Leading Canadian Logistics Provider Chooses PeopleNet's Mobile Communications Expertise
MINNEAPOLIS - June 29, 2006 - PeopleNet, the fastest-growing provider of onboard computing and mobile communications systems to the transportation industry, today announced that Can-Am West Carriers, one of Canada's leading providers of truck transportation and logistics services throughout North America, has installed a suite of PeopleNet tracking and mobile communications products in its fleet.
Founded in 1985, Can-Am West Carriers is a division of the Vedder Group, that operates five operating divisions - open-deck, heater/dry van transportation, super-trains, quads and logistics - in dedicated and irregular route highway less-than-truck load ("LTL") and truck load ("TL") services throughout Canada and between Canada and the United States. In addition, Can-Am offers freight marketing and logistics services between locations in Canada and the United States.
With corporate headquarters located in Abbotsford, British Columbia Can-Am West Carriers operates 220 company owned power units and 80 owner operators, half of which are equipped with the PeopleNet integrated suite of products.
"We have two customers - our driving customers and our revenue customers," according to Fred Zweep, president of Can-Am. "We were looking for an on-board solution that offered us the ability to enhance the way we interacted with both sets of customers by enhancing the level of communication while at the same time offering us some flexibility in our business model. That's why we chose PeopleNet."
"PeopleNet provides efficient solutions to intricate problems that affect a transportation company's customer service and, ultimately, their bottom line," said Ron Konezny, chief operating officer, PeopleNet. "We will help Can-Am West enhance their already-strong reputation for customer and driver service. We are very excited to work closely with them to optimize our products' effectiveness and ensure their greatest return on investment."
Boasting a driver turnover rate of less than 10 percent, Zweep believed on-board technology as a vehicle to underscore the company's already strong personal relationship by enhancing effective communications with each and every driver.
"We communicate with our drivers constantly," he says. "So we use our on-board computers for far more than tracking and location and to send and receive load assignments.
"We don't like using canned messages and computer terminology with our drivers. That doesn't show them the proper level of respect. Our drivers want to be cared for and people still want to work in an environment where the company cares for them and that they're treated like people. They want that personal touch."
Another key selling point for the PeopleNet system was providing the drivers with access to email while they're on the road.
"Our drivers have responded well," according to Zweep. "They see the system as far-less obtrusive and far more user friendly. So they've really adopted it into their routines."
One of those routes is electronic signature capture capability, another capability PeopleNet provided. "Cash flow is king in our world," he explains. "By integrating signature capture into our billing process, we've helped to reduce our outstanding receivables by 6-7 days."
Headquartered in Minneapolis, PeopleNet is the fastest-growing provider of Internet-based onboard computing and mobile communications systems to the transportation industry, including truckload, LTL, private, and service fleets. The company serves several Fortune 500 companies in the U.S. and Canada and has signed more than 1,000 customers since inception over 12 years ago.
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For more information, contact: Brian McLaughlin, (888) 346-3486 ext. 211
bmclaughlin@peoplenetonline.com
