Preventing Raised Component Incidents with the Good to Go Box-Up Alarm

Raised components such as dump bodies, booms, and buckets create one of the most common but preventable risks in municipal and commercial fleets. When a vehicle moves with a raised component, the result can range from equipment damage to serious safety incidents.

In our recent webinar, the DiCAN team introduced the Good to Go Raised Box Alarm, a Canadian-built safety system designed to alert operators before a raised component becomes a serious event.

The system continuously monitors equipment position and provides a clear in-cab warning if a component leaves its safe position. The goal is simple. Give operators immediate awareness and give fleet managers better visibility into potential risks.

Why Raised Component Alerts Matter

Operators often manage multiple tasks at once while working on busy job sites or roads. Traffic conditions, worksite activity, and job demands can make it easy to miss when a dump body or attachment remains raised. Without a warning system, that raised component can quickly become a costly incident.

The Good to Go system addresses this by monitoring the position of extendable components in real time. When a component leaves its safe home position, the system triggers an in-cab visual and audible alert so the operator can correct the issue immediately. For fleets, this helps prevent incidents involving:

• Raised dump bodies striking bridges or overhead infrastructure 

• Equipment damage caused by raised attachments during transport

• Safety risks to operators and surrounding traffic

How the Good to Go System Works

The Good to Go alarm follows a straightforward process designed for reliability in the field.

1. Sensing the component position

   A magnetic switch and magnet detect when a body or attachment leaves its safe position.

2. Warning the operator

   When the system detects movement away from the safe position, it activates a visual and audible alert inside the cab.

3. Reporting the event

   The system can send an output signal to telematics platforms such as Geotab, allowing fleet managers to track box-up events and monitor trends across the fleet. This combination of sensing, warning, and reporting provides both immediate safety alerts and long-term fleet visibility.

Choosing the Right Good to Go Model

The Good to Go platform includes three configurations designed for different fleet needs.

Basic

The Basic model provides a standalone visual and audible alert for a single component. It is ideal for fleets that want a simple and dependable warning system without additional connectivity.

Basic Double

Basic Double adds a second switch and separate outputs, allowing fleets to monitor two components. This makes it a strong option for vehicles with pup trailers or multiple attachments.

Elite

The Elite model introduces additional intelligence through vehicle speed data. The system connects to vehicle CAN data and can escalate warnings if the vehicle exceeds a configured speed while a component is raised.

This model also has a version that allows more advanced configuration through a WiFi application and supports additional inputs such as park brake logic.

Built for Real Fleet Environments

Many raised component detection systems rely on technologies that can become unreliable in harsh environments. Hydraulic pressure switches can be affected by pressure changes, while physical limit switches can wear out or become misaligned.

The Good to Go system uses sealed magnetic reed switches instead. These switches operate without physical contact and are protected within a reinforced housing designed for harsh environments. This design provides several advantages:

• Resistance to vibration and environmental wear
• Reduced mechanical failure points Increased tamper resistance
• Long-term reliability in real fleet conditions
• For municipal and heavy-duty fleets operating in dirt, weather, and vibration, durability is essential

Connecting Safety to Fleet Visibility

Beyond in-cab alerts, the Good to Go system can integrate with telematics platforms to give fleet managers greater insight into equipment usage. When connected to a GPS platform like Geotab, fleets can:

• Receive alerts when a raised component event occurs
• Review timestamps and location data for incidents
• Track trends and exceptions across the fleet
• Use reports to support driver coaching and safety programs
• This transforms the system from a simple warning device into a tool for proactive fleet management

Flexible Applications Across Fleet Equipment

Although commonly used on dump trucks, the Good to Go system can be deployed across a wide range of vehicles and equipment. Common applications include:

• Dump trucks

• Pup trailers

• Roll-off container trucks

• Utility boom trucks

• Vacuum and sewer trucks

• Crane trucks

• Excavator attachments

Using the same safety system across multiple vehicle types helps simplify training, maintenance, and rollout across the fleet.

Audience Q&A Highlights

Here are a few of the questions asked during the webinar.

Q: Is Ontario planning to make raised box alarms mandatory?
There has been discussion about potential requirements in Ontario, but no official mandate has been announced yet. Similar regulations already exist in Quebec, and British Columbia introduced comparable legislation. Fleets often install systems early to stay ahead of potential regulatory changes.

Q: Can the Good to Go system connect to existing GPS or telematics systems like Geotab?
Yes. The system can connect to most telematics platforms that support auxiliary inputs. In many cases the connection only requires a simple 12-volt input, making integration with existing fleet tracking systems straightforward.

Improving Safety Before an Incident Happens

Raised component incidents happen quickly, but they are also highly preventable. By providing operators with a clear warning and giving fleet managers better visibility into equipment use, the Good to Go system helps fleets reduce risk and protect both drivers and infrastructure.

For municipalities and commercial fleets looking to improve safety and compliance, a raised box alarm can be a simple but powerful addition to their fleet safety strategy.

👉 Contact info@dicaninc.com for pricing information, or any additional questions.