GE Equipment Services (www.trailerservices.com) announced that its trailer tracking system for dry vans, GE VeriWise Asset Intelligence, now also is available for use with refrigerated trailers. VeriWise has been configured to work with Thermo King-equipped reefers and will be expanded to other lines shortly, the company says.

Terion (www.terion.com) said that its FleetView 2 and FleetView 3 systems have been certified by the Naval Ordnance Safety and Security Activity for use in van-type trailers carrying HERO (Hazards of Electromagnetic Radiation to Ordnance) cargo.

AirIQ (www.airiq.com) announced an agreement with Directed Electronics Inc., a supplier of consumer-branded vehicle security and convenience systems. AirIQ will supply its consumer telematics solution for four of Directed Electronic’s brands: Viper, Clifford, Python and Automate.

McLeod Software (www.mcleodsoftware.com) added Squarerigger Software, a developer of fleet maintenance software, to its list of vehicle maintenance options interfacing with its LoadMaster enterprise software.

PCS Software (www.pcssoft.com) released updates to its Express 15.0 fleet management software. Users now can forward dispatch messages to Nextel phones from XpressTrax.com – a Web module for the Express system. Other updates include direct deposit via Comdata and EFS and a redesign of Express Reporter Version 15 using Crystal Reports.

In the latest versions of Microsoft Windows, when an application freezes or commits an otherwise “fatal” error, a pop-up screen gives you the option to send an error report to Microsoft through the Internet. It’s a reassuring gesture, although you have no way of knowing whether Microsoft actually uses these reports to improve Windows.

Imagine that your vehicle had the same capability to send performance data to the manufacturer for use in product development and engineering processes. Or better yet, imagine that a manufacturer sent you an e-mail saying a problem was detected in one of your trucks and informed you that the repair is covered by warranty.