Fleet Management News & Business Info | Commercial Carrier Journal
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/599511
52 commercial carrier journal | november 2015 technology I t was once common practice for motor carriers to pur- chase standalone software systems for shops to track ve- hicle maintenance schedules, repair activities and costs. Any communications that took place between the office and shop was done in person or by exchanging e-mails or files. The current lineup of asset maintenance management systems operate much differently, as they come with ready- made integrations to expedite the flow of real-time informa- tion to achieve greater efficiencies and cost savings. An early sign of the growing demand for deeper integra- tion between the maintenance bay and the office was TMW Systems' acquisition of TMT Software in 2007. Since then, TMW has built a number of standard integrations between its TMT Fleet Maintenance product and its transportation management software platforms that include TMW Suite, TruckMate and Innovative. Preventive maintenance notifications now automatically appear in load-planning screens. When updating unit and driver data in one system, the other system also automatically updates. Status also is shared instantly; when a repair order is opened in TMT, the status changes in the TMS to "In Shop." One advantage of sharing master files is that maintenance costs can be reported by the driver or operator of an asset. When accessories such as mobile communication devices, chains, straps, tarps, binders, load locks, bulk hoses and fittings are assigned to an asset in the TMT system, this is made visible in the TMS to use as a requirement for load assignments. Planning ahead Another point of integration is with telematics systems that capture mileages, diagnostic trouble codes and more to update information and trigger pending repairs on assets. Dossier Systems has developed a close integration between its fleet maintenance software and McLeod Software's Load- Master Enterprise platform. Odometer readings from telematics devices flow through LME and automatically update Dossier software to schedule preventive maintenance work on time, says Bob Hausler, vice president of marketing and technology for Dossier Systems. When Dossier determines that a PM is due, it notifies LME. When a unit is in the shop, Dossier pushes status up- dates to the dispatch and planning screens to reflect that the asset is unavailable. When maintenance is complete, LME shows the truck is ready to go back into service. Drivers also can send form messages from their in-cab devices to report issues and request repairs. The message au- tomatically creates a work-pending order in Dossier without the need to double-enter the data. The Dossier-LME Integration also includes financial transactions for maintenance activity, inventory and parts and services purchasing. "The interface is designed such that each system performs the functions that are appropriate and efficient, and then applicable data is transferred," Hausler says. One-stop information shop One thing that fleet maintenance software does not do is supply repair information. Rather than have technicians spend time searching online and trying to keep information up to date, Mitchell 1 supplies updated repair information, labor estimating and diagnostic trouble code procedures for all makes of medium- and heavy-duty trucks in one place. Its Web-based TruckSeries suite integrates with a number of asset management systems to provide convenient access to repair information by make, model and year of vehicle, says Scott DeGiorgio, general manager. If technicians can't find the information they need, the software allows users to ask questions or call a helpline to have a certified technician on staff provide the necessary repair information in person, DeGiorgio says. Since the software is online, Mitchell 1 knows what techni- cians are seeking and can create shortcuts to common repair items based on search volume. The company has more than 20,000 users of the TruckSeries software, he says. Closer ties Software providers look for ways to keep information flowing between shops, assets and the office by aaron huff in focus: MAINTENANCE SOFTWARE TMW Systems has built a number of standard integrations be- tween its TMT Fleet Maintenance product and its transportation management software platforms.