Grapevine, TX. ALK’s RouteSync and CoPilot FleetPortal applications will be available in the future for ALK’s CoPilot Truck on-board, in-cab navigation software via Omnitracs Mobile Computing Platforms (MCPs). The announcement was made here today by Omnitracs, LLC and ALK Technologies, a Trimble company, at the Truckload Carriers Association (TCA) 2014 Annual Convention.
According to the companies, fleets using Omnitracs fleet management technology and ALK’s CoPilot Truck will benefit from the new add-ons, which can help boost route compliance and reduce operational costs, both of which contribute to improved margins.
“Fuel usage and out-of-route miles are business-critical concerns for fleets today,” said Dan Popkin, senior vice president of Enterprise Solutions at ALK Technologies. “RouteSync and CoPilot FleetPortal are designed to alleviate non-revenue mileage, giving fleets the tools to reduce wasted time and fuel, while improving the bottom line.”
RouteSync, an add-on to CoPilot Truck navigation software, seamlessly integrates with the fleet’s back office and onboard systems to help ensure consistency between the planned route in the back office and the navigated route in the cab. Drivers receive and follow the planned route from the back office and are provided with voice-guided, turn-by-turn directions via the MCP so they can better adhere to the planned route. These features allow fleets using ALK’s CoPilot Truck and Omnitracs MCPs to improve route compliance, reduce non-revenue mileage, and create operational consistency among variables such as planned versus actual miles, driver pay, billing, load planning and fuel tax reporting.
Further reducing out-of-route miles, the CoPilot FleetPortal application allows fleets to visualize routes and generate fleet-wide reports on vehicles’ compliance to planned routes. By allowing fleets to analyze their route compliance data and measure driver performance, CoPilot FleetPortal helps carriers better identify driver coaching opportunities that can lead to reduced fuel usage.
ALK’s RouteSync is expected to be available to Omnitracs MCP200-, MCP110- and MCP50- equipped fleets using ALK’s CoPilot Truck in the summer of 2014. ALK's CoPilot FleetPortal is expected to be available to Omnitracs MCP200- and MCP110-equipped fleets using ALK’s CoPilot Truck in the summer of 2014 and to MCP50-equipped fleets using CoPilot Truck in the first half of 2015.
“In collaboration with ALK Technologies, we aim to continuously add value to our shared customers by offering technology that is fleet-centric—empowering drivers to be safe and efficient,” said Vikas Jain, vice president and general manager of software as a service at Omnitracs. “With these new CoPilot Truck features, fleets can further enhance operational efficiency and profitability, while also improving driver satisfaction and retention.”
