DOSSIER OFFERS NEW FEATURES, OPTIONS
Version 4.0 of Arsenault Associates’ Dossier Fleet Maintenance Software system automates most of the maintenance department’s routine daily data entry, the company says. In addition, Arsenault introduced Pocket Dossier, a wireless hand-held, voice activated and bar code-enabled option for off-the-shelf PDAs.
The system reduces repair order data entry to one click of the mouse, saving up to 65 percent of daily data entry. Version 4.0 users can build pre-defined repair order job templates and parts kits for any repair or maintenance work. With one mouse click, users can automatically record, cost, and update all areas of the program at the same time, including: parts and labor costing, cost per mile, miles or hours run, repair histories, parts inventory, labor productivity, PM scheduling, meter readings and vendor control, the company says.
Other enhancements of the new version include: automatically identifying obsolete parts, parts inventory turns, and the ability to attach digital images diagrams and schematics to vehicles, components, parts and personnel files for instant lookup.
The new Pocket Dossier allows access to the Dossier fleet program from anywhere on the property. Dossier users also can now produce reports or data export files with Dossier’s new Custom Report Writer Wizard option based on Crystal Reports, the company says.
AIRIQ COMBINES TERRESTRIAL AND SATELLITE
AirIQ launched a suite of satellite-based services to complement the Company’s terrestrial-based services. The announcement was made at the 2003 American Trucking Associations Management Conference & Exhibition in San Antonio.
Since AirIQ’s inception, all of the company’s fleet management services have been delivered using wireless terrestrial networks with its subscriber base of over 40,000 vehicles. AirIQ now offers both terrestrial and satellite-based services to its commercial clients according to their specific coverage needs. Satellite networks have broader geographical coverage in rural areas where terrestrial network towers do not exist.
AirIQ’s satellite services are made possible through an agreement with Orbcomm LLC, Dulles, VA. Orbcomm is a wireless telecommunications company providing narrow band two-way digital messaging, data communications and geo-positioning services on a nearly real-time basis.
TELENAVTRACK OFFERS PHONE-BASED SERVICES
Televigation launched TeleNavTrack, a mobile phone-based tracking service with integrated audible and visual GPS navigation, electronic time sheet reporting and interactive dispatching. The service operates over Nextel’s all-digital wireless network.
The service gives fleet managers the ability to track – in real-time – field worker activities, such as hours worked, places/locations visited, speeds, job progress and vehicle paths, Televigation says. The field worker, in turn, is able to get detailed job instructions, as well as either visual or audible GPS directions to any delivery stop. The Web-based TeleNavTrack is available at prices starting at $9.99 per month per device for the basic service, which includes GPS tracking, timesheets and reporting.
INFOTECH BRIEFS
PeopleNet Communications (www.peoplenetonline.com) launched Shipper View, a new capability for carriers to provide customers in the supply chain with fleet location information in real time by logging on to PeopleNet’s fleet manager interface. The feature is available at no additional charge to all PeopleNet customers.
Swift Transportation, atlas world group, werner enterprises and Celadon Group separately announced last month that they have joined founding member Schneider National to participate in the new untethered trailer tracking management consortium formed recently by Qualcomm (www.qualcomm.com). The companies, along with other transportation companies, will work with Qualcomm to further the development of the technology.
Bosselman Travel Centers now offers Pegasus TransTech’s Transflo Express truck stop scanning solution (www.transflo.com). Bosselman’s six largest travel centers join nearly 300 truck stops nationwide that provide the trip document delivery service to fleets and their drivers.
ALK Technologies, Inc. (www.alk.com) announced the latest release of eMILER.com, the online version of PC Miler. eMILER.com now provides the same truck-specific routes, maps and mileage as PC Miler 17, via a subscription-based Internet service.
TransCore announced that third-party logistics firm Traffic Management Services Inc. will use its CarrierPoint (www.carrierpoint.com) compliance, monitoring and collaboration software to improve freight management for shipper clients.
