The Ruptela protocol (sometimes called Ruptela FMTPv1 · "FM Telematics Protocol v1") is the device-to-server binary format Ruptela GPS trackers use to report data. Ruptela publishes the spec to integrators, which is why third-party servers (Traccar, Flespi, Traxelio) can decode it without needing Ruptela's own TrustTrack platform.
Protocol-at-a-glance
- Transport · TCP (UDP variant exists but TCP is canonical for online fleets)
- Default port ·
5046(Traxelio's ingest port; configurable on the device side) - Encoding · binary AVL records, length-prefixed packets, big-endian
- Auth · IMEI handshake in the first packet; server acknowledges with
0x01 - Compression · supports buffered "extended" records when GPRS reconnects after offline gaps
Why Ruptela hardware ships this protocol
Ruptela's value proposition is deep CAN-bus decoding. The protocol carries:
- Standard FMS fields (fuel level, total fuel used, odometer, engine hours, axle weight, gear position)
- OBD-II PIDs (RPM, throttle, MAF, coolant temp)
- RS232 and RS485 sensor channels (third-party fuel sensors, temperature probes, driver-ID iButton readers)
- Accelerometer + gyroscope events (hard braking, harsh cornering, idle detection)
- Custom digital and analog I/O channels (panic button, ignition cut relay, door open/close)
The 256-channel CAN decoder is the headline feature · most fleet protocols carry 10-20 standard channels and call it a day.
Switching from TrustTrack to Traxelio (no hardware swap)
If your fleet is on TrustTrack (Ruptela's own platform) and you want to move to Traxelio:
- Open Ruptela Configurator (Windows desktop tool, free from Ruptela's documentation portal)
- Connect the device via USB or read over-the-air
- Set the server endpoint: Traxelio's IP + port
5046 - Save and reboot
- Confirm the first decoded position in your Traxelio dashboard
- Cancel TrustTrack at next renewal (do one truck first to validate, then batch the rest)
No re-install, no re-wiring, no IMEI change. The CAN-bus calibration you already did on TrustTrack stays on the device.
Supported Ruptela hardware
Common models speaking this protocol:
- Trace5 series · HCV5 (heavy commercial), LCV5 (light commercial), Smart5 (entry fleet), Pro5 (advanced I/O), Plug5 (OBD-II plug-and-track)
- FM-Eco4 legacy series · FM-Eco4, FM-Pro4, FM-Tco4 (2G/3G workhorses being phased out behind 2G sunsets)
- FM3001 and other current-gen Trace family
Any Ruptela device that lists "FMTPv1" or "Ruptela protocol" in its datasheet speaks this format.