CCJ

July 2018

Fleet Management News & Business Info | Commercial Carrier Journal

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commercial carrier journal | july 2018 39 technology McLeod Software adds features, blockchain for 'smart contracts' M cLeod Soware announced the addition of new capabili- ties and functionality to its LoadMaster and PowerBroker enterprise management systems used by motor carriers and transportation logistics providers. e company also announced a new blockchain product that enables its customers to structure, validate and test their smart contract interaction with permis- sioned blockchain distributed ledgers. e blockchain product, FlowLogix Smart Contracts, employs vi- sual logic and workflow design, along with built-in simulation testing, to help designers and business process owners "get it right the first time," the company said. With the new product, users can build logic, data mapping, format- ting, business triggers and application programming interfaces for blockchain frameworks and automated communications mecha- nisms. e product will be used by McLeod customers to support standards being developed by the Blockchain in Transport Alliance for smart contract-driven distributed ledgers. e latest Version 18.1 of McLeod's LoadMaster and PowerBroker systems have a new role-based user interface that presents operational teams and users with a more "comprehensive and concise view" for managing current freight activity, the company said. Among the updates: • PowerBroker has a new interface for McLeod customers who participate in the Transportation Intermediaries Association's 3PL Market Report survey. e interface au- tomates the transfer and receipt of survey data and has preconfigured metrics used by TIA to compile monthly data for its quarterly report. • A new integration with the Fleet Tracker application from AT&T Fleet Complete imports tractor and trailer positions into LoadMaster every few minutes, giving dispatchers the ability to track the actual route and near real-time location of assets and loads within LoadMaster. • PowerBroker now integrates with Truckstop.com's LoadPay for faster, more accurate carrier settlement processing. Carriers are notified of receiving their settlement payments through Truckstop. com's LoadPay system, and they can use the PayMeNow feature to receive quicker settlement payments. As payments are processed with LoadPay, PowerBroker will be updated to reconcile settlement post- ing properly. • PowerBroker now supports the Trucker Tools Smart Capaci- ty FTP Interface to send all available movement information to Smart Capacity in an expanded order format from a traditional load board. – Aaron Huff ALK's PC Miler adds app for driver trip planning A LK Technologies, a provider of transpor- tation technology and mobility systems, launched MileOn by PC Miler, a trip-planning driver app powered by the company's PC Miler routing, mileage and mapping soware. e app is designed to provide drivers a tool for trip plan- ning, scheduling mandated breaks and choosing rest stops. "Although dispatchers and planners have been utilizing PC Miler for years to generate routes, miles and reports, this technology hasn't been available for drivers to use until now," said Bill Maddox, vice president of PC Miler. "MileOn by PC Miler is taking some of these tools from the back office and putting them into the hands of drivers to give them more control over how they plan their trips." MileOn by PC Miler takes a driver's available hours of service, schedule and trip to generate route-specific rest stop suggestions. Drivers will have the choice to stop at different truck stops and rest areas based on location, available hours and amenities such as showers. Once drivers select their desired stop, MileOn by PC Miler will update the trip plan. "Not only will this help drivers maximize HOS, but it can also improve overall customer service by helping them to achieve delivery windows," Maddox said. e app is designed to help drivers plan breaks at preferred rest stops along the way. It also includes integrated real-time traffic and weather alerts up to 48 hours in advance to help keep driv- ers informed of traffic and constantly changing road and weather conditions that may impact trip planning. "If you're going to head into a thunderstorm or a blizzard somewhere on your trip, we're going to tell you where that's going to be so you can plan better," said Maddox. "A driver can choose to route around the area or even take a rest break in advance of the inclement weather." e app is available to Android users in both free and paid versions. e paid version includes additional features such as sophisticated HOS planning. – Aaron Huff The McLeod Anywhere mobile application for LoadMaster and PowerBroker has new capabilities for managing transactions when out of the office.

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