Are application service providers set for a comeback? Ask that question in certain quarters and the response might be, “Who said they ever went away?”

If terrorists tried to commandeer a truck hauling a potentially lethal load - fuel or chemicals, for example - what could be done to stop them? In the search for answers to that and related questions, carriers, shippers, regulators, researchers and systems vendors are exploring how information technology can help provide or enhance security in trucking.

Mobile communication technology will one day incorporate onboard intelligence and "the ability to exercise direct control over the vehicle," said Mark Sands, vice president and division counsel for Qualcomm Wireless Business Solutions.

What are the pros and cons of investing in maintenance software versus paying to use it online?