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Skokie, Illinois-based Rand McNally has been offering maps and related services since 1856, and first began offering its InteliRoute software for truckers in 1999. Salt Lake City-based DriverTech, meanwhile, says it has offered a version of its DT4000 TruckPC (right) since 1995.Last November, Rand McNally announced an "ownership stake" in DriverTech, and the companies said they would collaborate on future enhancements to the TruckPC product. The then-current DT4000 TruckPC offered a base unit with an undisclosed processor and either 40GB or 60GB hard disk drives, plus an in-cab touchscreen display that provides GPS and a host of other features, according to a 2008 data sheet.
Now, the promised improvements to the TruckPC hardware and software are complete, according to Rand McNally, which is showing off the device at this week's Truckload Carriers' Association Annual Convention in San Diego. The latest TruckPC (below) runs Windows Embedded Standard 7 on a 1.6GHz processor (unspecified, but presumably an Intel Atom, the company says.
Rand McNally says the TruckPC now features SSD (solid state disk) storage instead of a hard disk drive, making it more stable. In addition, up to 2GB of RAM is now available, according to the company.
The agreement between DriverTech and Rand McNally means that the TruckPC has been migrated to the latter's IntelliRoute software, so proprietary truck-specific routing, points of interest, road construction, turn by turn directions, and mileage calculation capabilities are now fully integrated into the device. Enhanced warnings are said to alert drivers to sharp curves, steep hills, speed limit changes, state boundaries, road construction, time zone changes, and on/off duty changes, among other hazards.
Meanwhile, TruckPC Workflow software provides interactive updates from the cab to the back office. Multimedia capabilities allow documents such as bills of lading, instructional videos, and other details to be shared with drivers, and will also "ensure that drivers are consistently executing company or customer directives," says Rand McNally.
According to information previously provided by DriverTech, the TruckPC can connect to satellite, cellular, and Wi-Fi networks simultaneously, automatically routing data via the lowest-cost option. It automatically provides J1708 and J1938 engine fault codes and ECM information to a fleet operator's maintenance department, also sending driver performance metrics such as speed, RPM, and idle time, the company says.
As well as keeping drivers from getting lost via GPS and nationwide street-level mapping, the device is said to be available with a an in-cab printer/scanner (shown at left with the earlier DT4000). Integrated with the TruckPC's data transmission capabilities, this allows invoices to be generated immediately after a load is delivered, the company notes.
Dave Muscatel, CEO of Rand McNally, stated, "We knew when we took an ownership stake in DriverTech last fall that they had a great product. These latest enhancements, including the integration of Rand McNally's award-winning IntelliRoute software, make it that much better. We are very excited about the value proposition we can bring to customers."
Further information
More information on the TruckPC may be found on Rand McNally's TruckPC product page.
Jonathan Angel can be followed at www.twitter.com/gadgetsense.
