The Dept. of Transportation has unveiled a new software program, the Intermodal Bottleneck Evaluation Tool (IBET), designed to help spot bottlenecks in the transportation system and help detour traffic around them.
Designed by DOT's Officer of Intermodalism, the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, FHWA's Office of Freight Management and Operations and the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, IBET will help transportation planners examine five areas where bottlenecks occur: highway access to airports, rail terminals and seaports, as well as airport and seaport congestion.
IBET provides policy professionals with a tool to assess the demands of commerce on the national transportation system, giving them a “big picture view” of domestic and international freight flows. The program quickly combines geographic information systems with freight information to analyze where freight is flowing and where bottlenecks are or can be expected.
The software allows users to look at modal and intermodal networks, as well as modal trends and use patterns such as origin and destination. It provides rankings of demand and can depict historical long-term growth and use trends. For each bottleneck area, IBET can show domestic, import and export flows, as well as through-traffic by state of origin and destination.
New name for BellSouth Wireless
BellSouth Wireless Data LP, one of trucking's major providers of wireless data service, has changed its name to Cingular Interactive LP. The company is now a business unit of Cingular Wireless, a joint venture between BellSouth and SBC. Before taking the BellSouth Wireless name, the company was known as RAM Mobile Data.
Donald Kovalevich, president and CEO of BellSouth Wireless Data, will remain president of Cingular Interactive, but will report to Mark Feidler, COO for Cingular Wireless. Both the parent and subsidiary are based in Woodbridge, N.J.
“Our new name illustrates our status both as a member of the Cingular Wireless family, and as a provider of interactive wireless data communications solutions to companies and mobile professionals,” Kovalevich said.
off the wire
Schneider National has launched a web portal that can be used by its 6,300 carrier partners to find loads. Fleets log on to SchneiderCarriers.com to post available equipment. If Schneider finds a matching load in its overflow freight, it posts details to a password-protected page where fleets can use the site's online chat to set a rate with Schneider representatives.
Crete Carrier Corp., Prime Inc., Marten Transport Ltd., Schneider National Carriers and Schanno Transportation Inc. have all agreed to serve on a carrier advisory board for Nistevo Corp. The company has developed a web-based service (www.nistevo.com) that allows shippers, suppliers and carriers to build what it calls “a collaborative logistics network.” The new board will represent carrier interests in that network.
Online link for drivers, dispatchers
Profit Tools Inc. has developed an interface between its carrier operations software and several mobile communications devices. Designed to work with LiveLoadNet, the company's online customer service system, and its Integrated Document Imanging system, the new product lets dispatchers provide detailed information to drivers automatically, from pick-up schedules to directions. Drivers can update the information with arrival/departure times from the field.
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Doors closed for now
PNV Inc., a provider of Internet and entertainment services for drivers originally called Park N View, has suspended operations. The company, which filed for Chapter 11 in December, has also laid off an additional 190 workers. “We are making significant progress towards finding a buyer of our assets and are in active discussions with several purchasers,” said Bob May, president and CEO. “Once a successful negotiation with potential buyers is completed, we anticipate resuming full and normal operations.”
