TMW, PeopleNet Combine Capabilities to Build Unified ‘Journey Management Application’
By further streamlining the connections between TMW’s transportation management software and PeopleNet’s telematics technology, the sister companies continued to deliver on the promise of closer collaboration under corporate parent Trimble Navigation Ltd.
TMW President David Wangler and PeopleNet President Brian McLaughlin took the stage together here Sept. 26 to kick off their companies’ first unified user conference and outline their vision for the future of trucking technology.
Trimble’s companies are working together to “transform the way the transportation industry works,” Wangler said. “By leveraging our combined capabilities and expertise, we can deliver greater value to you, from the cab to the shop to the office and across the supply chain.”
“Whether it’s drivers, trucks or freight, our mission is to transform the way these things connect, interact and relate with each other,” McLaughlin added.
TMW and PeopleNet are part of Trimble’s international transportation and logistics division.
Trimble began its aggressive push into the North American trucking technology sector with its 2011 acquisition of PeopleNet, then added TMW and routing and mileage software provider ALK Technologies to its holdings in 2012. Those moves brought three of the industry’s largest technology suppliers under common ownership, opening the way for a greater focus on collaborative development.
At the user conference, TMW and PeopleNet previewed what Wangler hailed as the industry’s “first comprehensive journey management application.”
“Trimble has all the technologies and platforms to create an automated solution to plan trips safely and efficiently, in partnership with drivers. You’ve just been waiting on us to bring them all together,” he said.
This combined product, named TripInsight, incorporates ALK’s CoPilot Truck navigation application, PeopleNet’s mobile technology and TMW’s back-office software.
Wangler said TripInsight generates optimized trip plans that account for fuel stops, hours-of-service rest breaks and historical traffic, as well as vehicle- and load-specific route restrictions. Drivers, meanwhile, can choose alternative rest and fuel stops on their PeopleNet devices.
The application also will provide a continuous calculation for estimated time of arrival.
“We call it true ETA, and it gives dispatchers and customer service reps information to proactively manage delays and improve the customer experience,” Wangler said.
The system will provide projected time of availability as well, giving planners a current view of when the truck and driver will be available for the next assignment, he added.
TripInsight will first become available early next year on select platforms, Wangler said.
“When you put the pieces together, we can actually build something greater,” McLaughlin added. “That’s the whole vision around Trimble transportation.”
TMW also introduced FleetConneX, a cloud-based integration platform that enables fleets to connect their mobile communications systems with their TMWSuite software without the need for on-premise servers and customized coding. FleetConneX is available now for fleets using both TMWSuite and PeopleNet.
In addition, PeopleNet’s ConnectedDriver mobile app now is integrated with TMWSuite.
The companies also have enhanced the connection between TMWSuite and PeopleNet Fleet Manager to enable dispatchers to view driver log hours in a united user interface.
Despite this joint development work, Wangler and McLaughlin stressed that their companies remain committed to integrations with outside partners such as Omnitracs and McLeod Software, the prime competitors of PeopleNet and TMW, respectively.
TMW highlighted its “vibrant ecosystem” of integrations with more than 235 technology and service partners.
Meanwhile, the internet of things “is not only growing, it’s invading,” McLaughlin said, referencing the continued growth of devices and objects that capture and transmit data.
He said connected trucks are enabling fleets to respond proactively to maintenance issues, while additional sensors that track driver fatigue and performance are helping to enhance safety.
The combined user conference drew 2,392 attendees and 81 exhibitors, organizers said.
