Fleet Management News & Business Info | Commercial Carrier Journal
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/538378
36 COMMERCIAL CARRIER JOURNAL | JULY 2015 technology L ongtime competitors PeopleNet and Cadec initially met last fall to discuss an acquisition. A few years ago, PeopleNet was in a similar situation when its private equity owners were looking to sell the company at the end of the investment cycle. PeopleNet found a buyer in Trimble and closed the deal in Au- gust 2011. When evaluating Cadec, Brian McLaughlin, president of PeopleNet, saw a well-managed company that was "stuck a little in terms of needing that next lever of growth," he said. At the time of its first meeting with Cadec, PeopleNet already had a number of high-priority projects in play, such as adding video capture to its fleet mobility platform and working on new OEM partnerships. After these projects settled down, talks resumed about three months ago, and PeopleNet officially acquired Cadec on May 26. Cadec will operate as a PeopleNet business and be reported as part of Trimble's Mobile Solutions segment. Cadec will continue to focus on a specific although large segment of the transportation in- dustry: foodservice and private fleets. Cadec offers its cloud-based PowerVue fleet management system tailored to the key require- ments of its markets. PeopleNet's Mobile Gateway enables its fleet management soft- ware to run on various devices such as Android. Going forward, the strategy is to leverage PeopleNet's Mobile Gateway and hardware with Cadec's software to expand in its fleet market segment. Cadec Global has a long history in fleet management technology. Founded in 1976, it was the first onboard computing and mobile communications provider to develop certified automated driver logs with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, the first to interface with engine control modules and GPS, and the first to have a graphical touchscreen. Together, the PeopleNet and Cadec organization will employ nearly 500 professionals. Cadec will continue to operate out of its office in Manchester, N.H. – Aaron Huff PeopleNet acquires Cadec to expand foodservice, private fleet presence Cadec, following its acquisition by PeopleNet, will continue to focus on a specific although large segment of the transportation industry: foodservice and private fleets. A ljex Software introduced Automated Rate Confirmation, a module designed to streamline the key elements of daily carrier-broker interchange for rate confirmation and dispatch. Aljex provides Internet-based transportation management soft- ware for brokers, carriers and third-party logistics providers. ARC, available to Aljex software users, is an email from broker to carrier that contains links within a virtual self-dispatching document that updates automatically. To begin, the broker sends the carrier an ARC email that includes the essential instructions the carrier needs to accept the shipment, but none of the broker's competitive information. The ARC email shows cities and states, but no details such as the shipper's name and street address. To accept the shipment, the carrier clicks on a link in the ARC email. That link enables the carrier to sign the rate confirmation electronically. The carrier's signature is a legally binding e-signa- ture through Aljex partner Sertifi. – Aaron Huff F irst Advantage Fleet Solutions, a technology-based fleet service provider specializing in driver compli- ance, fleet legalization, GPS telematics and risk man- agement, released DOT Direct, an online employment application and screening product designed for private and for-hire fleets. Fleets can connect drivers to the DOT Direct portal through the job openings listed on their own websites or third-party job boards, and they also can email a link to any candidate. Fleet hiring managers then can col- lect, sort and share applications that are omission-free and U.S. Department of Transportation-compliant. DOT Direct's online application is coupled with First Advantage's driver qualification and background screening capabilities. – Aaron Huff Aljex develops automated rate module for brokers, carriers First Advantage creates DOT Direct for online driver applications, screening