Technology Briefs - Jan. 13 - Jan. 19
The Latest Headlines:
- TMI Signs Deal with Griffin Travel Plazas
- Report Predicts Tripling of Telematics Spending
- LTL Yellow Offers Online Bill of Lading
- Aether President Davis Resigns
- British Scientists Say Cell Phones Appear to Be Safe
- Arctic Express, Fikes Install FleetNav on Its Trucks
- Idaho Looks to Improve Online Program
- Report Predicts Tripling of Telematics Spending
TMI Signs Deal with Griffin Travel Plazas
TMI announced Monday it had signed an agreement to put its TripPak suite of document management services in Rip Griffin Travel Plazas.Rip Griffin Travel Plazas, a Lubbock, Texas-based company, operates 14 major truck stops in seven western states, including Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, New Mexico, Texas and Wyoming.
TMI, through its TripPak subsidiary provides document scanning, delivery and other document services for truck fleets. Transport Topics
Report Predicts Tripling of Telematics Spending
Sales of commercial vehicle telematics — products that combine communications and computing technologies — are projected to rise to $2.21 billion in 2008 from $771.3 million in 2001, almost tripling in size, according to a November 2002 report published by market research firm Frost & Sullivan.Revenue from the sale of hardware, or telematics control units, was estimated to be $320.7 million in 2001 and is projected to grow to $466.1 million in 2004 or 2005 and then decline to about $300 million in 2008, in part because of declining prices for telematics equipment, the Frost report said.
However, service revenue, or money paid by users of vehicle telematics units, was projected to grow to about $1.81 billion in 2008 from $450.7 million in 2001. Monthly charges were expected to decline over that time but, according to the Frost report, the number of new subscribers was expected to increase at a rate of about 30% a year. Daniel P. Bearth
This story appeared in the Jan. 19 print edition of Transport Topics.
LTL Yellow Offers Online Bill of Lading
Less-than-truckload carrier Yellow Transportation, a subsidiary of Yellow Roadway Corp., said it now offers an online bill of lading for its expedited and time-definite air and ground delivery service.The feature was already available for other LTL shipments, the company said.
Yellow said its Exact Express is an expedited and time-definite air and ground delivery service designed “to get shipments to their destination exactly when the customer wants it to be there.”
When customers use the online BOL for Exact Express expedited service, the company said the shipment would automatically be scheduled for pickup, a printed BOL with Exact Express option identified would be created, and a shipping label and an electronic bill of lading generated.
“This represents a significant milestone in our continuous effort to simplify the customer engagement process for Exact Express,” Rick Mathews, a vice president of Exact Express, said in a statement. Transport Topics
This story appeared in the Jan. 19 print edition of Transport Topics.
Aether President Davis Resigns
Mobile communications provider Aether Systems Inc. said Thursday that President and Vice Chairman George Davis resigned from the company.Aether said in a release Davis, who also resigned his position as a member of the board, was part of its management team since 1996.
Aether said it does not plan to hire a replacement or fill the board vacancy at this time. Transport Topics
British Scientists Say Cell Phones Appear to Be Safe
British scientists said Wednesday that cell phones appear to be safe and do not cause cancer, Reuters reported.However, the independent advisory group of scientists at Britain's National Radiological Protection Board said the phones have only been in widespread use for a relatively short time and further studies are needed.
Cell phones are a popular way for truckers to stay in touch with their families and dispatchers while on the road.
The report is the first review of in Britain since a study in 2000 also found no clear evidence of harm, Reuters said. Transport Topics
Arctic Express, Fikes Install FleetNav on Its Trucks
Maptuit Corp. said Tuesday that refrigerated carrier Arctic Express and flatbed carrier Fikes Truck Line have installed its FleetNav suite of navigation and fleet optimization tools.Maptuit said in a release Arctic Express will use FleetNav Directions and FleetNav Alert for routing and monitoring on its fleet of 375 trucks.
Fikes said in the release that it chose FleetNav for because it could be integrated with its existing custom-mapping software to further reduce out-of-route miles. Transport Topics
Idaho Looks to Improve Online Program
The Idaho Transportation Department said it planned to expand soon an online registration program for commercial vehicles that it recently introduced to make more truckers eligible to participate.Gwen Smith, an ITD spokeswoman, said the state was working to construct an online renewal system for interstate trucks that send portions of their registration fees to multiple states, and that it would be available “in the not-too-distant future.”
Currently, the state can only renew the registrations of trucks that send all their fee to the state of Idaho, Darla Christiansen, another ITD public affairs officer, said. This service has been available since mid-November.
Prior to the online service, truckers could renew their registrations only through the mail or in person at the department’s headquarters in Boise, but Christiansen said that “using the online service is much faster and more convenient.”
Idaho Trucking Association President Paul Sudmeier said “we believe that some of these programs [like online registration] are just as good for the department as they are for our members.” But he said while online registration can be convenient, some carriers still “like to talk to one of the people” at the department when completing their registrations.
In addition, some companies wait until the last day before renewing their registration, he said, forcing them to go into the department offices to handle the paperwork. Sean McNally
