TMW Unveils Software That Calculates Precise ETA
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — TMW Systems has launched a new trip-planning tool that automatically calculates estimated time of arrival by pulling together the vehicle’s current position, the driver’s available hours of service and current and historical traffic patterns.
The TruETA feature, introduced here Aug. 14 at TMW and PeopleNet’s joint user conference, determines the ETA for each stop on a driver’s plan and recalculates those ETAs each time the truck’s mobile communications unit sends an updated vehicle location.
The planning tool also generates color-coded alerts to indicate potential service failures.
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“TruETA helps eliminate much of the guesswork and manual data that comes with the trip planning process, and helps fleets reduce the risk of a dissatisfied customer,” said Ray West, senior vice president and general manager of TMS product lines for TMW.
TruETA is available to users of the TMW.Suite, TruckMate and Innovative IES transportation management systems.
The planning tool incorporates PC Miler routing capabilities from ALK Technologies, a sister company to TMW under Trimble.
William Foster, IT director at Covenant Transportation, said he sees value in the automated ETA calculations if it “gets down to a fine science.”
In one specific part of the fleet’s business, some large corporate shippers expect to receive precise ETAs, he said. “They want to know where it is within a 30-minute window so they know when to expect it.”
TMW and PeopleNet introduced a variety of other products and features at the conference:
• PeopleNet announced a partnership on electronic logging device compliance with sister company Innovative Software Engineering, which Trimble acquired in June. Through that collaboration, PeopleNet is integrating ISE Fleet Services’ eFleetSuite compliance applications into its eDriver Logs, which automate hours of service.
ISE will continue to offer ELD compliance technology to other telematics providers, as well as its own standalone ELD product. ISE has self-certified eFleetSuite as a compliant ELD ahead of the federal ELD mandate, which goes into effect Dec. 18.
• TMW also introduced 11 mobile applications designed to help dispatchers, managers, drivers and fleet maintenance workers perform business tasks from their Android or Apple devices. The mobile tools are available to users of the TMW.Suite, TruckMate and Innovative IES transportation management systems as well as TMT fleet maintenance software.
• PeopleNet said it has certified Samsung’s Galaxy Tab E, Note 4 and J3 devices to run PeopleNet software, giving customers additional options for in-cab displays.
• TMW introduced a predictive maintenance application, TMT Predict.Fault Code, designed to help users anticipate and address potential vehicle breakdowns and unscheduled service needs before they occur.
The application works in conjunction with the PeopleNet Mobile Gateway and Vusion data science to analyze vehicle fault codes.
• TMW added new billing functionality for third-party logistics contracts within its TMW.Suite transportation management system. The 3PL billing module allows for contracts based on cost-plus, management fees, standalone customer rates, pass-through costs and more. The company also simplified the billing process for contract-based dedicated transportation within its Innovative IES, IES Access and Access Plus TMS platforms.
• PeopleNet added customizable dashboard and reporting through PeopleNet Central Intelligence, a web portal that combines all of PeopleNet’s reporting, business intelligence and analytics.
• TMW introduced driver scorecards and performance metrics for fleets using the TMW.Suite TMS.
