Cat Introduces Fleet Edition Of Pocket Technician
Caterpillar now offers its Pocket Technician in a specialized Fleet Edition that allows fleet managers to set more than 50 truck engine parameters for maximum efficiency.
Pocket Technician is a Palm-based hand-held computer, or PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), that offers drivers and fleet managers Cat diagnostics and electronic capabilities with hand-held convenience. The original Driver Edition gave drivers diagnostic capabilities and improved ability to manage their truck's operation.
The new Fleet Edition adds 33 programmable parameters and allows the fleet manager to save mileage, mpg, idle time, load factor and other information to allow better management of multiple trucks. Fleet Edition also enables users to view logged diagnostic information. It saves and prints data for multiple trucks and includes a driver reward component that helps management set goals, measure performance factors and score individual drivers.
The Pocket Technician kit includes software, plug-in adapter and truck connecting cable. Driver Edition can be easily upgraded to the Fleet Edition.
Comdata Supplies Photo-ID Fuel Cards
In a sign of things to come, Comdata Corp., Brentwood, Tenn., is providing drivers for Swift Transportation with Comdata fuel cards that include identification photos.
"It is in direct response to overwhelming requests from a number of the nation's top fleets to enhance security efforts in-house as well as for drivers on the road," said Comdata spokesman Mike Brewer.
Swift isn't the first carrier to issue photo ID fuel cards, but the big truckload carrier based in Phoenix, Ariz., is clearly part of a trend.
"It's not only a fleet request, it's a common concern of shippers. They are going to very quickly start requiring that fleets address security concerns as it pertains to how drivers access their property and how they drop their loads," Brewer said.
Terion Adds Emergency Track Enhancements To Fleetview
Terion Inc., Plano, Texas., has added Emergency Track to its FleetView trailer tracking product along with other upgrades.
Emergency Track allows customers to quickly and easily locate trailers on demand, then track movement. Other upgrades include Locate Asset Notification, which emails the customer when the GPS information has been updated, and Asset Manage Report, which lets the user monitor and manage their calling plan.
Emergency Track can follow the trailer's exact movement. Companies can track a lost or stolen trailer's position at intervals ranging between 5 minutes to an hour depending on the tracking urgency. A request is sent to the FleetView unit to respond with its current location. Once the unit responds, an email notification is sent to the user with the trailer's location. The trailer's position is documented on a map and updated periodically based on the time interval selected. A display reminds the user to turn off the Emergency Track feature to avoid additional messaging costs.
New Agreement Provides Directions Via Qualcomm
Qualcomm and Maptuit have announced an agreement that delivers directions wirelessly to the driver in the cab.
San Diego-based Qualcomm announced it will offer Maptuit's FleetNav suite of services to its OmniTracs customers. FleetNav is a navigation system designed to provide truckload carriers with street-level text directions using the vehicle's current position via the OmniTracs satellite positioning/communications system.
The Maptuit navigation system runs over existing Qualcomm mobile data terminals. Fleets will be able to offer drivers least-cost routes and door-to-door directions directly in the cab. Maptuit's FleetNav Alert module also lets fleets know exactly when trucks leave their assigned routes with real-time alerts.
Teletrac Unveils Wireless Messaging For FleetDirector
Teletrac Inc., Garden Grove, Calif., which provides metro fleet location information systems, is offering a new wireless messaging and alert feature as part of its FleetDirector product.
The new feature lets fleet owners and managers receive real-time wireless notifications about each driver's status on their mobile devices. Fleet managers can receive immediate notice of problems so they can advise while on the go, continuing to generate revenue. They save time by not having to obtain and read printed reports in order to learn vehicle status.
The new feature works in conjunction with Teletrac's FleetDirector eClient product, which tracks fleet location information using digital maps transmitted over the Internet on PCs.
