Fleet Management News & Business Info | Commercial Carrier Journal
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MAKING THE LATEST TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENTS WORK FOR YOUR FLEET INTERESTED IN TRUCKING TECHNOLOGY? Go to www.goo.gl/Ph9JK to subscribe to the CCJ Technology Weekly e-mail newsletter. BY AARON HUFF INBRIEF • Transportation Costing Group, a provider of activity-based costing and profitability management systems, released Version 13 We can share information as colleagues rather than as partners. of its Cost Information System for less-thantruckload operations. Upgrades include an interface with ALK's PC Miler Tolls and enhancements to the Database Viewer display. – David Wangler, president, TMW Systems • GPS Insight added hours of service to its with ALK's PC Miler data platform for operational planning and billing activities that use mileage and routing. Now the companies will be able to have more coordination and collaboration. "We can share information as colleagues rather than as partners," Wangler says. Now that TMW, PeopleNet and ALK belong to the same corporation, fleets might wonder if the relationships between these Trimble-owned entities and other suppliers with integrated systems for mobile computing, enterprise software or mileage and routing systems will change? Wangler says that Trimble-owned companies will continue to integrate with any software systems that their customers prefer. The company plans to grow its portfolio as customers expand their use of joint products, but this strategy will not limit choice and flexibility in any way, he says. The joint companies will have to earn customers' business by offering a compelling value – an "end-to-end richly integrated solution," Wangler says. Qualcomm offers another example of how consolidation can lead to more choices, not less. In 2011, the company acquired a dispatch software system from Sylectus, but the union did not limit customers' choices for integrated dispatch software systems in any way; Qualcomm continues to work closely with TMW, McLeod Software and other providers. Last year, Qualcomm signed an exclusive agreement with ALK to offer CoPilot navigation on its Mobile Computing Platform 50 series. On Qualcomm's other MCP platforms, the 110 and 200 series, customers can choose between CoPilot and Telogis' NaviGo. Qualcomm has been in discussions with two other navigation providers. Once the MCP 50 agreement with ALK expires, Qualcomm plans to offer more navigation options for its various MCP platforms. "We look forward to continuing our positive relationship with ALK Technologies and other leading navigation providers – keeping our joint customers' best interests at the forefront of our ongoing product development and integration strategies," says Norm Ellis, vice president of sales, services and marketing for Qualcomm Enterprise Services. Ellis expects consolidation to continue in 2013, pointing to the fact that fewer trucks are on the road today than in 2007. Technology companies will have to find ways to offer more products to the same set of customers. That's why Qualcomm is looking at several possible acquisitions to complement its portfolio and assist with its own growth. "We are constantly engaged and talking to people," Ellis says. GPS Tracking software. Its new EOBR-1000 device also integrates electronic Driver Vehicle Inspection Reports into its workflow. • Transportation app creator BigRoad has partnered with the National Association of Small Trucking Companies and its cellular partner, Sprint, to provide BigRoad's electronic HOS system to NASTC members. • Electronic Funds Source announced that Little Rock, Ark.-based Maverick Transportation has implemented its payments platform that features a virtual or"cardless" system. • Comdata Corp. now offers Canadian-based companies using its fleet and corporate cards access to programs with universal acceptance and real-time controls similar to those used throughout the United States. • Computerized Management Systems' updated Version 12 of its TruckWin dispatch and accounting software system includes safety compliance alerts such as drug and alcohol testing management, improved efficiencies provided by user feedback and a larger Pending and Dispatch White Board. • Pegasus TransTech signed a record number of new fleet and brokerage customers for Transflo scanning services in 2012. The rate of new customer signups was up 20 percent over those in 2011, the company said. • K&J Trucking selected Blue Tree Systems' R:Com trailer tracking and temperature man- AARON HUFF is Senior Editor of Commercial Carrier Journal. E-mail ahuff@ccjmagazine.com or call (801) 754-4296. agement system to lower refrigeration unit fuel costs and provide food safety data. COMMERCIAL CARRIER JOURNAL CCJ_0213_TechDept.indd 29 | FEBRUARY 2013 29 1/23/13 9:38 AM