PeopleNet Fleet Manager and TMW Asset Maintenance team up to help fleet managers reduce costs and manage more effectively

DALLAS, Sept. 20, 2010 – PeopleNet, the leading provider of integrated onboard computing and mobile communications systems for effective fleet management, today announced an industry-first integration with TMT Fleet Maintenance software that will reduce operational costs by automating the inspection-ticket workflow. The announcement was made at TMW’s user conference, TransForum, being held today through September 22 at the Gaylord Texan Hotel in Dallas. According to PeopleNet Vice President of Tailored Solutions Randy Boyles, “Over the past 10 years, TMW and PeopleNet integrations have demonstrated that tightly integrated fleet processes enable workflow automation. 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 have begun working on eDVIR (electronic driver vehicle inspection report) to automate the creation of inspection tickets. 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. 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 stored in TMT Fleet Maintenance. 

HP Hood Logistics Analyst Heidi Henderson explains how eDVIR will help the 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.”

Henderson emphasized that eDVIR system reports will be valuable in tracking the effectiveness of Hood’s preventive maintenance program. “All inspection reports in TMT Fleet Maintenance become part of the maintenance history, tracked by driver, vehicle, driver/vehicle combinations and frequency. Essentially, we’ll be able to manage by exception more easily. Chronic issues will stand out. We’ll keep an eye out for drivers who never report maintenance issues and may need training about how to identify potential problems.”

Plans call for Hood to begin eDVIR beta testing in December of 2010.

About TMW Systems, Inc.

TMW Systems, Inc. provides enterprise technologies for managing logistics and transportation service activities effectively, productively and profitably. Customers include trucking, broker, 3PL and direct shipper, municipal fleet, ready-mix, service center and waste management operations. With seven offices in the US and Canada, TMW currently serves more than 1,800 customers managing over 400,000 power units and maintaining over 1.2 million assets. For more information, visit www.tmwsystems.com.

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.