Technology Briefs - Dec. 16 - Dec. 22
The Latest Headlines:
- FCC Approves New Frequency for Highway Systems
- FedEx, Eaton to Road-Test Hybrid Trucks
- Penske Truck Leasing to Offer Xatanet
- Bush Administration Says Technology Sector Recovering
- Three Truckload Carriers Sign Up for TripPak Scanning
- FedEx, Eaton to Road-Test Hybrid Trucks
FCC Approves New Frequency for Highway Systems
The Federal Communications Commission on Wednesday set aside an area of broadcast spectrum to transmit warning signals automatically to drivers, rather than have them share space with electronic toll sensors and cell phones, the Associated Press reported.The technology, still many years away from being installed in cars and along highways, could use a beep, a dashboard light or an electronic voice to tell drivers when it's safe to change lanes, or when to break to avoid an accident, AP said.
The warnings can be received within 100 yards of the transmitters, so they are only for communications between vehicles or between a vehicle and a sensor along the road.
FedEx, Eaton to Road-Test Hybrid Trucks
FedEx Corp. said on-the-road testing of the FedEx OptiFleet E700 hybrid delivery trucks is expected to begin in January in four undisclosed cities, the Associated Press reported Tuesday.In May, FedEx Express agreed to purchase 20 diesel-electric hybrid delivery trucks using Eaton Corp.'s powertrain technology. The hybrid is a diesel engine equipped with filters to limit emissions while working in combination with an electric motor linked to a battery.
If the tests are successful, Eaton could eventually power Express' entire fleet of 30,000 medium-duty trucks, AP said. FedEx has said the vehicles may be able to cut fuel costs by 50%.
United Parcel Service began its own hybrid electric vehicle program in 1998, AP said, and its first hybrid truck went into service in 1999 on a 31-mile route with 158 daily stops in Alabama. Transport Topics
(Click here for previous coverage.)
Penske Truck Leasing to Offer Xatanet
Xata Corp. said Tuesday Penske Truck Leasing Co. would offer the Xatanet Web-based fleet reporting system to its lease customers in North America.The Xatanet application includes fuel tax reporting, Department of Transportation driver logs, vehicle tracking, route mapping and two-way driver messaging, the company said in a release.
Penske, which is concluding its own testing of Xatanet, is expected to integrated the system into its standard lease product offerings. It operates about 200,000 vehicles in the United States, Canada, Mexico, South America and Europe. Transport Topics
Bush Administration Says Technology Sector Recovering
The Bush administration said the U.S. technology industry is showing healthy growth for the first time in two years, the Associated Press reported.The government predicted steady but moderate growth among technology companies and said technology investments are helping fuel growth in other areas, AP said.
Still, the report said the number of technology workers dropped by 11.2% since 2000 to 4.8 million employees — compared with a decline of less than 2% in all private industries.
The report also noted sales by U.S. technology companies and overseas affiliates topped $1 trillion in 2002. Transport Topics
Three Truckload Carriers Sign Up for TripPak Scanning
TMI said Tuesday truckload carriers Landstar System, Prime, Inc. and Crete Carriers Corp. have signed up for TripPak Scanning, a document-capture service at full-service truck stops.TripPak Scanning is featured at TravelCenters of America, Petro Stopping Centers and other locations, TMI said in a release. It allows drivers to have images and documents processed.
"Given the popularity of this program and the new hours of service regulations forcing changes in the driving patterns of our operators, we are eager to expand the options we make available for trip document submission," said Prime President Robert Low. Transport Topics
