Rand McNally to release HD 100 platform for smart devices

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Updated Oct 12, 2012

At the American Trucking Associations’ Management Conference & Exhibition in Las Vegas, Nev., Rand McNally unveiled its new HD 100 device, which provides Hours of Service recording, text- and dispatch-integrated messaging, and driver performance monitoring capabilities.

The HD 100 will be available commercially in April 2013 for use with Android tablets and the Rand McNally IntelliRoute TND 720 truck GPS device. Later in the year, the HD 100 will integrate with other platforms, including Android smartphones and iOS tablets and smartphones.

Designed to work seamlessly with a variety of mobile devices, the HD 100’s Hours of Service recorder qualifies as a compliant electronic driver log, the company said. The HD 100 plugs into a truck’s onboard diagnostics port and records the truck’s GPS position along with vehicle-specific information such as engine diagnostics and driving behavior.

The HD 100 syncs with mobile devices in the vehicle through Wi-Fi but has its own CDMA wireless modem for continuous communications with the host server. Once a driver logs in from a mobile device, the app pulls in the driver’s HOS records and other information from the HD 100 and the host server.

The device – roughly 3 ½ inches by 5 inches – can be installed in less than 10 minutes, the company said. Drivers interact with the HD 100’s HOS and messaging functions through an application that they download and run on their mobile device or Rand McNally’s IntelliRoute TND 720.

“Our goal is to be hardware-agnostic in order to provide a cost-effective EOBR solution for owner-operators who already own a smartphone, tablet or one of our GPS devices, and the HD 100 accomplishes this objective,” said Dave Muscatel, chief executive officer of Rand McNally. “The HD 100 will help fleets and drivers alike with meeting the upcoming EOBR implementation mandated by MAP 21.”

Just as with the company’s enterprise system, TPC 7600, and the single-box TND 760, the HD 100 allows data integration with dispatch and fuel tax applications via Rand McNally Connect software.

Rand McNally also announced a hardware revision and $100 price drop on its TND 760 fleet management system. The system features a compliant EOBR, mobile communication and optional truck navigation. Without the navigation option, the system is now $549.99 and $19.95 per month for service; navigation is $150 more.

The price drop is the result of cost reductions spurred by rising demand for the solution, as well as ongoing engineering improvements and efficiencies, the company said. Since its launch last year, the TND 760 has been installed by more than 100 fleets, Rand McNally said. Lease options are available for as low as $36.99 per month for qualifying fleets.

“Still in its first year of introduction, the TND 760 has had an overwhelmingly positive response due to its quick installation, fast ROI and acceptance by the driver community,” said Jim Rodi, senior vice president of mobile communication at Rand McNally.