Styline Transportation Upgrades to PeopleNet's Satellite Tracking and Onboard Computing System

PeopleNet Technology to Provide Enterprise Visibility and Other Savings

MINNEAPOLIS-April 12 , 2004-PeopleNet, a leading provider of onboard computing and mobile communications systems to the nation's transportation operations, today announced that Styline Transportation has equipped its fleet with PeopleNet's g2x tracking and mobile communications system and adopted the company's onboard computing services.

Styline Transportation, headquartered in Huntingburg, Indiana is a subsidiary of OFS, a manufacturer of high-quality office furniture. The transportation operation specializes in hauling office furniture to dealers, stores and large job sites. The 125-vehicle fleet handles truckload and LTL loads for its parent company as well as other shippers and consignees in the 48 lower states and Canada.

"The PeopleNet tracking and communications solution is replacing a legacy system," explained Ryan Menke, Vice President of Logistics for OFS. "We selected PeopleNet's g2x system for its sophisticated capabilities and its ability to help automate our existing web-based systems. The PeopleNet system is a natural extension of our desire to provide enterprise-wide visibility for orders. We want to know where our trucks are at all times and use the Internet-focused tracking capabilities so internal and external customers can monitor the location and status of their shipments in real-time."

According to Menke, a number of the PeopleNet tracking and communications system's capabilities appealed to Styline. Included were its reliability and the speed of data transmission. Also favorable was a geo-coding function. "With this system we can put GPS-based geo fences around ship-to points," Menke explained. "After a delivery is made and the vehicle crosses the geo-fence, the system sends a message to our exchange server so we're notified of the truck's status. At the same time, an e-mail thanking the customer for their business is sent automatically.

"We also found the PeopleNet system to be comparatively more cost effective," Menke continued. "Our projections are that this system will cost half of what our previous system cost to operate. In addition, with the Internet-based functionality and integration with our other enterprise solutions, we will eliminate a significant amount of customer service phone time. We also anticipate a savings in time and money that drivers spend calling in from the road because the PeopleNet system allows us to send messages and receive replies quickly and easily."

"When we first began exploring solutions that would meet our tracking and communications needs," Menke concluded, "the short list of criteria we addressed were functionality, pricing and our overall impression of the supplier. In the end, the competition was close. What separated PeopleNet was the early and extremely high level of comfort we had. Instead of telling us what we needed, they asked us what we wanted to accomplish and then provided the technology and solutions at the right price."

Styline is also expecting a quick return on its investment in PeopleNet's Online Fuel Tax service. Mike Turner, Safety Director, reported that the online service will replace a "tedious, manual and difficult process" that involves sending paper driver logs to a third-party vendor for scanning, and then processing claims.

"With the PeopleNet Online Fuel Tax service," Turner related, "we will automatically capture state and toll route mileages as well as download fuel purchase data from our own fuel islands and two outside sources we use on the road. This solution is much more efficient and timely and we expect a considerable cost savings from having the most updated information available. In addition, by automatically calculating mileages and handling the data in-house there's a savings compared to using an outside service. And finally, by accurately capturing 100 percent of the data we can collect all the fuel tax discounts for toll routes that we're eligible to receive."

Other benefits and cost savings associated with the PeopleNet tracking and communications system selected by Styline are noted by Jolene Davis, Director of Transportation. "OTAP, PeopleNet's over-the-air programming capability, provides a significant savings in cost and downtime," she stated, 'because we don't have to bring trucks in to upgrade the onboard systems. We are also anticipating savings from the ability to monitor road speed, average MPH and idle time, and use that information to establish a program to reward drivers who operate efficiently.

"We have had nothing but a great response from our drivers about the PeopleNet system," Davis added. "They especially like the personal touches, including free messaging to home and from vehicle to vehicle. Next we plan to look at PeopleNet's eDriver Logs, which we think will be a big plus considering new hours-of-service regulations."

The PeopleNet g2x system has become the standard for GPS-based location tracking, two-way voice and data communications, and Internet-based onboard computing to provide consistent, reliable communication between business owners, dispatchers, drivers and shippers.

Headquartered in Minneapolis, PeopleNet is the fastest-growing provider of Internet-based onboard computing and mobile communications systems to the long-haul transportation and metro-based fleet industries. The company serves carriers throughout the U.S. and Canada and recently signed its 950th customer. For more information about PeopleNet, call 888-346-3486, e-mail info@peoplenetonline.com, or visit www.peoplenetonline.com.