Technology Briefs — Dec. 19 - Dec. 26

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The Latest Headlines:

• Descartes Group Completes Purchase Of Cube Route
• EPA 'SmartWay' Loans Available to Small Trucking Companies
• Navigon Acquires Navteq’s Software Business
• J.J. Keller Debuts New Software

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Descartes Group Completes Purchase Of Cube Route

Canadian logistics communication provider Descartes Group said earlier this month it completed the previously announced deal to acquire the assets of Cube Route, which provides a Web-based logistics service.

Descartes, Ontario, did not disclose a sale price for the transaction, but said it paid $1.6 million for “Cube Route liabilities and incurred transactional expenses.”

As part of the deal, Descartes said it will still offer Cube Route’s service to customers. There will be 15 former Cube Route employees who will handle this task. Transport Topics

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EPA 'SmartWay' Loans Available to Small Trucking Companies

The Environmental Projections Agency’s SmartWay Transport program is using Small Business Administration lending programs o help trucking companies get loans to buy new technologies to save fuel and reduce pollution.

The “SmartWay Transport Truck Loans” offer affordable monthly payment plans for purchasing technology called SmartWay Upgrade Kits, which include wide-based tires, tractor-trailer aerodynamics, and idle-control technologies, EPA said.

Participating lenders offer a rapid approval process and do not require collateral.

For more information, visit the EPA’s Web site here: www.epa.gov/smartway/financing.htm. Transport Topics

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Navigon Acquires Navteq’s Software Business

Navigation software firm Navigon Inc. has acquired the navigation software business of Navteq, including all production software assets and development personnel, Navigon said.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Navteq provides digital map data for vehicle navigation. Transport Topics

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J.J. Keller Debuts New Software

Transportation software pro-vider J.J. Keller introduced

he latest version of its Keller-Soft Workers’ Comp Manager II Plus OSHA 300 Recordkeeper software.

The program helps users record, track and report workplace injuries and illnesses, and it includes a database of injury and illness information.

Users can key in details about an incident, which the software then compiles into the appropriate First Report of Injury and OSHA 300 forms.

he software also allows users to submit compliance questions to J.J. Keller’s support staff via the Internet. Transport Topics

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