TMW, PeopleNet Strengthen Collaboration
This story appears in the Oct. 3 print edition of Transport Topics.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — TMW Systems and PeopleNet unveiled their latest steps to unite their capabilities and build a more comprehensive, integrated technology platform.
By further streamlining the connections between TMW’s transportation management software and PeopleNet’s telematics technology, the sister companies also continued to deliver on the promise of closer collaboration under 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.
Trimble began its aggressive push into the North American trucking technology sector with its 2011 acquisition of PeopleNet, then added TMW and ALK Technologies, a provider of routing and mileage software, to its holdings in 2012. Those moves brought three of the industry’s largest technology suppliers under common ownership, opening the way for closer collaboration on product 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.
TripInsight will 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-premises servers and customized coding. The integration is now available with PeopleNet.
Another new integration connects PeopleNet’s ConnectedDriver mobile app with TMWSuite.
The companies also have enhanced the connection between TMWSuite and PeopleNet Fleet Manager to make it easier for dispatchers to view driver log data.
Despite this joint development, Wangler and McLaughlin stressed that their companies remain committed to integrations with outside partners, including Omnitracs and McLeod Software.
Several fleet executives in attendance voiced support for Trimble’s integration strategy.
“At the end of the day, convergence is what I’m looking for,” said John Erik Albrechtsen, manager of operations at Winnipeg, Manitoba-based Paul’s Hauling, which uses products from TMW, PeopleNet and ALK. “We have to bring all of those components together.”
“I think it makes a lot of sense for these companies to come together and develop products together to provide a better suite of services,” said John Wagner, chief information officer at Patriot Transportation Holding, a TMW customer.
Kent Parkinson, chief information officer for Royal Trucking Co. of West Point, Mississippi, stressed the importance of technology to succeed in the industry today.
“Business intelligence and big data are really huge for business leaders,” he said. “They need to pay attention to this. This is a game changer.”
Also during the conference:
• TMW introduced Engage.Bid, an application designed to streamline the freight bidding process for carriers, brokers and third-party logistics providers by simplifying the conversion and analysis of shipper request-for-proposal documents.
• PeopleNet launched ConnectedFleet Central, which collects all of the company’s data reporting and business intelligence in a single web portal. The release also includes Central Intelligence, a new analytics engine.
• PeopleNet has added left- and right-side cameras to its video intelligence product line, moving the company closer to its goal of providing 360-degree “surround vision” around the truck and trailer.
• TMW launched ConnectedDock, an Android app designed to streamline dock operations for customers using its TruckMate software.
