If you have assets without electrical power — trailers, containers, construction machinery, mobile generators — and you need to know where they are and be alerted if they move without permission, the TAT240 is the Teltonika device that makes most sense. It is magnetic, carries a 5-year battery, is IP68 sealed and sends an immediate alert on motion. Details below.
What the TAT240 is
The Teltonika TAT240 is an asset tracker: a self-contained GPS with its own battery, no wiring to the asset required. It has built-in magnets in the housing, so it sticks directly to any metal surface — trailer chassis, shipping container, machinery, generator, transport case. Installation in 10 seconds: stick and release.
The classic use case: you have 40 construction trailers parked across different sites. Tomorrow a new client arrives and you need to locate the closest one. Today one of them is moved without permission and you need to know immediately, not the day after. The TAT240 covers both cases.
Specs that matter
| Feature | Value |
|---|---|
| Connectivity | 4G LTE Cat M1 + NB-IoT + 2G GSM fallback |
| GNSS | GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, BeiDou (multi-constellation) |
| Internal battery | Up to 5 years in sleep mode + motion alert |
| Sealing | IP68 (full dust protection + submersible 1m, 30 min) |
| Mounting | Integrated magnetic (3 neodymium magnets) |
| Internal sensors | 3-axis accelerometer, internal light sensor, temperature sensor |
| Size | 78 × 57 × 22 mm — fits in the palm of your hand |
| Weight | ~85 g |
| Operating modes | Hibernation, deep-sleep, wake-on-motion, periodic update |
How the battery works (the million-dollar question)
The TAT240 lasts years because it does not send data continuously. It runs in one of several modes depending on how you configure it:
- Sleep mode + wake-on-motion (recommended for anti-theft): the device stays in deep-sleep drawing microamps. The 3-axis accelerometer wakes it as soon as motion is detected. Wake, GPS fix, 4G network attach and alert dispatch take 30-60 seconds. Battery life: 5 years with occasional triggering. For a trailer that sits at a site but moves 1-2 times a month, this is the ideal mode.
- Periodic update mode: the device wakes every N hours, sends position, goes back to sleep. With one daily transmission, battery: ~3 years. With one every 6 hours: ~18 months. For inventory tracking where you want to know the location daily but not in real time.
- Continuous tracking mode: 1-minute transmissions. Only recommended while the asset is moving (transport). Battery: 7-14 days continuous. Use occasionally, not as the default mode.
The battery is internally replaceable (you swap the cell pack and reuse the housing). In practice, you stick the TAT240 on the asset and forget about it for years.
Real use cases
1. Trailer and container anti-theft
Setup: deep-sleep + wake-on-motion + geofence around the trailer's usual location. As soon as the trailer leaves the geofence — or the TAT240 detects motion via accelerometer without an authorised exit — it sends an alert to your platform (Wialon, Traccar, Fletaro) and to your phone via SMS/push.
Real example: a joinery company in Seville has 12 trailers parked at its yard. Each trailer carries a TAT240 stuck to the chassis. One night one is taken; the device detects engine start-up (vibration from the tractor unit) and sends the alert. The Guardia Civil arrives with real-time location: recovery in 2 hours.
2. Rental machinery inventory tracking
Setup: periodic update every 12 hours. The platform shows where each unit is. When a client returns the machine, the last ping confirms it is where it should be. If a machine has not moved for 3 weeks but the contract says it should be on site, an "asset idle during working hours" alert fires.
Real case: generator rental company in Madrid. They have 60 generators rotating across sites. The TAT240 cuts losses from "I don't know where it is" from 5% per year to ~0.5%.
3. Shipping containers at a logistics hub
Setup: sleep mode + door-opening alert (using the light sensor). The TAT240 sticks inside the container. When the door is opened, outside light enters and triggers the alert. Combined with the port geofence, you immediately know if someone opens a container outside the authorised area.
4. Stored vehicles (renting / leasing)
Setup: daily periodic update. You know what stock you have and where, without sending someone to count. If a car disappears from the lot, you find out the same day.
Comparison: TAT240 vs alternatives
| Need | Best option | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Tracking an asset without power, magnetic, anti-theft | TAT240 | Integrated magnets, IP68, 5-year battery, motion alert. Designed for this. |
| Tracking an asset in extreme environment (steam, high pressure, marine) | FTC880 | IP69K (not IP68), battery up to 7 years. Not magnetic, screwed or stuck on, but withstands steam cleaning. |
| Tracking a vehicle with 12V/24V power | FMC920 or FMC130 | Wired to the vehicle, no standalone battery. More real-time data, better for usage tracking. |
| Anti-theft for bikes / e-motorbikes (small, light) | TAT240 (works if there is metal to magnetise to) | Fits in a basket or carrier bag. Not the most discreet but it works. |
Minimum configuration for anti-theft to work
If you buy a TAT240 today and want it operational tomorrow as anti-theft, this is the flow:
- SIM: any nano-SIM with M2M or standard data plan. Recommended: M2M with EU roaming if assets may cross borders. Operator APN.
- Platform: Traccar (self-hosted, free), Wialon (cloud, ~2-5€/month/device), Fletaro (cloud, native Teltonika integration), or any platform that accepts Codec 8/8E.
- Initial configuration: via USB cable or FOTA using Teltonika's tool. Enable deep-sleep + wake-on-motion + geofence. Configure APN and server.
- Magnetise to the asset: stick in a hidden metal area of the asset (underside of the trailer chassis, inside a technical compartment, etc.). The less visible, the better the anti-theft.
- Test the alert: move the asset a few metres and verify the notification arrives. Adjust accelerometer sensitivity if there are false positives (vehicles passing nearby, wind moving the trailer).
Total setup time: ~30-45 minutes per device if you have never configured a Teltonika; ~10 min once you have the first one running.
When NOT to buy the TAT240
- If you need continuous real-time tracking (1-minute transmissions all day). The battery drains in 1-2 weeks and the use case does not match.
- If the asset has its own power. For that use a wired tracker (FMC920 / FMC130 / FMC150) which has lower latency and does not run out of battery.
- If you need extremely precise geofencing (radius <50m). The TAT240 deep-sleeps between readings, so alert latency can be 30-90 seconds. For metre-level alerts, use a permanently powered device.
- If the asset will sit in places without cellular coverage (inside a metal ship hull, underground, double-walled closed container). The TAT240 needs 4G or 2G to send the alert. In those cases it works for location when signal returns, but not for immediate alerts.
Summary
The TAT240 covers the case "I need to know where an asset is, get an alert if it moves, and forget about the device for years" with no wiring, no installation, no maintenance.
Cost per device is low compared to the value of what it protects: a trailer is worth 4,000-15,000€; losing one costs more than 200 TAT240s. If you have 10+ assets of this type, the maths works on its own.
We carry it in permanent stock in Spain, shipping in 3-5 working days with VAT invoice and the official 24-month Teltonika warranty.
If you have a specific case (how many assets, what type, expected movement) and want a recommended configuration, send us a WhatsApp at +34 630 88 28 19 with the details. We reply with the specific setup (operating mode, frequency, alerts) that best fits.
