Fleet Management News & Business Info | Commercial Carrier Journal
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/725427
42 commercial carrier journal | september 2016 technology Staying connected All it takes is a tap to communicate with fleets, brokers BY AARON HUFF M any drivers today use smart- phones to stay connected with the information technol- ogy systems of both motor carriers and freight brokers, in or out of the cab. Many cloud-based apps in the Google Play and Apple App stores make it pos- sible for motor carriers and brokers to mobilize their IT systems and automate routine transactions and communications with drivers, from tracking shipments to providing a single sign-on experience for everything related to their jobs. Companion apps Some fleets use mobile driver apps as a companion to an existing in-cab mobile computing platform. PeopleNet's Con- nected Driver app is free to fleets that already use the company's platform. While outside the cab, a driver can use it to see the number of miles he has com- pleted on his current load, his current miles per gallon and the time remaining on his hours-of-service duty cycle. PeopleNet is bringing other partners to the app to exchange data and expand its functionality, says Randy Boyles, senior vice presi- dent of mobility. Automating the shipment lifecycle A shipment track- ing features allows owner-operators and drivers at smaller fleets to share their loca- tions with motor carriers and freight brokers, eliminating routine "check calls." Rather than visit websites to locate information coming from mobile driver apps, carriers and brokers would prefer to conduct business within their native trans- portation management software systems. To sidestep the costs and time of inte- grating its mobile app with TMS systems, software developer uFollowit created TMS Glue. The service uses web robot technology to enter shipment locations, images of delivery documents and other information captured by uFollowit's mo- bile app into TMS systems automatically. TMS Glue logs into a TMS system and updates the appropriate data fields. Brokers also can use the app to send PDF documents to owner-operators for rate confirmations. Drivers can touch and sign the document. The company is planning another paperless feature for bills of lading called Mobile Trucker Exchange to eliminate the possibility of the wrong driver pick- ing up a load, says Danny Dever, uFol- lowit's vice president of sales. When creating a BOL, a shipper would send electronic credentials to a specific carrier or broker, who in turn would give credentials to the driver to receive the BOL via the uFollowit app. Only the driver assigned to the load would have the BOL to present to the shipper or consignee through his mobile device. Deeper TMS integration Many TMS developers have developed their own apps and platforms that sup- port a variety of third-party apps to send and receive information from drivers. Carrier Logistics' Facts dispatch and accounting software for motor carri- ers supports a mobile workflow. Facts integrates with third-party apps to receive document images and electronic signatures to eliminate paper. Image capture always has been a mainstay of Pegasus TransTech's Transflo Mobile+ app. Subsequent updates have included a number of integrated TMS and trip-planning features for drivers. One option allows fleets to identify approved fuel locations on a driver's route, highlighted with color-coded pins. Another trip-planning tool gives drivers one-click access to a satellite map view of a trailer's location. Drivers also can use the app to access corporate or third-party websites. When drivers click on a Settlement tab, they can view payroll and human resources information such as driver training. By clicking a Feedback tab, drivers can view their performance information for fuel efficiency, safety and other areas through a real-time interface with telemat- ics and other external applications, says Peter Rhode, Pegasus TransTech's director of professional services. in focus: MOBILE DRIVER APPS PeopleNet's Connected Driver app gives drivers a view of their current dispatch status. Carrier Logistics integrates with proof-of- delivery apps such as this one from Acordex.