Qualcomm, a provider of business-to-business wireless enterprise applications and services, has announced a new vehicle data recording application for use with the OmniTracs mobile communications system that will be available this summer. The new Critical Event Reporting application is designed to help truckload carriers and private fleets improve driver performance and operational efficiency, and help manage liability exposure.
CER is designed to record, retrieve and analyze truck and driver performance information in order to reconstruct and review critical events; after an incident, the application generates a report for further analysis. Fleet managers can use the information to contact the driver to check for emergency situations or to make the driver aware of unsafe behavior and discuss safe driving practices to improve operations and help limit future liability. The application provides an automatic, accurate critical incident record, initiated by either an automatic or manual trigger, according to the company; immediately following an incident, the record is sent over the air automatically.
“Qualcomm is always looking for ways to help improve our customers’ businesses,” says Norm Ellis, vice president and general manager of San Diego-based Qualcomm Wireless Business Solutions. “The CER application allows transportation companies to track and be alerted to critical incidents that can help improve driver performance and reduce liability. Because good drivers may be more conscious of their driving practices when they know that their actions are being recorded, the CER application can help fleets reward and further improve good driving behavior.”
CER features, according to Qualcomm, include protection of recorded data integrity even in the event of power loss; customizable recipient lists for alerts when incident data is sent to dispatchers; graphical, printable reports for management analysis and driver feedback; and searchable driver performance logs with the capability to save searches for more efficient operations.
“New applications such as CER have great potential to generate further return on our investment in mobile communications,” says John Rakoczy, chief operating officer of Distribution Technologies, recent winner of the 2005 Outstanding Performance Trophy in the National Tank Truck Carriers’ Tank Truck Safety Contest. “Traditional event reconstruction tools are somewhat limited in their usefulness. But tools that support a more proactive, preventative approach to safety will help improve driver performance and reduce truck accidents.”
For more information, go to www.qualcomm.com.
