Trucking Technology Report - July 14
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How to Answer Those "How's My Driving" Stickers
Drivers can now respond to "How's My Driving" stickers, often seen on cargo trucks, through the Internet via DriverReport.com. The "How's My Driving" program now gets roughly two-fifths of all its reports through the Internet. Commercial Carrier Journal (06/00) Vol. 157, No. 6, P. 32Feds Look Into Danger of Driving While Phoning
Federal safety regulators are initiating an investigation into the danger of using mobile handsets and other electronic devices while driving. The probe comes as concerns increase about electronic devices in cars.The AAA and the Network of Employers for Traffic Safety conducted an investigation that uncovered that a quarter of the 6.3 million accidents this year occur because drivers are distracted by other activities.
The agency has established a Web site, www.driverdistraction.org, to gather public opinion. USA Today (07/14/00) P. A1; Nathan, Sara
EarthLink Says It Won't Install FBI's Controversial Net Tapping Device
Major Internet service provider EarthLink says it has rejected the FBI's attempt to install Carnivore, the bureaus' new sophisticated surveillance device, on its network due to privacy concerns and service disruptions it causes. EarthLink executives pledged to provide help when possible to authorities in criminal investigations, but said installing Carnivore would force technical adjustments that could bring part of its network down and affect service for thousands of customers.The ISP also claims that Carnivore poses large liability issues for it, because there is no way to determine whether Carnivore's monitoring is limited to the criminal investigation, or whether the device is practicing a less discreet surveillance. EarthLink brought the FBI to court earlier this year in a legal fight against Carnivore.
The FBI maintains that the device only records data that will be used in investigations. However, Attorney General Janet Reno recently announced that Carnivore would be studied by the Justice Department to make sure it did not violate any constitutional protections and to ensure that it was being employed in "a consistent and balanced way." Wall Street Journal (07/14/00) P. A16; Wingfield, Nick; Bridis, Ted; King, Jr., Neil
Map Software Covers Large Number of Highway Miles
ALK Associates' new version of the PC*Miler 14 software now includes 308 accessible locations and covers 657,000 miles of roads in North America. Commercial Carrier Journal (06/00) Vol. 157, No. 6, P. 32Cell-Loc Spins Off Wireless Locator Division
TimesThree, the first live wireless location system in North America, will house Cell-Loc's network and location services while its wireless technology continues to be developed by Cell-Loc. The location of cellular phone users, information regarding restaurants and lost children, and tracking of a trucking fleet are all bonuses of Cell-Loc's technology. Though wireless industries hope to be worth $7 billion by 2003, there are a lot of challenges in the market, according to the CEO, Michel Fattouche.Nortel Networks Corp. expects to increase its research and personnel by 200 people to 600 employees by the end of the year, investing $54 million to expand its Calgary facilities. The focus of Nortel is to develop technology that will combine voice, video, and data with wireless systems. With this technology, a parent would be able to monitor a child at daycare over a small handheld device. National Post (07/13/00) P. C6; Howes, Carol
Satellites to Help GE With Nationwide Locomotive Monitoring
Motient Corp. has agreed to offer satellite communications facilities to GE Transportation Systems. The circuit-switched satellite mechanism, GE Experts On-Board, will connect Cincinnati control centers to the GE technology service base in Erie, Pa. The deal will help GE Transportation establish a system that finds and fixes problems with locomotives before they cause operational difficulties and subsequent delays in deliveries.Motient currently works with a number of trucking and maritime transportation firms, providing many of them with satellite communications systems. PRNewswire (07/13/00)
New Deal to Give Roaming Workers Access to Internet
Psion PLC, a British maker of hand-held computers, is taking over the Mississauga Company, a Toronto-based wireless technology company whose clients include the U. S. Army and Honda Europe, for $544 million in cash and shares. Psion is the largest shareholder in an international mobile communications venture with name brands Ericsson, Matsushita, Motorola, and Nokia. Psion chairman David Levin said, "This means we will have the capability to put Internet access into any environment, be it in an office worker's pocket or on a forklift truck." Vancouver Sun (07/13/00) P. D5; Walters, JohnVehicle-Repair Product Maker Chooses New Tech System
