More efficient use of enforcement resources, reduction of physical inspections increase transportation productivity

PHOENIX, Oct. 18, 2010 – PeopleNet, the leading provider of innovative and integrated onboard computing and mobile communications systems for effective fleet management, today announced that it has developed a wireless roadside-inspection (WRI) solution in conjunction with the FMCSA Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV) Safety Technology Showcase held last week in Tennessee.  Four leading PeopleNet customer fleets are participating in an operational test of the technology.  The solution is the result of a joint effort with the FMCSA and the Oak Ridge National Laboratory to improve motor carrier safety through increasing the frequency of roadside inspections using wireless technologies. Making the announcement, PeopleNet COO Brian McLaughlin said, “Roadside identification of CMV violations is becoming a bigger challenge as the number of trucks and truck mileage grow each year while roadside safety inspection resources do not. A wireless solution offers a way to not only dramatically increase the number of inspections, but also make them less time-intensive than traditional roadside inspections. The result is increased transportation productivity and mobility. The FMCSA estimates that inspections can increase from 3.4 million to 85 million, making it possible for carriers to receive credit for positive inspections and safe operations without utilizing enforcement staff to conduct inspections.”

The FMCSA is spearheading WRIs to increase efficiency in using resources by identifying violations prior to manual inspections as the carrier enters an inspection station. This will allow enforcement staff to focus only on unsafe drivers/vehicles and reduce the demand for physical inspections, which will reduce delays, fuel use, and emissions. In addition, in the absence of a nearby inspection station, WRI can provide alerts to carriers and enforcement staff for drivers or vehicles operating with high-risk violations.

WRI also supports CSA 2010 by enabling more frequent driver and vehicle safety assessments to ensure compliance and improve CMV safety. Assessment information can be automatically transmitted to the BASICs database immediately for updating scores in real time. Increased assessments will reduce accidents and costs associated with fatalities, injuries, and property damage. Other benefits include reduced congestion and delay, emissions, energy consumption, delays at border crossings and other inspection points, and the potential to reduce insurance costs by better identification of risks.

The FMCSA is testing the WRI program before it is assessed for potential industry roll out. No introduction date has been discussed.

About PeopleNet
PeopleNet is exclusively focused on providing innovative Internet-based and integrated onboard computing and mobile communications systems to improve North America’s trucking industry’s fleet management.  Its products are used by nearly 1,500 truckload, LTL, private, and service fleets in the United States and Canada, including several Fortune 500 companies. Reputed for its customer-driven technological innovation, unparalleled flexibility, and proactive customer care, PeopleNet was the first major technology provider to offer Internet-based communications to the transportation industry 15 years ago.  Since then, the company annually reinvests 100 percent of its profits into the business for aggressively developing new products that continue to improve fleet management. Industry recognition of the company’s leadership includes: Inbound Logistics Top 100 Award; Food Logistics’ 100 Top Technology Solutions and Service Providers; Frost & Sullivan Market Engineering Award; and M2M Value Chain Award. For more information about PeopleNet and its products, call (888) 346-3486, or visit www.peoplenetonline.com.