Thanks to satellite technology, the sky's now the limit when it comes to innovative new products to make the truck driver's ride a smoother one - whether it's guiding them on a more efficient route, improving communications or enhancing the cab with all the comforts of home.
When Cobra Electronics rolled out its NAVONE 3000 portable Global Positioning System at March's Mid-America Trucking Show in Louisville, Ky., the response was "phenomenal," says Ramon Sandoval, product manager of mobile communications. The device, which plugs into a vehicle's cigarette lighter, was designed to provide exhaustive maps and turn-by-turn directions for all motorists. But it speaks directly to the needs of the trucking industry, where time is literally money.
"Truckers know all the interstates, but once they get into a major city and have to go to a location, a navigation system is something they can really use," Sandoval says.
The product's portability also is ideal for drivers who may need to occasionally change trucks, since, unlike most GPS systems, there's no installation involved and no investment in a particular vehicle.
It's obvious why truckers like to know where they're going, but many have found benefits in a system that lets others know, too. QualComm's OmniTRACS communication and tracking system, now used by many fleets, initially ruffled some drivers' feathers. But several advantages have emerged even beyond the financial rewards of a fleet's increased efficiency, says Tom Doyle, vice president of Business Development for QualComm Wireless Business Solutions.
"One of the most common things that we hear [from drivers] is that they could never go back - it has so changed the way they do business," Doyle says.
The company recently added an automatic arrival and departure application, which records driver status at assigned stops. The specific, real time information can help alert clients to serious detention issues, a common frustration for drivers.
Next year, QualComm will upgrade its system. OmniVision will have a spoken navigation tool and a more powerful computer processor, allowing for a wide range of future services. Remote diagnostics, e-mail and electronic games are possible enhancements.
With safety in mind, GE's VeriWise Asset Intelligence tracking system recently expanded its online tools to allow clients to activate an emergency tracking option from their own computers.
The option allows for "rapid reporting" of the trailer's location at frequent fixed intervals, in case of theft or hijacking. VeriWise's Premier Services membership also allows clients to log into their account online and adjust "geo-fences" to alert them to when their vehicles have crossed certain boundaries. And if they've purchased GE's cargo sensors as part of the package, they can view the inside of the trailer via a Web interface. The complete VeriWise system is now available for use with refrigerated trailers as well as dry vans.
When it's time to stop, drivers are discovering the benefits of IdleAire. Pulling into an IdleAire space at various truckstops, they hook up to a device that provides heat or air conditioning for their cab, so they can turn their engines off and stop idling. That means both fuel savings and cleaner air. But the icing on the cake for drivers needing a diversion is the service module that uses satellite technology to bring first-run movies and a host of television channels to them in the comfort of their cab. Internet access, with a user-friendly touch screen, has helped familiarize many drivers with computers and the Web.
"IdleAire has become a gateway to the world of computers for many drivers," says IdleAire's John Doty.
Delphi Corp. is taking in-cab entertainment one step further, developing a compact antenna system that will let drivers access satellite television from anywhere on the road, without a traditional dish.
Drivers may now have more time for fun on the road thanks to a new partnership between GPS provider PeopleNet and OTS, a transportation industry tax outsource provider. To help alleviate the increasingly complicated process of fuel tax reporting, the companies have teamed to offer full-service, paperless fuel tax reporting and recovery services. Fleets utilizing PeopleNet's GPS systems will have the option of employing OTS to prepare and file road tax returns based on the tracking information gathered. The partnership offers specialized service on power take-off (PTO) fuel used and idle time recovery, and all compliance reports are made available online.
As satellite technology continues to evolve, its time-saving tricks are sure to win over even the most tech-phobic truckers.
Another remarkable bit of technical gadgetry is the truck's Link system, a greatly expandable driver display center that dishes up all manner of vehicle statistics, both real time and historical. It can also provide satellite communications and valuable routing info. A multipurpose stalk on the steering wheel column enables drivers to navigate through the numerous screens and compose text messages, which are sent though Volvo's central command to the individual's dispatcher. Beam me up, Scotty.
It's hard to imagine a more advanced, more complete truck than the VT 880. Styling, safety, comfort and big power: It has everything. Well, almost. The truck isn't available in an economy model. Prices start well north of $100,000 and go up from there. That shouldn't deter most serious buyers, however. After all, this is a ride intended for the industry's most successful operators, those who appreciate the finer things in life and have the wherewithal to pay for them. This is trucking with a nod to Cartier, not Timex.
