Geotab IOX-NFCREADERA: What It Does, Specs and Uses

What Is the IOX-NFCREADERA?

The IOX-NFCREADERA is a near field communication reader that plugs into the IOX expansion port on a Geotab GO device. A driver taps a small NFC fob or sticker against the reader at the start of a shift, and the GO device records that driver against the vehicle. From that moment, trips, exceptions and reports in MyGeotab carry a person's name instead of just a unit number.

The reader also plays a part in Geotab Keyless. On fleets using that service, an authorized user can tap an NFC tag at the windshield mounted reader to lock or unlock the vehicle doors.

The IOX-NFCREADERA as a plain schematic: the housing drivers tap, its status light, the lead and connector that reach the GO device, the relay socket, the dash bracket and both tag styles.

What Does the IOX-NFCREADERA Do?

Driver identification. Each tag is assigned to a driver in MyGeotab, so rules, reports and events can be filtered by person as well as by vehicle.
Follows the driver between vehicles. Because the record is tied to the tag, a driver's history stays with that driver when they move from one truck to another.
Authorized Driver List. With a custom parameter applied to the GO device, the system accepts only tags belonging to drivers on an approved list, managed through the Geotab API.
Sign-in reminder. MyGeotab can tell the GO device to beep when the vehicle is moving without a driver logged in, with an adjustable time limit.
Optional relay control. With the separately sold driver ID relay kit, a circuit stays inactive until a valid tag is read, and the GO device beeps steadily until then.
Keyless door access. On supported GO devices with Geotab Keyless, a tag read through the windshield can lock and unlock the doors.

What Do Fleets Use the IOX-NFCREADERA For?

Pool vehicles and shared trucks. When several people drive the same van across shifts, speeding and harsh braking events are meaningless without a name. A tap at startup settles who was driving.
Driver scorecards and coaching. Safety programs need per-driver data. Service and delivery fleets use the reader so coaching conversations are based on that person's own record.
Municipal and government motor pools. Departments that check vehicles out to staff can show which employee had a unit on a given day.
Rental, car share and keyless fleets. Operators using Geotab Keyless can hand out access through tags rather than physical keys.
Restricting who can operate equipment. The Authorized Driver List, combined with the relay kit, lets a fleet limit a vehicle to trained or approved drivers.

How the reader sits in a cab: low on the windshield glass for keyless door access, or screwed to the dash for driver ID, with the lead run behind trim to the GO device.

What Are the IOX-NFCREADERA's Key Specifications?

Spec	Detail
Operating frequency	13.56 MHz
Input voltage	12 V / 24 V nominal
Current draw	100 mA operating; 1.1 mA sleep
Read distance	About 19 mm for the sticker, 11 mm for the fob, 30 mm for the Keyless tag through glass
Relay control	Ground switch, via 2-pin Molex socket
Overall length	1300 mm
Antenna size	63 x 49 x 16.5 mm
Weight	148 g
Housing	Black moisture-resistant thermoplastic overmold
Operating temperature	-40 °C to +85 °C
Compatibility	Driver ID: GO7 and newer. Keyless: GO9 and newer
Accessories	GEO-NFCFOBBLUA fob, GEO-NFCSTKBLUA sticker, SPR-NFCBRKTV2ASY windshield bracket, SPR-RELAYKIT relay kit

What Should Installers Know About the IOX-NFCREADERA?

The reader plugs into the GO device through the 90 degree USB connector and is held with a zip tie that should be snug, not crushed. For driver ID, Geotab's documentation calls for the dash bracket to be screwed down; the adhesive only holds it while you position it. The windshield bracket uses dual-lock tape on glass cleaned with alcohol. For Keyless, the reader goes low on the windshield, the cable runs behind the A-pillar trim without sharp bends, and nothing can sit in the path of an airbag. The relay option has to be enabled in MyGeotab before the IOX goes in, and the relay kit itself is a professional install. If other IOX modules share the chain, only the last one keeps its termination shunt. After power up, a valid tag should give two green flashes and a beep, and we confirm the unit through Geotab's install verification site before we leave.

Who Is the IOX-NFCREADERA Right For, and Who Should Choose Something Else?

This reader fits any fleet where more than one person drives the same vehicle, or where per-driver safety data matters. It is also the hardware behind Geotab Keyless door access. A fleet where every truck has one permanent driver may get by assigning drivers in MyGeotab without a reader. Fleets still running the older IOX-HID reader should know the two are not compatible. If the real goal is in-cab coaching rather than identification, look at audio add-ons such as the IOX-GOTALK, which can work alongside it.

What Are Common Questions About the IOX-NFCREADERA?

Can drivers just leave their fob in the cupholder?

They can try, but the read range is short, around 11 mm for the fob, so the tag has to be tapped against the reader on purpose. Geotab also advises keeping tags away from wireless phone chargers, which can interfere with the reader.

Will the vehicle refuse to start without a tag?

Not by default. The reader identifies drivers; it does not control anything on its own. The SPR-RELAYKIT adds relay control, and it needs to be configured in MyGeotab and installed by a professional.

Can we limit a truck to certain drivers?

Yes. The Authorized Driver List, enabled with a GO device parameter, makes the system accept only tags assigned to approved drivers. We can supply and install the reader, tags and brackets together.

When a fleet is ready to put names on its trips, API Signal supplies the IOX-NFCREADERA, the tags and the brackets, and our technicians install everything on site at your yard. Call 803-513-1009 or use Get a Quote to schedule the work.

Sources: Geotab IOX-NFCREADERA support document; Geotab guide to IOX add-ons. GEOTAB is a registered trademark of Geotab Inc. API Signal is an independent installer and is not Geotab.

Every Geotab Product →Trackers, cameras, asset trackers and IOX add-ons. Get a Quote →The IOX-NFCREADERA supplied and installed on one written quote.

Geotab IOX-NFCREADERA