Technology news and briefs for the week of July 23, 2023:
SmartHop payroll solution eliminates manual processes
Freight booking and fleet management platform SmartHop has launched a new in-platform Payroll solution that reduces the operational burden of manual payroll reporting for owners and administrators and provides payment transparency for drivers, dispatchers and other payees.
The solution allows operators of all fleet types to aggregate and approve payroll reports through SmartHop, which was designed to support various employee pay structures: flat fees, percentages or miles-based, for example. The new solution also supports payments for contracted loads and dedicated lanes.
The recurring payroll rules feature has become a customer favorite as it saves hours of time each week that was previously spent itemizing and parsing expenses into reports. It enbles admins to set rules for repeat entries – recurring deductions or additions – and the system automatically applies them each pay period. For example, a fleet that provides their carriers with insurance will add a deduction for the annual premium and schedule it to be evenly distributed across pay periods.
The solution, which updates the payee’s ledger in real time as trips are completed, is integrated with the larger SmartHop platform, connecting to other modules like Trip Details and Driver Profiles, to create shortcuts. Drivers can manage their payments using the mobile app.
NATSO partners with HAAS Alert
The NATSO Foundation, the education, research and public outreach arm of the trade association of America's travel plaza and truckstop industry NATSO Inc., has partnered with HAAS Alert, which provides a digital alerting service via its connected vehicle platform Safety Cloud, to enhance the safety of commercial vehicle roadside service technicians.
Safety Cloud broadcasts real-time alerts from equipped service vehicles to approaching automobile drivers through in-dash infotainment systems and navigation apps. These notifications encourage drivers to slow down and move over, and they arrive up to 30 seconds prior to the driver approaching an incident. This advanced warning technology has been found to decrease collision risk by up to 90%.
“HAAS Alert's commitment to making roads safer with real-time digital alerts can drastically improve the working conditions for our mobile mechanics and road assist service providers,” said NATSO Foundation President Lisa Mullings. “By reminding drivers to comply with Move Over laws, we can significantly decrease risk, making highways safer for all."
NATSO's member locations have more than 800 repair shops and almost always are the first call that commercial truck drivers make when their trucks need to be serviced out on the road.
McLeod adds digital payments for lumper services
McLeod Software has released a new payment service provider interface to make the process of paying for lumper services easier for back-office staff and drivers. The new interface streamlines this process by integrating McLeod’s core LoadMaster and/or PowerBroker systems with third-party digital payment solutions.
When a driver unloads at an authorized location and requires lumper services, they can submit digital payment through the interface. Upon arrival at the stop, a six-character payment code is sent to the driver’s mobile device that the driver can provide to freight handlers to finalize payment for services.
Once a digital payment is processed, a receipt is sent through McLeod’s LoadMaster or PowerBroker system. An unposted wire transaction is created in LoadMaster or PowerBroker, and the receipt is attached to the order. Receipt images can also be indexed on the order in McLeod’s DocumentPower imaging product for easy reference and inclusion in customer billing.
The first integration is being offered with McLeod certified integration partner Relay Payments.
Samsara integrates tire data from Doran
Samsara’s Connected Operations Cloud has integrated tire pressure and temperature data from Doran Manufacturing to help fleets reduce tire-related operating expenses, increase equipment uptime and improve vehicle safety.
Customers using both Doran and Samsara can have tire pressure and temperature information clearly displayed on their Samsara dashboard. Data captured and displayed includes real-time notifications for cautionary and critical low-pressure alerts, rapid deflation events and high tire temperature conditions.
These insights also provide driver managers and fleet maintenance teams with real-time visibility on problem tires through email notification of active TPMS status changes, TPMS alert reporting by vehicle and visibility of current tire pressure and temperature readings through the Samsara dashboard.
ISAAC launches new smartphone app
ISAAC Instruments has launched a new smartphone app that simplifies communications for professional truck drivers and helps them manage their work more efficiently. ISAAC Connect is available for immediate download on Android and Apple devices.
ISAAC Connect does not replace the core ISAAC InControl telematics solution and rugged tablet. It is instead a companion application designed to improve drivers’ quality of life by catering to their needs outside the cab.
Drivers using the app can step away from the truck at a rest stop or shipper’s facility and continue real-time conversations with dispatch on their personal devices started on the ISAAC in-cab tablet. Likewise, off-duty drivers can use the app to view important information on their personal devices whenever they want, such as their available hours and trip information for the upcoming week. Helping them stay connected through ISAAC Connect provides better visibility for drivers and allows them to better enjoy their home time.
These features are available to drivers with ISAAC Connect: hours-of-service (HOS) status and recap; upcoming load schedule; messaging; viewing trip documents; ISAAC Coach scorecards; and performance reports including ISAAC Coach results.
