Fleet Management News & Business Info | Commercial Carrier Journal
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/538378
COMMERCIAL CARRIER JOURNAL | JULY 2015 47 COVER STORY: THE INTERNET OF TRANSPORTATION THINGS T he "Internet of Things" has a different meaning depending on one's vantage point. As a consumer, the "things" could be phones, fitness trackers, smart cloth- ing, cars, home appliances and other devices that share a common network and Internet connection. As a fleet owner, manager or driver, the "things" could be electronic logs, video event recorders, collision warning systems, electronic control modules, vehicle sensors and other devices con- nected to a vehicle's network or mobile computing platform. In the consumer world, thousands of devices and applications are compatible straight from the box with the iTunes App Store or Google Play. The same is not true for the majority of trucking technology. Today, a collision warning system cannot be integrated with a telematics system at the push of a button, like pairing a Fitbit with a smartphone. But the trends are moving in that direction. For starters, technology companies are finding new ways to get fleets upgraded to their latest "things." Heniff Transpor- tation Systems recently outfitted its fleet with SkyBitz's new trailer tracking system through a monthly subscription service that includes the provider's Falcon series hardware, integration with back-office software, onboarding support and real-time reporting and analysis tools. Heniff is using SkyBitz in "a lot of different ways," says Justin Neal, director of business integration for the Oak Brook, Ill.-based company. Heniff offers a portal for customers to see real-time load status; the estimated time of arrival for each load is displayed next to a visual "stoplight" that turns green if a load will be on time, or red if it is running late. As for compatibility between various devices and applications, the Internet of Transportation Things is taking shape as more companies convert to consum- er-style platforms such as Android. This makes it easier for fleets to bring on new apps that integrate more easily with others in the vehicle and back office. In some cases, in-cab computers have become mobile hotspots that connect various devices, sensors and third-party systems to the Internet through a single gateway. The vehicle network For years, trucks have been equipped with a built-in controlled area network (CAN) that its various systems and com- ponents use to share information with other connected systems on the vehicle. The information shared in this network uses a standard format or protocol called J1939 for heavy-duty trucks and OBD-II for light-duty vehicles. Aftermarket devices such as onboard scales and tire pressure sensors also can connect to the vehicle network through a wired connection to send and receive information. Mobile communication platforms can plug into this network to The Internet of Things takes hold in trucking BY AARON HUFF You can optimize for fuel economy in certain conditions. A lot of those things are in the works today. – Rich Glasmann, VP of OEM strategy, sales and marketing, Omnitracs