PeopleNet, a provider of integrated onboard computing and mobile communications systems, announced that Dupont/Conoco Phillips’ joint venture transportation company, Sentinel Transportation, is switching its 435-unit fleet to PeopleNet Tablet and expanding the use of technology for safety, compliance driver management and greater return on investment.
“Sentinel first connected with us at last year’s NPTC event when they were looking for a more responsive, dependable technology vendor-partner,” says Mark Kessler, vice pesident of national accounts. “The fleet began replacing onboard computers with PeopleNet in August and will be completing Tablet installations for pumping up efficiency with portability and peripherals.”
Sentinel provides transportation and logistical services exclusively for Conoco Phillips and DuPont companies in all 48 contiguous states and Canada. The fleet hauls chemicals and petroleum products, hazardous waste, crude oil and refined products. Four out of Sentinel’s 45 terminals are 100 percent equipped with PeopleNet and currently running eDriver Logs, Automated Fuel Tax Reporting and Vehicle Management.
“Tablet will make us more efficient by helping us automate processes such as our on-time delivery information by converting our paper AOD (advice of delivery) to an electronic form,” says Johnny Carnes, Sentinel project manager. “PeopleNet is helping the company and its 700 drivers address its highest priorities – safety through accurate logs and drivers hours management, and quality of service – making life easier for everyone. The drivers who first begin using eDriver Logs may hate me the first day, but after a week or two, they love me. It’s also making compliance audits a snap, done almost in real time. Automating our fuel tax reporting has given us a consistent, accurate way of handling this requirement.”
Sentinel is making its maintenance proactive with Vehicle Management engine monitoring. Carnes says. “PeopleNet e-mails fault code reports to mechanics in 16 Sentinel shops across the country, so they can head off issues that are brewing before they become giant problems,” he says. “We’re also going to create driver scorecards from other engine data reports that will help us identify driving behaviors that pose a safety risk, so we can coach our drivers. We’re already monitoring speed with SpeedGauge.”
