Cargo loss prevention system and methods of use thereof

A lost cargo prevention system for a trailer having a first sidewall, a second sidewall, a floor, and a ceiling defining an open end of the trailer, the system comprising:

• a first rail mounted along the first sidewall, the first rail being mounted adjacent to the open end of the trailer;
• a second rail mounted along the second sidewall, the second rail being mounted adjacent to the open end of the trailer, the second rail being opposite the first rail;
• a compartment below the first rail, the second rail, and the floor of the trailer;
• a cargo impeding member movable between a retracted position and a deployed position operatively engaged with the first rail and the second rail, the cargo impeding member having a first peripheral portion and a second peripheral portion, the first peripheral portion being suspended between the first rail and the second rail and the second peripheral portion being fixed to the compartment;
• and
• a processor controlling the movement of the cargo impeding member, the processor in communication with one or more sensors detecting whether cargo in the trailer is secured;
• wherein when the cargo is secured, the cargo impeding member is in the retracted position and the cargo impeding member is stored in the compartment;
• and
• wherein when the cargo is unsecured, the cargo impeding member is moved into the deployed position and the first peripheral portion of the cargo impeding member is proximal to the ceiling of the trailer and the cargo impeding member covers at least a portion of the open end of the trailer.

A method for operating an autonomous vehicle with a trailer to prevent loss of cargo from the trailer, the method comprising:

• detecting cargo in the trailer is unsecured;
• beginning to deploy a lost cargo prevention system installed in the trailer, the trailer having a first sidewall, a second sidewall, a floor, and a ceiling defining an open end of the trailer, the lost cargo prevention system comprising:
• a first rail mounted along the first sidewall, the first rail being mounted adjacent to the open end of the trailer;
• a second rail mounted along the second sidewall, the second rail being mounted adjacent to the open end of the trailer, the second rail being opposite the first rail;
• and
• a cargo impeding member movable between a retracted position and a deployed position operatively engaged with the first rail and the second rail, the cargo impeding member having a first peripheral portion and a second peripheral portion opposite the first peripheral portion, the first peripheral portion and the second peripheral portion being suspended between the first rail and the second rail, at least a portion of the first peripheral portion is fixed to the first rail and the second rail adjacent to the ceiling of the trailer;
• wherein when the cargo impeding member is in the retracted position the second peripheral portion of the cargo impeding member is proximal to the ceiling of the trailer;
• wherein when the cargo impeding member is in the deployed position the second peripheral portion of the cargo impeding member is proximal to the floor of the trailer and the cargo impeding member covers the open end of the trailer;
• implementing one or more driving behavior changes to the autonomous vehicle;
• and
• finishing deployment of the lost cargo prevention system.