ASTAware Technologies has announced that the Hunter Engineering Company has selected ASTAware's SearchDisc to power the navigation and secure the content of their product information, which is published on CD and distributed to its sales representatives around the world.Hunter Engineering makes state-of-the-art wheel alignment systems, wheel balancers, brake lathes, tire changers, lift racks, and break testers. ASTAware will deliver a solution that offers: encryption and decryption of content; software protection using password access; and an integrated user authentication methodology based upon the HASP security system. Canadian Corporate Newswire (07/12/00)
CellPoint Technology to Help France Telecom in Fleet Location
France Telecom Mobiles' agreement with Fleet Management revolves around the Resource Manager Service from CellPoint. The CellPoint technology will enable them to make transport, security, service, and sales organizations more efficient and to route vehicles and personnel more effectively so as to increase customer satisfaction.With the help of the new technology, France Telecom Mobiles will be able to offer location services using their existing network without conducting any upgrades. The Resource Manager's ability to be used with standard company equipment will create a greater volume of users. Business Wire (07/13/00)
Alliance To Aid Companies in Cross-Border Net Pages
Network Solutions has formed an alliance with Thomson & Thomson, a trademark and copyright services company, that will assist organizations that do business across international borders on the Internet by providing them with domain name registration as well as research services for trademarks at a single location. This fall, the services of both companies will be highlighted on each company's Web site.Network Solutions provides a broad range of services, including an email hosting service, and also sells digital certificates from parent company VeriSign. The company's link with Thomson is no surprise, as Network Solutions CEO Jim Rutt was a top official at Thomson Corp., the parent company of Thomson & Thomson. "With companies going online in record numbers, the lines between trademarks and domain names have been blurring," says Rutt.
The new alliance already has competition in the form of a second alliance between Register.com and NameProtect.com, which together provide trademark-monitoring services to corporations. Forbes.com (07/11/00); Sherman, Lynn
High-Strength Steel Used in PA. Replacement Bridge
The new Ford City Bridge in Pennsylvania scheduled to open later in the year features a high-performance steel in the negative-moment regions for the flanges and the webs. The use of HPS-70W represents the first time the state has used high-performance steel for such a project, says PennDOT. Moreover, at the time of its inception, the bridge was the largest project using high-performance steel in the nation.Developed by the Federal Highway Administration, the American Iron and Steel Institute, and the Department of the Navy, HPS-70W has a minimum yield strength of 485 MPa and high levels of fracture toughness. Bethlehem Lukens Plate, of Bethlehem, Pa., produces the steel, which is also easier to weld than other steels and has better weathering qualities.
Tom Macioce, a bridge quality assurance engineer with PennDOT, says using HPS-70W was cost-effective because deeper sections were not needed as a result of less stress over the piers. For the rest of the bridge, a more conventional steel, grade 50W, was used.
The use of high-performance steel for the project is also notable because of the bridge's length and curvature – one of the spans will be the longest in the state. High-performance steel is not used very often in long projects with such curvatures. Civil Engineering (07/00) Vol. 70, No. 7, P. 98
Nokia Wins GPRS Order From Mobistar
Belgian operator Mobistar has contracted the delivery of a General Packet Radio Services (GPRS) core network from Nokia for an undisclosed sum. GPRS allows for higher data transmission rates and always-on Internet and intranet connections. Over 40 GPRS core networks have been delivered and installed by Nokia for European, American, and Asian operators in the past year, giving the Finnish company the largest base of any company. Operation of Mobistar's GPRS system will begin early next year. Reuters (07/14/00)© copyright 2000 INFORMATION, INC. Terms of Service
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