Introduction
Motive now lets fleets flag an at-risk Asset Gateway as Missing and for battery-powered Asset Gateway Mini (AG-31) devices, turn on Recovery Mode to get near-real-time location updates while actively recovering a stolen or misplaced asset.
What's New?
- New Missing status: Availability Status now includes a third value, Missing, for Asset Gateways only. This applies to all Asset Gateways; Vehicle Gateway behavior is unchanged.
- New status change entry points: Fleets can change Availability Status from the AG Live Page/Profile, the Assets List in Fleet View, and the Admin 2.0 Asset List, with a confirmation modal shown before any change is applied.
- Color-coded status labels: In Service (gray), Missing (red), and Out of Service (yellow) labels appear on the AG Live Page/Profile, in a banner, on the Assets List, and on the Admin Asset List.
- Recovery Mode for AG-31: A temporary high-frequency location mode exclusive to battery-powered AG Mini (AG-31) devices with Locate My Asset (LMA) enabled while the asset is Missing. While active, Motive requests a location every 15 minutes instead of the default 8-12 hours.
- Two enablement paths: Recovery Mode can be turned on in-flow from the confirmation modal when marking an asset Missing, or afterward from a persistent red banner on the Live View that reads Asset is marked as missing. Enable Recovery Mode to help find your asset faster."
- Choice of end condition: Fleets choose to stop Recovery Mode automatically once a location is found (with a 2-week safety expiration) or run it for a fixed 6, 12, or 24-hour duration.
- Battery impact warning: Selecting a fixed duration triggers a warning that 15-minute reporting accelerates battery consumption; this warning doesn't appear for "stop when location is found."
- Active status visibility: While Recovery Mode is on, the Missing Asset banner turns a more intense red and shows who enabled it, when it started, and the selected end condition (with remaining time for fixed durations). Status also appears on the Assets List and Admin Asset List.
- Dedicated filter option: The Availability Status filter on the Assets List and Admin Asset List includes a "Missing > Recovery Mode" option, which appears only when at least one asset currently has Recovery Mode active.
- Recovery activity logging: Each activation logs start time, stop time, number of location updates received, and the user who enabled or disabled it.
- Important alerts: Fleets get an alert when the asset's location is found (1 alert for "stop when found"; 2 alerts for fixed durations, one on the first location and one when the duration ends). These are flagged Important in the Notification Center and in email.
- Public API support: Changing Availability status to Missing and enabling Recovery Mode are two separate API calls; Missing is also supported in the bulk-edit import template and the PUT /assets endpoint.
How does this help our customers?
- Faster theft recovery: Instead of waiting up to 12 hours for the next scheduled ping, fleets get near-real-time location during an active recovery effort, helping close the visibility gap left when a Vehicle Gateway or driver's phone goes dark.
- Discreet, wire-free flagging: Because Recovery Mode runs on hidden, wire-free Asset Gateways, fleets can flag and track an at-risk asset without tipping off anyone tampering with the vehicle.
- Clear distinction from maintenance status: A dedicated Missing status means an at-risk or stolen asset is no longer conflated with a routine Out of Service state.
- Informed battery tradeoffs: Built-in battery warnings and a choice of end condition let fleets balance faster recovery against battery life.
- Full visibility into recovery efforts: Activity logging and status visibility on the Assets List, Admin Asset List, and Live banner keep teams informed of who started Recovery Mode, when, and its current state.
Rollout Plan or Feature Go-Live date?
Feature Launch Date: 09/15/2026
Note: Recovery Mode requires a battery-powered Asset Gateway Mini (AG-31) with Locate My Asset enabled. The Missing status itself works on all Asset Gateways. No new permission or setting is needed; any user with the "manage vehicles" or "manage assets" permission can set Missing and enable Recovery Mode. On the Driver App, an Asset Gateway in Missing status cannot be used to start an inspection. Older Driver App versions that predate Missing status support is downcast to In Service or Out of Service, gated by an app version check. |
FAQs
What's the difference between the Missing status and Recovery Mode?
Missing is an Availability Status value available on all Asset Gateways, used to flag a lost, stolen, or at-risk asset. Recovery Mode is a separate, optional high-frequency location mode that can only be enabled on a battery-powered AG-31 with LMA enabled while the asset is Missing.
Which devices support Recovery Mode?
Only battery-powered Asset Gateway Mini (AG-31) devices with Locate My Asset enabled. When those conditions aren't met, the Recovery Mode option is hidden.
How often does the location update in Recovery Mode?
Every 15 minutes, the floor is set by the Locate My Asset endpoint's 15-minute cooldown.
How long does Recovery Mode stay on?
Until the asset's location is found (with a 2-week safety expiration), or for a fixed 6, 12, or 24 hours. It can also be stopped manually and turns off automatically if the asset's status changes away from Missing.
Does Recovery Mode drain the battery?
Yes. 15-minute polling accelerates battery consumption, and the device battery should be replaced once the asset is recovered.
Does it work if the vehicle has no signal or is in a jamming area?
No. Location depends on cellular coverage and a GPS fix; if the device is unreachable or jammed, Motive cannot retrieve a location.
Do I need a new permission or setting?
No. Any user with the manage vehicles or manage assets permission can set Missing status and enable Recovery Mode.
Can this be controlled via the public API?
Yes. Status change and Recovery Mode toggle are separate endpoints (two calls), and enabling Recovery Mode via API also sets the asset to Missing.
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