Geotab ‘open telematics’ platform has momentum

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Updated Oct 11, 2016
Pegasus TransTech released the new Transflo Telematics platform in partnership with Geotab.Pegasus TransTech released the new Transflo Telematics platform in partnership with Geotab.

A lot of recent activity in fleet management technology is revolving around a telematics platform from Geotab.

During the recent American Trucking Associations’ annual conference in Las Vegas, held Oct. 2-4, several software vendors announced partnerships with Geotab that provide new options for ELD compliance and mobility.

The company has more than 500,000 telematics devices installed in trucks worldwide. Its low-cost telematics device — called the GO7 — installs in trucks in minutes and sends vehicle, engine and driver performance data in real time to a web-based fleet management portal.

In September, compliance specialist J.J. Keller and Associates announced an integration with Geotab. Fleets using the Geotab platform can seamlessly activate J.J. Keller’s mobile ELog application and hours-of-service support and compliance services.

Tom Reader, marketing director of J.J. Keller, explained at the ATA conference that J.J. Keller will continue to offer a telematics platform called Keller Mobile. The new integration with Geotab gives fleets that use the Geotab platform the option to manage their hours-of-service data and compliance using J.J. Keller’s software and outsourcing services.

In addition, fleets that use the Geotab platform can use the Keller Mobile app as their ELD interface and driver display.

Reader also gave an update on J.J. Keller’s DataSense, the outsourced or “managed” service for HOS compliance that launched in January. The service includes an online portal that gives a holistic view of compliance. Fleets send HOS data to J.J. Keller on paper logs or from their ELD systems, which in some cases may be from multiple vendors.

Fleets that use Geotab for telematics can use J.J. Keller’s mobile app as the driver interface for hours of service.Fleets that use Geotab for telematics can use J.J. Keller’s mobile app as the driver interface for hours of service.

Commercial and private fleets that now use DataSense operate a combined 25,000 drivers, he said. One of its largest customers is Univar with a private fleet that distributes its chemistry products.

During the ATA conference, Pegasus TransTech unveiled a new fleet management and electronic logging platform in partnership with Geotab.

The new Transflo Telematics offering includes data and telematics software for fleet managers, an electronic logging device that installs in trucks, and a mobile app for drivers to manage the electronic logs and other workday activities including signature capture.

“We are building one app where drivers can do anything they need to do,” said Rick Bradberry, chief marketing officer of Pegasus TransTech.

The ELD comes with a lifetime warranty. The mobile app offers an hours-of-service display with driver vehicle inspection report, load management, document capture and mapping, as well as dispatch chat, driver training and driver settlement statement access.