Trucking Technology Report - March 2
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Both the online report and e-mail are sponsored by @Track Communications, a supplier of wireless communications and dispatch services.
Today's Technology Headlines:
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@Track Reports Smaller 4Q Loss, Higher Revenues
@Track Communications reported a net loss of $5.3 million for the 2000 fourth quarter, compared with a net loss of $5.9 million for the fourth quarter of 1999.
@Track was required during 2000 to change its accounting policy for product revenue recognition for sales to long-haul trucking customers to the SEC's issuance of SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 101.
As a result, $12.1 million in "ratable product revenue" is included in fiscal 2000 total revenues, together with $10.0 million of "ratable product costs" in cost of revenues. @Track News Release (03/02/01)
HK Team Claims Solution to Mobile Radiation
A small group of researchers in Hong Kong announced Thursday the creation of a new material able to block 90% of a cell phone's radiation emissions.The project, which lasted for two years, resulted in the development of a material that eliminates the majority of microwave emissions, according to team member Ge Weikun, a professor of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.
The group would not reveal much about the material, but said it would cost roughly $2.56 to install in a cell phone.
GE says some cell phone makers have already inquired about the new material. The invention could help ease fears that cell phone use can lead to health hazards, such as cancer. Reuters (03/01/01)
Technology Boosts Warehouse Management
Supermarket operators are interested in new methods to improve freight schedules and maintain inventory. The majority of distribution centers use a scheduling system to handle traffic.Carriers are required to call before sending their trucks to avoid long lines of trucks waiting to be unloaded, according to Richard Kochersperger, director of center food marketing. Inbound scheduling is also crucial in handling the unloading of freight, says John Metzger, vice president of supply and logistics at an A&P.
Meanwhile, Viking Freight, a carrier specializing in less than a load (LTL) shipments, uses its own lumpers to unload freight from its trailers upon delivery. Supermarket News (02/26/01) Vol. 49, No. 9, P. 23; Williams, Mina
Strength in Numbers
Supply chain execution and e-fulfillment can be addressed through warehouse management system (WMS) that employs various hardware, information technology, and deployment functionality to integrate manufacturers, suppliers, producers, and others into an efficient supply chain.For example, Smithers-Oasis has seen a 20% increase in the number of cases handled and products shipped since implementing a WMS system. A centralized WMS can support multiple sites through a single-site data integrity server better than a decentralized WMS with multiple data integrity servers at multiple sites.
Companies should account for transaction costs, maintenance costs, upgrade costs, and system set-up costs before deciding on a WMS system. WMS systems can be equipped to provide not only managers and warehouse personnel with order information, but can also make order reports available for customer service representatives. Manufacturing Systems (02/01) Vol. 19, No. 2, P. 77; Dilger, Karen Abramic
Pan-European Wireless Location Technology Test Completed
A global telecom consortium finished conducting tests of SnapTrack's Wireless Assisted GPS (global positioning system) technology in Europe. Handset makers, application developers, semiconductor manufacturers, and infrastructure manufacturers helped conduct the location tests, which employed prototype cell phones and small GPS antennas.The system effectively tracked callers located in various rural areas, highways, and cities. The system was able to provide location information accurate within 5 to 10 meters for callers located outdoors.
But in outdoor settings more adverse to wireless communications such as dense urban regions and areas with large buildings, the accuracy rate fell to within 30 to 40 meters. For users located indoors, the system was accurate within 30 to 45 meters. Microwave Journal (02/01) Vol. 44, No. 2, P. 63
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