“For some segments of the market,” says L. T. “Chip” Powell, director of U.S. operations at Blue Tree Systems, “building a system one piece at a time can be a smart approach. We’re facilitating that with a number of fleets that want to lower their initial investment, but more importantly want to leverage the value of these solutions by adding capabilities as they are needed. Each step sets the stage for the next one.”
As a provider of reefer monitoring, trailer tracking and in-cab fleet management solutions, Powell says that Blue Tree has realized that some fleets may not use traditional systems and others have never adopted them. Still more have found them lacking or unreliable partly because they did not fully consider or understand the value they hoped to leverage from the technology.
“A vehicle tracking system’s value is easy to understand,” Powell explains. “The return on investment, can be measured in improved fuel performance and productivity. If a fleet starts with a tracking solution and sees a return in lower fuel costs or improved asset utilization, then they might consider adding an in-cab screen for messaging, which they will realize further improves operations, productivity and customer satisfaction.”
A case in point, Powell relates, is a flatbed carrier that is using the Blue Tree System’s vehicle tracking feature as a stand alone solution. The company has realized fuel savings by cutting empty mileage and reducing idle time and is enhancing productivity and customer service by matching available vehicles and drivers with loads more effectively.
“Our solution in this operation is being used in conjunction with driver cellular phones, something the customer desired because it likes to have daily communication with drivers,” Powell says. “But the company is also starting to realize that it might benefit from upgrading to the next level of technology with the platform.
“For example,” Powell continues, “using the solution for engine and vehicle monitoring, the company’s maintenance staff can address fault codes from on-board electronics, often before the driver even realizes there may be a problem. The carrier can also easily expand in the future by adding turn-by-turn navigation, messaging and electronic Hours of Service features.”
Helping drive the one step at a time approach to implementing technology is the growing use, and computing power, of handheld devices. PeopleNet Handheld Solutions, in partnership with handheld providers Intermec and Motorola, is offering a range of information capture and data tracking capabilities via commercial grade devices designed for the rigors of trucking operations.
XRS Corp. announced it is working with Samsung Mobile to develop an integrated mobile device and software package designed for the trucking industry. The new XRS mobile platform, released earlier this year, runs on more than 50 types of devices through partnership agreements with several mobile communications brands.
Nearly 90% of drivers already use mobile devices, XRS notes, a fact that makes it easy to understand why fleets and on-board system providers are interested in bringing together performance enhancing solutions and mobile devices.
“Fleets have unique requirements based on the business they’re in,” Blue Tree’s Chip Powell states. “The industry is now realizing that they don’t necessarily need to have it all in one day. Implementing technology, and taking advantage of its incredible and rapidly growing potential in a steady, measured way can improve their bottom line one step at time.”
