Fleet Management News & Business Info | Commercial Carrier Journal
Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/85369
technology in focus: LOW-COST EOBRS Easy access Electronic logging becoming focal point of mobile entry BY AARON HUFF ll of the changes to and litigation over hours of service and electronic onboard recorders have made the transporta- tion industry the Wild West as far as electronic logs go. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration now is working on a new rule with updated technology specifi cations for EOBRs from its Motor Carrier Safety Advisory Committee. As of today, ELDs, EOBRs and computer-assisted logging devices all are accept- A able technology in the eyes of the law. But one thing is certain: Without a mandate, it will be impossible for law enforcement to ensure compliance when FMCSA's fi nal hours-of-service rule takes effect in July 2013. A mandate is all but certain. Meanwhile, technology providers have rolled out a variety of low-cost electronic logging devices that can be implemented quickly. Smartphone logging Internet Truckstop affi liate uDrove has an hours-of-service compliance manage- ment application for BlackBerry, iPhone and Android smartphone platforms. The app costs $25 per month and includes electronic vehicle inspection reports. Fleets can deploy the app without hardware costs since most drivers own smartphones. Scott Moscrip, president of Internet Truckstop, describes uDrove as a computer- assisted logbook; as such, it does not audit drivers' logbook data. Drivers can share their electronic logbook data with law enforcement offi cers, fl eets and other parties directly from their phones through the uDrove Website, fax or e-mail. J.J. Keller's Web-based Encompass fl eet management system combines an onboard computer ($199) with a mobile app for Windows Mobile and Android devices. The app allows drivers to capture logs, vehicle inspections and fuel receipts electronically. The mobile app starts at $3 per month for electronic logs, which does not include the cost of a data plan from a wireless provider. Xata Turnpike includes driver logs, vehicle tracking, vehicle inspection reporting and engine diagnostics and telematics. Turnpike is $35 per month and includes a driver app, tpMobile – which runs in an open software environment on Android, BlackBerry and Windows Mobile platforms – and a device that connects to the vehicle. Data plans are sold separately from wireless providers. Onboard computers All companies that offer all-in-one onboard computing and mobile communica- tions systems have come out with low-cost platforms for fl eets that want to imple- ment EOBR technology. CarrierWeb's CarrierMate 2500 is a 4.3-inch touchscreen device with a list price of $675. Monthly service plans start at $25 per month for electronic logging along with tracking, auto dispatch and compliance alert notifi cations. Qualcomm plans to make its Mobile Computing Platform 50 available this month. The list price is $799, with monthly service plans starting at $19.99. For $24.95, fl eets get electronic logs along with safety, tracking, messaging and driver 42 COMMERCIAL CARRIER JOURNAL | APRIL 2012 Zonar plans to release the 2020, a 7-inch ruggedized Android-based tablet that can be removed from a dock for drivers to perform electronic RFID vehicle inspections. Zonar 2020 also has electronic logs. performance monitoring. Through a lease plan, the MCP 50 can cost $31 per month for both hardware and software. PeopleNet offers an EOBR and compliance bundle for $50 to $60 per month. The bundle includes the onboard computer, display and eDriver Logs application. Customers also can choose the BLU.2 bundle for $65; the platform features a 7-inch touchscreen display with a wide range of applica- tions available as an upgrade. In the fourth quarter, Zonar plans to release the 2020, a 7-inch rugge- dized Android-based tablet that can be removed from a dock for drivers to per- form electronic RFID vehicle inspec- tions. Zonar 2020 also has electronic logs, tracking, messaging and various safety and performance management applications. The tablet will list for less than $500, with monthly service plans maxing out at $40. Rand McNally's TND 760 Fleet Edi- tion combines the company's in-cab navigation with a mobile communica- tions system that includes electronic logs, safety and driver performance applications for less than $800. With a mandate on the horizon, im- plementing electronic logs from scratch not only is affordable; electronic logs also have become the starting point for gaining more value from other fl eet management tools.