CHICAGO. Two leading providers of software and compliance solutions are joining forces to help fleets improve visibility into available driver hours and the inspection process.
McLeod Software and Xata Corp. are working on integrating two Xata products, XataNet and Xata Turnpike, into McLeod’s management software products to help with hours-of-service (HOS) compliance and to more effectively collect, integrate, sort, share and view driver and vehicle data.
The projects were announced yesterday at the McLeod Software Users’ Conference.
“Our hands-on partnership with McLeod demonstrates Xata’s ongoing commitment to remain at the forefront when it comes to helping fleets leverage technology to keep their operations compliant and efficient,” said Christian Schenk, vice president of product marketing, Xata. “Our partnership also demonstrates our commitment to working with other industry leaders to ensure fleets have the robust functionality they need.”
Xata is working to integrate its real-time hours-of-service data compiled by XataNet and Xata Turnpike into McLeod’s LoadMaster dispatch software. This will provide a more accurate view of available hours for drivers, making it easier to effectively manage drivers and available trucks.
The companies are also working on the incorporation of XataNet’s driver vehicle inspection reports (DVIR) into McLeod’s third-party vehicle maintenance modules provided by Cetaris and SquareRigger. When complete, this integration will include automatic notification of a vehicle’s mechanical problems so proactive maintenance can be scheduled before those issues become more expensive to fix.
The integration will also increase visibility to both in- and out-of-service tractors and trailers, enabling dispatchers to better utilize existing assets, Xata said. Other functionality, including the automatic generation of purchase orders and detailed reporting whenever maintenance work is performed on the road, will also be included.
“Our partnership with Xata unites two industry-leading companies that share a common goal of providing fleets with real-time information and easy-to-use tools to improve operations,” said Tom McLeod, CEO of McLeod Software. “We’re excited to join forces with them and look forward to providing the private and for-hire fleets we both serve with more high value solutions.”
