In a continued effort to battle distracted driving practices, Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood announced a federal ban on texting while driving by drivers of commercial vehicles, like buses and large trucks. This move is part of a larger DOT campaign to put an end to distracted driving.
But how does this affect transit agencies or fleet-based businesses already using in-vehicle mobile devices with integrated SMS, or texting, technology? Is it possible to continue using these devices without violating the new DOT measures?
It is possible to reach a middle ground between using in-vehicle mobile devices, which make your jobs more efficient, and following safe driving practices. Here is a white paper dedicated to the issue of selecting mobile computing technology which minimizes driver distraction and can increase safety. It’s free for you to read.
The relationship you have with your wireless voice and data service provider is an important one. Is your carrier adequately meeting your business voice and data requirements? If you are considering re-evaluating your enterprise mobility strategies, you need to read the results of a joint research project conducted in 2009 by Yankee Group and Mobile Enterprise Magazine. They examined how well the “Big Four” carriers – AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon – are doing in providing voice and data services to their ever expanding corporate client base.
Yankee Group and Mobile Enterprise Magazine surveyed business decision makers from over 560 small, medium and large companies in order to understand their current carrier relationships, wireless provider satisfaction, and selection criteria for choosing a provider for wireless voice and data services. Click here to read the results of the survey and compare how your carrier stacks up against these performance indicators.
Because of the large volume of calls WMATA’s MetroAccess Paratransit receives every day, management wanted an automated scheduling system to improve the efficiency of the call center. Real-time, accurate fleet data was also needed to effectively measure the performance of the fleet. And MetroAccess was also looking for technology that would improve system productivity with instant driver-dispatcher communication.
To improve their operations WMATA choose to implement a Paratransit ITS solution. Christian Kent, Director of MetroAccess, says: “The immediate benefit of the system is that we know exactly where our vehicles are and can examine this data either in real time or after the fact. This increases our credibility with the customer and makes it possible for us to give quick and accurate information on trip status, or to facilitate the investigation of a customer service complaint. For example, if a customer tells us that a driver didn’t show up at the scheduled pickup time, we can review the AVL data and confirm. With this objective data, we can respond to the customer’s concerns with greater certainty.”
Deciphering data entry and completing paperwork is a big time waster, when you could be using your efforts elsewhere. An inefficient work order process consumes valuable time and increases overtime costs. Automating and simplifying the work order life cycle can save you at least 20 minutes per job, eliminate data entry requirements and reduce overtime hours.
This animated demo breaks down an automated work order management system so you can see how the technology provides electronic work order dispatching, in-vehicle navigation, automatic vehicle location (AVL) and time-stamped job details to increase efficiency in the field and in the office.
Hello Everyone! We’re back after a nice holiday break. Best wishes to all for the New Year! For our first post of 2010 we’ve put together a complimentary white paper that explores the ramifications of distracted driving and talks about some technology solutions that help keep drivers safe.
It’s probably not a surprise that talking on a cell phone increases the risk of vehicle accidents by 3 times, and that the risk increases by 23 times when texting while driving. With driver distraction being a leading cause of vehicle accidents, selecting an in-vehicle computer for your fleet that lets you control when drivers interact with the device is important to your fleet’s safety, as well as your bottom line. Consider this: the price of one fleet vehicle accident when all costs are factored in, such as loss of use, liability, workers’ comp, and other indirect expenses, is estimated at $10,000.
So what do you need to look for in a mobile computer to minimize driver interaction while the vehicle is in motion? Here are a few suggestions:
Limited Functionality When in Motion
Look for mobile computers that let you set parameters around their use. You can customize these in-vehicle computers so the screen is only visible when the vehicle has stopped, suspend messaging capabilities when the vehicle is in motion, or only offer very limited functionality when in motion.
Customizable Navigation Prompts
There are times when support from the computer is necessary when driving, such as when the driver needs navigational help. Look for mobile computers that let drivers only access audio turn-by-turn prompts when the vehicle is in motion, or give drivers the ability to view the onscreen map but disable interaction with the settings.
Integrated Voice Calling
Choose a mobile computer that offers completely integrated voice communications. This feature mimics a cell phone, but gives you full control of when or if the calling capabilities are used when the vehicle is in motion—from texting and calling to receiving calls. You can also limit who your drivers are able to call.
Consolidating Job Tasks
Traditionally, fleet drivers have had to juggle a cell phone for voice and text messaging, a paper map for navigation, and a clipboard to record job details. Making these in-vehicle tasks available on one computing device limits the number of onboard distractions and lets you control when they are used.
Ease of Use
Commercial mobile devices, such as smartphones, are light-weight and portable, but their small buttons and screens make it difficult for fleet drivers to quickly use. A mobile computer intended for fleets, designed for ease-of-use, and backed by comprehensive training will take into account limited vehicle real-estate, while still being large enough for easy viewing and data entry.
A blog for those of us who live and work in fleet management. Topics include engine diagnostics, driver safety, mobile workforce management, CAD/AVL, vehicle maintenance, truck distribution, global computing, work order management, and field services.
Free White Paper: Decreasing Driver Distraction
With driver distraction being a leading cause of vehicle accidents, selecting an in-vehicle computer for your fleet that lets you control when drivers/device interaction is crucial to your fleet’s safety, as well as your bottom line.
