Fleet Management News & Business Info | Commercial Carrier Journal
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/588093
44 commercial carrier journal | october 2015 technology • FourKites, a provider of freight track- ing technology, introduced FourKites CarrierLink, a free mobile app and tracking service for small to midsize brokers to track up to 2,500 truckloads a month; beyond that, per-load charges will apply. FourKites' aggregated ELD/ GPS data service is not included in the free CarrierLink initiative. • PeopleNet, a provider of fleet mobility technology, announced an upgrade to its CoPilot Truck mobile navigation software in partnership with ALK Technologies. Previously available only on PeopleNet devices with Windows operating platforms, in-cab navigation powered by ALK's CoPilot Truck applica - tion now is compatible with PeopleNet's Android-based devices. • Telogis, a Software-as-a-Service connected vehicle technology provider, announced a collaboration with AT&T to implement a worldwide network for its suite of telematics, compliance, mobile and navigation software products for truck and car manufacturers. AT&T said its service management platform will allow Telogis to manage the data, devices and services that support its OEM customers. AT&T also is working with Telogis to help with over-the-air updates and provide split-billing capabilities. • SkyBitz, a provider of remote asset track - ing and information management, and TMW Systems, a provider of transporta- tion management and asset maintenance systems, announced new enhancements designed to allow customers of both companies to centrally monitor and track trailers via TMW's TruckMate software to gain real-time operations information, location and cargo status for improved utilization and security. • QuikQ, provider of a cardless direct fuel connection between truck stop point-of- sale and motor carrier enterprise systems, announced an integration with Innovative software from TMW Systems. By using asset, dispatch and driver data from the Innovative IES transportation manage - ment system, the integration with the QuikQ Fuel Purchasing System is intended to allow carriers to improve the accuracy, speed and efficiency of the fuel purchas - ing process, from the back office through the point of purchase. • MacroPoint, a developer of freight tracking software designed to provide third-party visibility into load status by INBrief A t PeopleNet's 13th annual user conference, held at the J.W. Marriott Desert Ridge Resort in Scottsdale, Ariz., the compa- ny announced a new ConnectedFleet Platform that connects people, equip- ment and devices to a "fully managed cloud-based vehicle network" that resides in a public cloud instead of PeopleNet's own data centers. According to the company, this strategy and architecture now makes it possible for third-party develop- ers, fleet customers and PeopleNet itself to use real-time data to support a growing ecosystem of mobile and Web-based applications. The new platform consists of four components. PeopleNet Cloud: This component is not a product, but a term PeopleNet coined to describe its next-generation cloud architecture. Going forward, all of the data collected by its Connected- Fleet platform will be "packaged up" to allow real-time integration with a virtually limitless supply of software applications. The PeopleNet Cloud uses a mes- sage-broker design that enables a "publish and subscribe" ecosystem of mobile and Web-based applications. A more simple explanation is that PeopleNet will support a wide range of application programming interfac- es (APIs) and protocols to give third parties and customers better access to the data, says Mark Botticelli, chief information officer. John Reed, chief information officer of AIM NationaLease, a full-service leasing company with dedicated con- tract operations, said he would like to "subscribe" to fuel-level readings from trucks for fuel economy reports and route planning applications. PeopleNet Mobile Gateway: The ConnectedFleet platform is powered by the new PeopleNet Mobile Gateway system. Designed for quick and easy installation in trucks, the PMG is an intelligent device that serves as the central hub for connecting vehicles, drivers, fleet managers and mobile devices – including wearables – to the PeopleNet Cloud. Botticelli describes the PMG as "a cloud on wheels" and "a roaming data center" that has the same integration capabilities as the PeopleNet Cloud but specifically for the vehicle envi- ronment. The PMG supports applica- tions, mobile devices, sensors, wear- ables and other "Internet of Things" in transportation, he says. The PMG operates on high-speed 4G networks and acts as a wireless ac- cess point within the vehicle. With this connectivity, users can access vehicle and third-party data such as weather, traffic patterns, dispatch events and route corrections, and also stream vid- eo. It also includes the option to open a Wi-Fi hotspot for drivers to connect their personal devices to the Internet. "We want to help companies retain drivers and potentially attract new drivers with these tools," said Mark Kessler, general manager of PeopleNet's Trucking division. The PMG now is being factory-installed in all Peterbilt Taking it to the cloud PeopleNet touts new ConnectedFleet platform Brian McLaughlin, president of PeopleNet, speaks during the opening session of the company's annual user conference.