SkyBitz, Omnitracs Form Fleet Telematics Partnership
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SAN DIEGO — Trailer-tracking provider SkyBitz and in-cab technology supplier Omnitracs have formed a partnership to offer expanded fleet management services to joint customers, the companies announced Oct. 7.
The new offering will combine the information collected by in-cab telematics devices and trailer telematics systems to provide customers of Omnitracs and SkyBitz with more insights into their operations, the technology firms said.
This “marriage of the truck and the trailer” will open up new opportunities to improve fleet performance and profitability, SkyBitz President Henry Popplewell said during an interview for Transport Topics’ RoadSigns podcast.
That begins with simply ensuring that the right tractor connects to the right trailer.
“That’s been a source of frustration many times for big fleets and also for their drivers — not knowing clearly that the vehicle I’m driving is connected to the appropriate trailer,” Popplewell said.
The consolidation of data across the vendors’ platforms also will accelerate the development of data analytics and business process automation, the companies said.
Through the partnership, SkyBitz not only will be an outside vendor but also a co-developer within Omnitracs’ next-generation platform, Omnitracs One, Popplewell added.
“Integrating SkyBitz trailer-tracking solutions with our fleet capabilities allows us to continue to focus on the open platform strategy of Omnitracs One and the consolidation of data with the platform across the value chain,” Omnitracs CEO Ray Greer said in a statement.
Our president, Henry Popplewell, giving a great interview for @TransportTopics' podcast at ATA. If you are here come check out our new booth #4037.#ATAMCE19 #trailertracking #industrynews pic.twitter.com/sdqsJFTC3P — SkyBitz (@SkyBitz) October 7, 2019
In a separate announcement, SkyBitz said it has launched a new volumetric sensor with a high-resolution camera to provide more detailed information about trailer capacity.
The sensor provides clear images inside the trailer and calculates total cubic space and floor space to help fleets improve loading while maximizing utilization of cargo space.
SkyBitz said the images will enable trucking companies to prevent damage claims, reduce the need to repackage freight and communicate with their shipper customers to ensure they use proper packaging methods.
Fleets can install the device on a loaded or unloaded trailer in less than an hour, the company said.
Customers can view the freight images and volumetric data through the SkyBitz asset-tracking portal, InSight.
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