Next-generation computers make directions easier
technology 44 Commercial Carrier Journal April 2009 for DriverTech. Out of the box, the Windows XP-embedded TruckPC includes Navteq street-level map views on its display terminal. The map views allow drivers to see their current position and to scroll forward or zoom out to see roads ahead, Lemon says. Cadec recently announced an exclusive partnership with ALK to offer CoPilot Truck in its Mobius TTS and PowerVue onboard computing platforms. Route information is down-loaded automatically to CoPilot on the onboard unit for each trip. Drivers have the choice of whether or not to use navigation. They simply can toggle back and forth between Cadec and CoPilot using their touchscreen dis-play, says Frank Moreno, Cadec's vice president of marketing and product management. Besides being a driver perk, navi-gation software offers a straightfor-ward cost-benefit calculation, ven-dors say. Setting aside the customer service and safety benefits from using truck-specific routing, the primary cost justification for the software is reduction of nonrevenue or wasted miles. To break even, for example, a fleet would want to see a reduc-tion of 10 miles a month, per truck, assuming it pays $10 per truck per month for navigation software and its operating cost is $1 per mile. Qualcomm Inc., a provider of busi-ness-to-business wireless enterprise applications and services, announced its new Mobile Computing Platform 200 Series (MCP200). An addition to the Qualcomm Mobile Computing Platform prod-uct line originally launched in September 2006, the MCP200 is designed to deliver an expanded set of OmniVision Transportation Services, adding Wi-Fi, in-cab video training, Internet access and multi-mode capability. The MCP200 Series will enable fleets to effectively transform their cabs into mobile operations centers, the company says. For example, driv-ers now can access training, targeted customer information and relevant back-office data such as payroll information from the cab. Carriers can take advantage of the MCP200's power capabilities to grow their revenues and provide a higher level of customer service, says Norm Ellis, vice president of transportation and logistics sales and service for Qualcomm Enterprise Services. The MCP200 will be available this summer. Qualcomm also announced that its first MCP, launched in 2006 as OmniVision, has reached 33,000 active units with nearly 300 carriers. PeopleNet, a provider of Internet-based and integrated onboard computing and mobile communications systems for fleet management, launched BLULink. The technology makes it easier and faster to develop custom software applications to run on PeopleNet's BLU in-cab PC for both customers and the company's Tailored Solutions team, the company says. With BLULink, we're giving our customers a choice to help them meet their specific operational needs, says Randy Boyles, Tailored Solutions vice president. BLULink makes the Software Development Kit introduced last year with the BLU platform easier to use because it requires less training and no onsite assistance, PeopleNet says. BLULink is designed to grant customers direct access to the PeopleNet network to do their own over-the-air programming, similar to the OTAP technology that the company introduced several years ago. The company says BLU makes engine control monitoring data, eDriver Logs information and GPS positioning data read-ily available for custom applications; in addition, BLU's open software environment enables BLULink to support full data exchange with back-end systems, as well as in-cab devices that use PeopleNet's proprietary PTP protocol. BLULink also supports BLU's serial port so that it can interface to other serial devices such as mobile printers, according to the company. PeopleNet also announced record revenue and subscriber growth in 2008, with more than 100 new fleets signed. (Continued from page 43) PeopleNet releases BLULink for custom development Qualcomm announces MCP200 Series Qualcomm says the MCP200 Series will enable fleets to effectively transform their cabs into mobile operations centers.