Cadec Global, a provider of advanced fleet management solutions, on Sunday, May 3, launched a software-based remote-engine shutdown technology for truck and motor coach fleets at the National Private Truck Council 2009 Conference in Nashville, Tenn. Part of a new line of optional safety modules for Cadec’s PowerVue platform called ProTecht, the new Remote Engine Shutdown module already has been deployed in a major U.S. motor coach fleet comprised of hundreds of vehicles, the company says.
PowerVue is a Service Oriented Architecture (SOA)-based hosted fleet management solution, according to Cadec; by automatically collecting data on driver behavior and vehicle location/speed, PowerVue helps fleets optimize performance and improve supply chain visibility, while built-in safety features also help fleets maximize safety. ProTecht is a line of optional safety-related add-on modules for PowerVue; its applications are designed primarily for motor coach fleets and fuel/hazmat haulers and offer advanced features designed to protect precious or hazardous cargo.
Where hardware approaches tend to force an abrupt stop, Cadec says its patent-pending Remote Engine Shutdown software module slows and then stops a vehicle remotely in a safe, controlled manner. The shutdown is supervised and monitored by authorized security personnel, according to the company; the module includes On-Board Driver Authentication to prevent unauthorized parties from starting or operating a vehicle.
The U.S. Department of Transportation and Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration recommend both remote vehicle disabling and driver authentication as anti-hijack measures. Cadec says PowerVue’s Remote Engine Shutdown module meets the criteria of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Transportation Security Administration to qualify for federal grants, including the Intercity Bus Security Grant Program. Cadec says its motor coach customer was able to obtain funding for its PowerVue investment via this program.
At NPTC, Cadec says it also will demonstrate several other enhancements to PowerVue, including:
“The economy is forcing fleets to be leaner and more efficient than ever,” says Michael Baney, Cadec’s chief executive officer. “Fleet management software has been proven to provide companies with rapid return on investment by helping to improve efficiency and safety while reducing costs.”
