Qualcomm System to Track Trucks in Cross-Border Program

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration said Monday that that starting later this month, trucks crossing the U.S.-Mexico border as part of a new demonstration program will use satellite-based technology developed by Qualcomm Inc. to track trucks.

The trucks will be tracked by vehicle number and company only via global positioning systems, and no driver information will be collected, FMCSA said.

The agency said it will spend about $367,000 initially to outfit trucks from both countries in the program, and use the information to ensure trucks comply with hours-of-service laws and other rules that govern the trips.

The GPS-based technology also will allow real-time tracking of truck location, documenting every international-border and state-line crossing, FMSCA said.

FMCSA first announced that the trucks would be tracked in late September.

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