Fleet Management News & Business Info | Commercial Carrier Journal
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technology J.J. Keller offers an onboard recorder for $199 that is compatible with Android smartphones to record hours of service and driver vehicle inspection reports. and-delivery details. But if deploying a U.S. Department of Transportation- compliant electronic onboard recorder also is on your priority list, the range of options narrows. J.J. Keller offers an onboard re- corder for $199 that is compatible with Android smartphones to record hours of service and driver vehicle inspection reports through its Encompass E-Logs online reporting service, which starts at $3 per month. By upgrading to the Encompass Mobility S on speed dial Smartphones expand technology options martphones are spreading like wildfire throughout the transpor- tation industry. Executives, managers and drivers are consuming new apps that increase their connectivity and productivity. The cloud computing model – a network of remote servers hosted on the Inter- net – quickly has become the mainstream for how businesses choose to process, store and manage their data. The power and affordability of today's consumer devices and cloud computing have opened a wide menu of options for deploying new technology using a wide range of compatible devices, wireless services and apps that meet specific needs. Electronic logs A major consideration of using smartphone technology is what to do about electronic driver logs. Due to recent rule changes, elec- tronic logs increasingly have become necessary to avoid common mistakes and penalties associated with using paper logbooks. Giving smartphones to drivers can be a cost-effective way to fulfill a need, such as automating driver messaging or capturing pickup- 46 COMMERCIAL CARRIER JOURNAL | MARCH 2012 ➡ ECONOMICAL TRACKING. Fleets can deploy electronic logs ➡ TECHNOLOGY ON THE GO. Mobile delivery apps enable real- for a low monthly cost. time invoicing. broaden options. Compliance Edition for $6.50 per month, fleets can use an expanded set of compliance tools for vehicle maintenance, a Compliance Safety Accountability dashboard and BASICs management. The Encompass Premium Edition is $25 per month and includes a performance dashboard with fuel usage, GPS location tracking and other driver metrics. Greg Gossler, safety and compliance manager for Hercules Transport – a Choudrant, La.-based hazmat hauler – says J.J. Keller's onboard recorder and Encompass system have improved his company's compliance and dispatch efficiency. "We now have the capability to give ➡ IN THE CLOUD, ALL AROUND. Cloud computing, smartphones a driver his dispatch over a handheld," Gossler says. "We wanted something to be able to tell a driver that 'Your dispatch has changed. You don't need to leave at 6 a.m. as you were previously told. You need to leave at 3 a.m. " Xata Turn-