Fleet Management News & Business Info | Commercial Carrier Journal
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/284466
56 COMMERCIAL CARRIER JOURNAL | APRIL 2014 TECHNOLOGY: NEXT-GENERATION FLEET MOBILITY Rand McNally's HD 100 allows drivers to connect the navigation device to the fleet office for integrated mes- saging, work- flow and HOS information. THE CONNECTED VEHICLE Much of the innovation for mobile connectivity can be found in new vehicle designs. Manufacturers are building connected vehicles to make driving a better experience. The concept of a connected vehicle is be- ing applied on three fronts: connectivity to personal devices, to other vehicles and to infrastructure. Mobile fleet management applications from com- panies such as Drivewyze and systems from providers such as PeopleNet, as well as those from heavy-duty truck manufacturers, are geared toward the same goal of creating a central in-vehicle communications hub that expands connectivity beyond the cab. J.J. Keller & Associates offers the Compliance Tablet, a 7-inch Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 preloaded with J.J. Keller Mobile applications. To help drivers overcome resistance to uDrove's all-mobile e-log platform, some fleets are giving drivers a tablet that includes Skype and a Netflix subscription. XRS' all-mobile platform offers DVIR, HOS and GPS capabilities used by fleets for seamless workflow while providing drivers with consumer apps. BRING YOUR OWN DEVICE Companies such as uDrove, Rand McNally, J.J. Keller & Associates and XRS now provide mobile fleet management systems that are hardware-agnostic, meaning their software is cloud-based and compatible with devices that fleets and drivers purchase from a variety of suppliers. Some fleets use technology that allows them to deploy their mission-criti- cal applications, such as electronic logging, on devices that drivers already own. Consumer devices that use the Android or Apple oper- ating systems cost less than industrial-strength devices and are easier to replace to stay current with technology trends and user preferences. They also are fully capable of running applications for electronic logging, proof of delivery and integrated driver messaging. Drivewyze PreClear's weigh station bypass application has nation- wide Weigh Station Heads Up notifications and a bypass service subscription option. Predictive analytics from PeopleNet's Vusion division will become more integrated with the daily flow of information to its Precision Mobility Platform.