Technology

Herb Schmidt, president of Con-way Truckload, said the carrier will replace its Geologic mobile communications equipment with Qualcomm’s OmniVision system.

Johnson Refrigerated Truck Bodies said that it has developed an automatic defrost option for its fiberglass truck bodies that is “100% automatic, requires zero man-hours [and] no water.”

Iteris Inc., which makes lane-departure warning systems for the trucking industry, reported its fiscal third-quarter profit improved from a year ago.

Canadian Logistics software provider Descartes Systems Group said it has acquired Fluensee Inc.’s MobiTrac fleet management business.

WASHINGTON — In a controversial report calling for huge new spending on the national transportation system, a congressional commission last week made several recommendations that would affect trucking, including new flexibility in the federal driver hours-of-service rule in congestion-prone areas.

Parts and engine systems maker Eaton Corp. said Monday that it has formally introduced its first commercially available hybrid power system in China.

Xata Corp.’s acquisition of fellow fleet technology provider GeoLogic Solutions gives the company its first real foothold for marketing information technology systems to for-hire trucking fleets, an executive with the Eden Prairie, Minn., firm said.

The commission charged with examining the future of the national transportation system is set to recommend a significant increase in federal fuel taxes to Congress, according to wire service reports and other sources.

Information technology vendors took aim at smaller fleets in 2007, offering software and tracking options that don’t require carriers to invest in full onboard computer systems.