Secure access to trailer connectors

A method of using an apparatus to provide secure access to at least one compressed-air connector of a trailer, the apparatus comprising a magnetic or mechanical locking device, a controller, and a cover configured to be secured to the trailer and to cover the at least one compressed-air connector of the trailer, the trailer configured to be towed by a vehicle and the at least one compressed-air connector configured to couple with at least one compressed-air system of the vehicle, the cover having an open position in which the at least one compressed-air connector is accessible to form a connection with the at least one compressed-air system of the vehicle and a closed position in which the at least one compressed-air connector of the trailer is inaccessible, the method comprising:

• receiving an authorization;
• and
• causing, by the controller, and based on the authorization, the magnetic or mechanical locking device to change from a first state to a second state, wherein the first state of the magnetic or mechanical locking device is configured to hold the cover in the closed position so the at least one compressed-air connector of the trailer is inaccessible, and the second state of the magnetic or mechanical locking device is configured to permit the cover to move from the closed position to the open position so the at least one compressed-air connector of the trailer is accessible to form a connection with the at least one compressed-air system of the vehicle.

A system for providing secure access to trailers, the system comprising:

• a communication device;
• a storage device storing:
• driver information on a plurality of drivers,
• trailer information on a plurality of trailers, the trailer information comprising, for each trailer of the plurality of trailers, information on an apparatus associated with the respective trailer and covering at least one compressed-air connector of the respective trailer, each apparatus comprising:
• a magnetic or mechanical locking device and wireless communication capability, and
• a schedule of times at which drivers of the plurality of drivers are authorized to access trailers of the plurality of trailers;
• at least one processor;
• and
• at least one memory storing instructions which, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to, without human intervention:
• receive, via the communication device, a communication from an electronic device of a driver, the communication comprising authentication information for the driver;
• identify, based on the driver information, a particular driver identified by the authentication information for the driver;
• and
• based on determining that the particular driver is authorized to access a particular trailer based on the schedule, communicate, via the communication device, at least one of:
• an authorization to the respective apparatus of the particular trailer, the authorization configured to unlock the magnetic or mechanical locking device of the respective apparatus and provide the particular driver with access to the at least one compressed-air connector of the particular trailer to form a connection with at least one compressed-air system of a vehicle, or
• an authorized code to the electronic device of the driver, the authorized code configured to be input by the driver to a code input device of the respective apparatus of the particular trailer.