking and remote monitoring for Department of Defense-owned rail cars using advanced capabilities including load and impact detection sensors.

The award follows Geoforce’s January acquisition of Phoenix-based AssetLink Global, a pioneer in secure satellite- and cellular-enabled asset tracking and sensor integration. The combined company brings together Geoforce’s cloud-based software platform and industrial-grade hardware with AssetLink’s “deep expertise” in sensor applications and satellite communications, Geoforce said.

The combination has created “one of the most comprehensive IoT solutions available for field-centric industries including rail, defense, maritime, cold chain, and oil and gas,” Geoforce added.

Beyond the U.S. Army contract, Geoforce’s and AssetLink’s rail car monitoring technologies have also seen recent deployments by “one of North America’s largest railcar manufacturing, leasing, and management companies” and by “a major global industrial minerals company,” Geoforce said, using a variety of the companies’ trackers, impact monitors, temperature, door entry, and other sensors. 

Geoforce said all these deployments position it to serve a larger share of the rail market through its unique combination of “secure hardened communications, intelligent sensor integration, and defense-grade reliability.”

Geoforce CEO James MacLean III [Composite image; source: LinkedIn/DI Studio]

Geoforce CEO James MacLean III called the Army contract ” a strong validation of our increasing focus on the rail sector.”

“As we integrate AssetLink’s secure communications and sensor expertise with Geoforce’s industrial platform,” he added in a statement, “we’re delivering solutions that meet the highest standards of security and reliability—exactly what defense and rail customers require.” 

David Goldstein, SVP and GM of Geoforce AssetLink, said his company has supported military and defense operations for years, noting that “this contract reflects the trust our customers place in our team and our technology.”

“Our unification with Geoforce is still relatively new, but it is already delivering results—combining AssetLink’s hardware and sensor capabilities with Geoforce’s expertise in rugged industrial markets to provide greater value across all of the industries we serve,” Goldstein added.

Tracking over 300,000 assets in 100-plus countries

Geoforce said it combines a cloud-based software platform with ruggedized GPS tracking devices to bring control to “even the most remote field operations.” The company enables more than 2,000 customers to track over 300,000 assets in more than 100 countries, Geoforce added. The Plano company also operates a research and development office in Bozeman, Montana, and sales and support offices throughout the U.S. and in Brazil, Australia, and Canada. 

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