Two weeks after announcing its investment in DriverTech, Rand McNally unveiled further enhancements for the TruckPC mobile fleet management solution at the American Trucking Associations Management Conference and Exhibition, going on now in Phoenix.
Rand McNally Truck PC, powered by DriverTech, utilizes Rand McNally’s leading IntelliRoute TND truck navigation on DriverTech’s secure, industry-tested, on-board computing platform.
The recently announced deal between the two companies is resulting in joint development of products and services for the transportation and logistics markets.
DriverTech currently has its technology embedded in more than 20,000 trucks and other commercial vehicles. Going forward, Rand McNally and DriverTech will jointly develop products and services for the transportation and logistics markets, with Rand McNally providing exclusive sales and marketing support in this vertical.
Enhancements to the TruckPC system include:
New navigation software - Features of Rand McNally’s IntelliRoute TND navigation will be resident on the in-cab device, including enhanced driver warnings, updated road data, and Rand McNally’s proprietary trucking data.
In addition, there are driver-oriented features such as a simplified user interface, text to speech directions, multi-stop route optimization, lane guidance, posted speed limit warnings and automatic driver assistance (ADAS).
• Improved hardware performance - Integration of a solid state hard drive will improve reliability and provide a longer life span. A faster processor and up to 2G of memory will enable faster performance and more storage on the device. • New features - The addition of TruckPC Workflow, a way to manage the driver’s daily tasks, will provide interactive updates from the cab to the back office. Multi-media capabilities and a customizable process allow documents such as bills of lading, instructional videos, and other details to be shared with drivers. Workflow will ensure that drivers are consistently executing company or customer directives, and will increase driver efficiency by simplifying non-driving tasks. • Migration to new Windows embedded standard 7 - Continuing to utilize the Windows embedded platform assures customers an easy integration path to other software and logistics packages.The new features are expected to be completed by the end of the first quarter 2011.
The TruckPC system also provides:
• A comprehensive Hours of Service program, compliant with the latest FMCSA 395 guidelines. • Established integration with leading third-party dispatch and transportation management software systems. • In-cab video training and content sharing on the device that allows fleets to wirelessly send documents and training materials that drivers may access in safe, non-driving conditions.Along with the TruckPC system, Rand McNally will also offer a high-grade scanner with advanced technology designed to optimize the size of the file to enable smaller file transmission over the air.
“This set of enhancements is just the first in the pipeline and illustrates the synergy of the Rand McNally-DriverTech partnership,” said Dave Muscatel, CEO of Rand McNally. “DriverTech’s robust in-cab computing technology and Rand McNally’s industry leading navigation and proprietary truck specific road data, will enable a whole new generation of communication between driver and fleet.”
