Transport Technology Today November 2010 : Page 2
@ Work IT ■ Handhelds still viable for driver/dispatch communications With current focus on banning driver texting, distracted driving, etc., it’s important to rec-ognize that mobile phones and other hand-held devices have already become accepted tools for asset and mobile workforce man-agement. The affordability and flexibility of consumer-format handhelds has been com-bined with fleet-oriented software and teth-ered EOBR devices to offer viable alternatives to permanently-mounted, in-truck communi-cation systems. Still, drivers have to be edu-cated in safe usage practice for either kind of system to reduce distracted driving risk. One solution is D2Link from TMW Systems, which is a cost-effective, mobile data solu-tion connecting fleet dispatch systems to drivers for efficient load assignment and asset management. According to the com-pany, it’s easy for any size fleet to stay con-nected with D2Link because it’s designed to run on GPS-enabled wireless phones, or on BlackBerrys and other wireless devices with-out GPS. The recent addition of Bluetooth in-tegration with a truck-mounted, engine monitoring black box and GPS tracking de-vice from WebTech Wireless now makes D2Link compliant with FMCSA guidelines for EOBRs in commercial trucking fleets. It’s all about better asset management. Using GPS-enabled phones or GPS data beamed to the phone from truck-mounted tracking hardware, D2Link transfers load and location data between drivers and dis-patchers. Dispatchers can view frequent GPS location readings for trucks (as frequently as every 10 minutes or less), and arrival and de-parture confirmations from drivers are auto-matically processed by the dispatch software to update load status. Drivers receive assign-ments and schedules throughout their trip. The system is trip-smart by design, dramati-cally reducing the amount of data entry needed from fleet drivers because the D2Link software and its messaging system are deeply integrated with the carrier’s dis-patch system. This means that there is less room for error—and more room for in-creased efficiencies through automatic vehi-cle location (AVL) with frequent GPS read-ings; basic geo-fencing; and pop-up driver prompts to confirm arrival and departure events. All of the device interaction can be deferred until the truck safely comes to a full stop and the driver can read inbound mes-sages and formulate replies or update trip or duty status. Spotty cellular network coverage is also resolved, using its store-and-forward capability. Out of coverage, trip updates and location data are stored in phone memory for later upload to dispatch when the vehicle is back in coverage range. According to Gene Elkins, vice president of loss control, claims and safety administration for UniGroup Inc., “We started using D2Link in 2006 among our 3,500 van operators with PDAs, primarily installed in BlackBerry-type devices. D2Link is a very stable platform for our van operators to manage order informa-tion, including proof of load and delivery confirmations.” TMW suggests that while the solution helps fleets reach farther in their communi-cations; they won’t have to reach deep into their pockets to afford it. D2link gives fleets most of the capabilities for trucking with off-the-shelf hardware, existing cellular net-works and TMW technology. Now, fleet wireless data transmission needs, tracking and EOBR compliance can be met using a va-riety of cellular handsets running D2Link software in combination with an affordable, truck-mounted EOBR device. The capabilities are dependent on handset features and cel-lular network carrier policies and services. Carol Birkland ■ Editor 2 November 2010 T3/TMW Systems
Handhelds still viable for driver/dispatch communications
Carol Birkland, Editor
With current focus on banning driver texting, distracted driving, etc., it’s important to recognize that mobile phones and other hand-held devices have already become accepted tools for asset and mobile workforce management. The affordability and flexibility of consumer-format handhelds has been combined with fleet-oriented software and tethered EOBR devices to offer viable alternatives to permanently-mounted, in-truck communication systems. Still, drivers have to be educated in safe usage practice for either kind of system to reduce distracted driving risk.<br /> One solution is D2Link from TMW Systems, which is a cost-effective, mobile data solution connecting fleet dispatch systems to drivers for efficient load assignment and asset management. According to the company, it’s easy for any size fleet to stay connected with D2Link because it’s designed to run on GPS-enabled wireless phones, or on BlackBerrys and other wireless devices without GPS. The recent addition of Bluetooth integration with a truck-mounted, engine monitoring black box and GPS tracking device from WebTech Wireless now makes D2Link compliant with FMCSA guidelines for EOBRs in commercial trucking fleets.<br /> It’s all about better asset management. Using GPS-enabled phones or GPS data beamed to the phone from truck-mounted tracking hardware, D2Link transfers load and location data between drivers and dispatchers. Dispatchers can view frequent GPS location readings for trucks (as frequently as every 10 minutes or less), and arrival and departure confirmations from drivers are automatically processed by the dispatch software to update load status. Drivers receive assignments and schedules throughout their trip.<br /> The system is trip-smart by design, dramatically reducing the amount of data entry needed from fleet drivers because the D2Link software and its messaging system are deeply integrated with the carrier’s dispatch system. This means that there is less room for error—and more room for increased efficiencies through automatic vehicle location (AVL) with frequent GPS read-<br /> ings; basic geo-fencing; and pop-up driver prompts to confirm arrival and departure events. All of the device interaction can be deferred until the truck safely comes to a full stop and the driver can read inbound messages and formulate replies or update trip or duty status. Spotty cellular network coverage is also resolved, using its store-and-forward capability. Out of coverage, trip updates and location data are stored in phone memory for later upload to dispatch when the vehicle is back in coverage range.<br /> According to Gene Elkins, vice president of loss control, claims and safety administration for UniGroup Inc., “We started using D2Link in 2006 among our 3,500 van operators with PDAs, primarily installed in BlackBerry-type devices. D2Link is a very stable platform for our van operators to manage order information, including proof of load and delivery confirmations.”<br /> TMW suggests that while the solution helps fleets reach farther in their communications; they won’t have to reach deep into their pockets to afford it. D2link gives fleets most of the capabilities for trucking with off-the-shelf hardware, existing cellular networks and TMW technology. Now, fleet wireless data transmission needs, tracking and EOBR compliance can be met using a variety of cellular handsets running D2Link software in combination with an affordable, truck-mounted EOBR device. The capabilities are dependent on handset features and cellular network carrier policies and services.
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