TCA Roundup: Supplier Announcements; Association Awards
KISSIMMEE, Fla. — Multiple industry suppliers announced new services or contract acquisitions at the Truckload Carriers Association meeting here, where industry awards also were presented.
Supplier Announcements
Among those making announcements was PeopleNet, which said that its Web-based mapping technology has been enhanced by the inclusion of sister company ALK’s mapping software.
The addition will offer more route planning features such as traffic and weather tailored to drivers’ and fleets’ specific needs and situations.
That targeted information from ALK, which also is a Trimble company, enhances the PeopleNet workflow tool that provides arrival and departure information, fuel levels and equipment location.
The company also said it has created four new business lines, including trucking, energy services, video intelligence and channels/OEMs. Mark Kessler was named general manager of the trucking unit, the company’s largest.
Omnitracs LLC said that Interstate Distributor, a Washington-based truckload fleet, has deployed the supplier’s Mobile Computing Platforms on all of its 1,500 trucks.
The supplier said in a statement that Interstate, which is No. 73 on the Transport Topics Top 100 list of the largest U.S. and Canadian for-hire carriers, selected the technology to enhance operations and ensure regulatory compliance.
Omnitracs also said that Grupo TUM, owner of TUM Transportistas Unidos and other transport companies in Mexico, is installing the supplier’s products across its entire fleet and extending a business alliance with Omnitracs.
Rand McNally said Craig Transportation Co. has selected the TND 760 mobile fleet management system.
The Ohio-based carrier is expected to enhance information processing, customer service and increase driver retention by deploying the technology, a Rand McNally statement said.
TCA Awards
TCA announced that John Kaburick was named posthumously as the winner of its top honor, the Past Chairmen’s Award.
Kaburick, who headed Earl L. Henderson Trucking Co., of Salem, Illinois, was recognized for significant contributions to the industry. His son, Josh, the current CEO of the refrigerated carrier, accepted the award along with John’s wife, Carolyn.
Kim Richardson, president of Ontario-based driving school KRTS Transportation Specialists Inc., received the Lee J. Crittenden Memorial Award from the Professional Truck Driver Institute Inc.
Cengage Learning sponsored the award named for the late Lee Crittenden, an industry supporter who advanced driver training programs and was part of the effort to create America’s Road Team.
KRTS has trained more than 9,000 CDL holders.
Fremont Contract Carriers and Grand Island Express, two fleets based in Nebraska, won TCA’s Best Fleets to Drive For awards.
The recognition, based on driver nominations, was the third for Fremont and the second for Grand Island Express. A total of 20 companies were named as finalists in the competition. Industry suppliers Bose, Marsh and CarriersEdge sponsored the awards.
