Fleet Management News & Business Info | Commercial Carrier Journal
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/466315
COMMERCIAL CARRIER JOURNAL | FEBRUARY 2015 35 set of services, including flatbed, oversized and spe- cialty. The McDonough, Ga.-based company also has a "Driveaway" service for one-way equipment moves. Early last year, Ben- nett wanted to extend electronic logs and other fleet management ap- plications to an Android platform it had created for drivers to replace its hard-mount in-cab system. The company had created custom apps for drivers to submit paperwork, find loads and stay connected to the fleet to improve ef- ficiency, increase safety and save fuel. "The main thing is we wanted to get a mobile computer in drivers' hands," says Tim Hadden, chief information officer. "That is very important for us. We put as much technology in drivers' hands as possible." Another requirement was staying connected with vehicles independent of the tablet. Bennett found such a system in Rand McNally's HD-100, a small wallet- sized device that plugs into the vehicle's diagnostics port. The HD-100 can be installed by drivers in less than 15 minutes and is synchro- nized via Wi-Fi with Bennett's Android tablets to provide immediate communica- tions, including electronic logs. Bennett has integrated Rand McNally's apps with its transportation and safety management systems through Web services. The company has deployed about 300 HD-100 systems in the last six months and plans to continue until its entire 2,600-truck fleet is equipped. Bennett allows drivers to use their own devices and gives them a monthly credit; about 10 percent of drivers use this option. "We feel like we have the best technology for owner- operators inside the truck," Hadden says. AARON HUFF is Senior Editor of Commercial Carrier Journal. E-mail ahuff@ccjmagazine.com or call (801) 754-4296. INTERESTED IN TRUCKING TECHNOLOGY? Scan the barcode or go to www.goo.gl/Ph9JK to subscribe to the CCJ Technology Weekly e-mail newsletter. When looking to make the transition to electronic logs, Nashville, Tenn.-based Diamond Coach Leasing decided to implement BigRoad's ELD app fleetwide. McDonough, Ga.-based Bennett International Group se- lected Rand McNally's HD-100, a device that plugs into the vehicle's diagnostics port, for its 2,600 owner-operators. P eopleNet, a provider of fleet mobility technology, last month announced four new business lines to serve the specific needs of its customers: Trucking, Energy Services, Video Intelligence and Channels/ OEMs. Trucking, the largest division, will be led by Mark Kessler as general manager. Kessler and his team will serve PeopleNet's 2,500 fleet customers and focus on new products and services. PeopleNet said the division will focus on delivering more KPIs and analytics to help fleets build a competitive advantage. Other divisional GMs will be named soon. – Aaron Huff P egasus TransTech announced the new Transflo Mobile+ 1.2 upgrade for the company's mobile application. The upgrade – available for free download on the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store for the Android platform – is designed to let carri- ers create custom workflows for drivers to capture and index photos for various uses. The app also includes customizable pickup-and-delivery status for the loads sec- tion, allowing drivers to provide a comment or reason for declining a load. The Web portal also has been enhanced for faster response time and to provide the driver's last known location. – Aaron Huff PeopleNet creates four new business divisions Pegasus TransTech delivers custom workflow to app PeopleNet said its new Trucking division will focus on delivering more KPIs and analytics. Pegasus TransTech's upgrade for its Transflo Mobile+ 1.2 mobile app lets carriers create custom pro- cesses and workflows for drivers.