Technology Briefs - May 20 - May 26
The Latest Headlines:
- PeopleNet Promotes CFO to COO
- Xata Chairman to Step Down
- Stonepath's Subsidiary Changes Name
- Gamma-Ray Machines to Combat Human Smuggling
- UPS, FedEx to Expand Use of Handheld Computers
- G-Log Names Cairns New CEO
- Landair, KLLM Sign Up for Transflo Scanning Services
- Wireless Coverage Enhanced Along Pa. Turnpike
- Xata Chairman to Step Down
PeopleNet Promotes CFO to COO
PeopleNet Communications, provider of fleet tracking and mobile communication services, said May 23 that it has named Ron Konezny as its new chief operating officer.Konezny is currently chief financial officer for the Minneapolis-based company and was one of PeopleNet’s founders. No replacement was immediately named.
According to PeopleNet’s release, Konezny started at the company in 1995 as its chief technology officer and is the recipient for two of PeopleNet’s patents.
(Click here for the full press release.)
Xata Chairman to Step Down
Xata Corp., a provider of fleet management products for the trucking industry, said Thursday that William P. Flies would discontinue his role as chairman and chief technology officer on June 20.The company did not name a new chairman in its release but said Flies would remain as company director.
Xata previously reported a net loss for the fiscal second quarter ended March 31 of $1.4 million or 20 cents per share. Transport Topics
(Click here for the full press release.)
Stonepath's Subsidiary Changes Name
Stonepath Group, a global logistics provider, said its international subsidiary, Global Transportation Services Inc., has been renamed Stonepath Logistics International Services Inc.The company said in a May 16 release that by the end of the year, all of its subsidiaries would make the transition to the Stonepath Logistics name.
"Bringing our subsidiaries under the Stonepath brand will play a critical role in fueling our growth and positioning the company for future success," said Dennis Pelino, chairman and chief executive of Stonepath Group. Transport Topics
(Click here for the full press release.)
Gamma-Ray Machines to Combat Human Smuggling
Giant gamma-ray machines that can scan a truck's cargo in seconds are going to be used in Texas in an attempt to thwart the use of semi-trailers to smuggle humans, the Associated Press reported Wednesday.This announcement days after 19 illegal immigrants died from being transported in the back of a trailer, believed to be the deadliest immigrant smuggling tragedy to date, AP said.
Two highways cut through the hundreds of miles of ranchland that otherwise isolate the Rio Grande Valley from the rest of Texas. Roughly 100 miles north of the border on each road is a drive-through immigration checkpoint, the Sarita checkpoint on Highway 77 and the Falfurrias checkpoint on Highway 281.
The half-million dollar Mobile Truck X-rays are being deployed at both checkpoints. Should an agent become suspicious of a given rig, he can request the driver consent to a secondary search, AP said. Transport Topics
UPS, FedEx to Expand Use of Handheld Computers
United Parcel Service and FedEx Corp. are each rushing to get new handheld computers to drivers, who would use them to send and receive data anytime, Investor's Business Daily reported Monday.The article said UPS is expected to deploy the fourth generation of its package-tracking palmtops to 70,000 drivers worldwide in 2004 at a cost of $127 million. Also, FedEx likely will begin using 40,000 of its new PowerPad palmtops, at a cost of $150 million.
Analysts said the companies hope the investment would improve efficiency, productivity and customer experience, while reducing costs, Investor's Business Daily said.
UPS is ranked No. 1 and FedEx No. 2 on the 2002 Transport Topics 100 list of the largest U.S. and Canadian trucking companies Transport Topics
G-Log Names Cairns New CEO
G-Log, a provider of global logistics and transportation software, said Tuesday David Cairns has been named chief executive officer effective immediately.Cairns had been acting president of G-Log since March.
Mitch Weseley, G-Log founder and former CEO, will remain chairman of the board, the company said in a release. Transport Topics
(Click here for the full press release.)
Landair, KLLM Sign Up for Transflo Scanning Services
Landair Transport Inc. and KLLM Transport Services said Wednesday they had signed on to Transflo Express, Pegasus TransTech's truck stop scanning service.The companies said in a release that Transflo provides them the chance to streamline paperwork processing and makes a driver's job easier.
Truckload carrier KLLM Transport Services, Richland, Miss., is ranked No. 66 on the 2002 Transport Topics 100 list of the largest U.S. and Canadian trucking companies. Landair Transport is a truckload carrier based in Greenville, Tenn. Transport Topics
(Click here for the full press release.)
Wireless Coverage Enhanced Along Pa. Turnpike
The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission and Verizon Wireless said Monday that wireless coverage is now available along the entire span of the Pennsylvania Turnpike.The enhanced coverage provides better access to the turnpike's emergency roadside assistance, according to a release. To reach the emergency assistance center, any wireless-phone user can dial *11.
Roger Tang, president of the Ohio/Pennsylvania region of Verizon Wireless, said mountains, valleys and five tunnels along the 531-mile turnpike from the Ohio border to the Delaware River required the installation of special equipment. Transport Topics
(Click here for the full press release.)
