Canadian Carrier Implements PeopleNet's Onboard Computing System
JK Trucking Seeks Improvements in Efficiency
MINNEAPOLIS - September 23, 2005 - PeopleNet, the leading provider of onboard computing and mobile communications systems to the nation's transportation industry, today announced that J.K. Trucking, a dedicated and for-hire Canadian agricultural hauler, has equipped its fleet with PeopleNet's tracking and mobile communications system.
Based in Lethbridge, Alberta, JK Trucking provides a range of bulk grain deliveries throughout the province relying on a fleet of 35 power units and 38 bottom-dump grain trailers. In addition, the company operates 11 other units in its two other divisions - one hauling cattle south into the U.S. and a temperature controlled fleet running to California.
"We operate within an industry that is as competitive as any, and the ability to think differently and act differently is clearly the focus of our efforts," explains John Koliaska, owner and president of JK Trucking. "JK Trucking strives to bring professionalism and respectability to an industry that at times has a different stereotype."
"For instance, in the agricultural grain business, efficiencies have come painfully slowly," he says. "It can take 24-48 hours to verify loads and get bills out. The enhanced visibility of our fleet provided by PeopleNet's on-board solutions provides us the ability to communicate with our shippers more accurately and in a more timely fashion."
The improvement of communications with the customer has been a tremendous selling point for JK Trucking. Not only has it enhanced communications and service, it has increased transparency of the fleet to the customer, many of whom have the ability to get on the fleet's website and monitor the status of their loads.
"They may not use all the technology features available with the system," Koliaska says. "But they are impressed when you bring the technology to the table."
Towards that end, he plans to take that communication to the next level. Using the PeopleNet's PACOSTM Automated Messaging and Exception Management tool, JK will place a geofence around shipper and receiver locations. When one of Koliaska's units arrives at a shipper destination, the information automatically appears on a screen, sending out an automatic message to the driver asking whether they have picked up the load. All the driver has to do is respond yes. That eliminates any driver calls and paperwork to report a change in status.
Additionally, the PeopleNet system has helped make JK's dispatching operation more efficient. For instance, drivers used to have to call after dropping a load in order to obtain their next dispatch. "They sat on the phone anywhere between 5-15 minutes," he said, "which wasted valuable time they could have used to be driving our building customer relationships. And internally, our dispatch operation is far more efficient as we can solve customer problems instead of assigning loads and dictating instructions."
"We started looking at GPS systems seriously a year ago," he says. "We started talking to the drivers at that time about the myths and the perceptions. Essentially, we wanted to demystify the system. It's worked, because after a year of talk they understand our objectives and how we're trying to make their lives better and more rewarding.
For instance, PeopleNet's automated fuel tax reporting automatically collects border crossings so that drivers no longer have to enter the information manually. In addition, PeopleNet's PerformX real-time performance monitoring system helps provide accurate information on fuel economy, for which the drivers are incentivized.
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 our inception 10 years ago.
# # #
For more information, contact: Brian McLaughlin, (888) 346-3486 ext. 211
bmclaughlin@peoplenetonline.com
