DALLAS. Here at the TMW TransForum User Conference, PeopleNet, a provider of integrated onboard computing and mobile communications systems, announced what it termed an industry first: Integration of its Fleet Manager system with TMW’s TMT Fleet Maintenance software. PeopleNet said the integration “will reduce operational costs by automating the inspection-ticket workflow.”
“Over the past 10 years, TMW and PeopleNet integrations have demonstrated that tightly integrated fleet processes enable workflow automation,” said PeopleNet vp of Tailored Solutions Randy Boyles. “Like our previous work with TMW, this integration between PeopleNet Fleet Manager and TMT Fleet Maintenance will help fleet managers reduce operating costs and manage more effectively.”
The two companies noted that they have begun working on an eDVIR (Electronic Driver Vehicle Inspection Report) to automate the creation of inspection tickets. They explained that in this “centralized closed-loop application, TMT Fleet Maintenance polls PeopleNet’s message history and creates a work order when it detects a vehicle defect identified by a driver in an eDVIR form message.”
According to Boyles, the system automatically “red-tags” safety-related issues for highest priority maintenance. When the vehicle repair is completed, the system sends a message through PeopleNet Fleet Manager to dispatch and the vehicle’s scheduled driver, identifying the mechanic and the corrective action that was completed. The complete eDVIR report - along with eDVIRs that do not require maintenance - are then stored in TMT Fleet Maintenance.
Analyst Heidi Henderson of customer HP Hood explained how eDVIRs will help her company prepare for CSA 2010. “Automating creation and workflow of inspection tickets is a proactive way for us to avoid fines and heavy penalties associated with roadside inspections. By speeding up the workflow and notifying maintenance before a truck comes in, we can react as quickly as possible to shorten the time between when a truck comes in and getting it back out on the road. Paper buried in an inbox waiting to be sorted through by maintenance and dispatch won’t bottleneck the workflow. Dispatch will have access to estimated completion time and can therefore make arrangements for an additional truck to ensure on-time delivery. Finally, the elimination of our three-part vehicle-inspection form for every vehicle everyday also helps us meet our sustainability goals.”
PeopleNet said plans call for Hood to begin eDVIR beta testing in December of 2010.
