Technology

PeopleNet opens BLU to third-party apps

March 12, 2009

ORLANDO. At the annual Truckload Carriers Association (TCA) Convention here this week, PeopleNet announced the launch of BLULink

Wendy Leavitt

ORLANDO. At the annual Truckload Carriers Association (TCA) Convention here this week, PeopleNet announced the launch of BLULink, a technology developed to make it easier and faster for customers and other third-party applications providers to develop custom software applications to run on PeopleNet’s own BLU in-cab PC.

“With BLULink, we’re giving our customers a choice to help them meet their specific operational needs,” said Randy Boyles, vp tailored solutions for PeopleNet. “They will have the power and control to develop applications and manage them directly without our support, including remote diagnostics. Or, they can count on our Tailored Solutions folks to work even faster and more efficiently with BLULink.”

PeopleNet also announced that it had achieved record revenue and subscriber growth in 2008. “Our results are due to continuing strong demand by all fleet types looking for more advanced tools to help them operate at top efficiency,” CFO Mike Goergen told FleetOwner. “With 80,000 subscribers, and over 100 new fleets signed in 2008, PeopleNet remains financially strong as we celebrate our 15th anniversary.”

The company also recently introduced a new tethered trailer tracking system called the Wi-VAN Gateway that utilizes Wi-Fi, RFID technology and the PeopleNet onboard computer to enable the back office to monitor trailer hookups, drops and their locations in real time.

“This is a tethered trailer solution for people who do not need 24/7 monitoring,” Tom Dorazio, product manager for PeopleNet, told FleetOwner. “It is a relatively low-cost tracking solution for the fleets that can use it. What we are doing with the Wi-VAN Gateway is creating a wireless area around the vehicle. We are trying to move away from hard-wiring all the different peripherals on the truck. The Gateway gives us a platform to do that, a standard interface to multiple applications and devices from third parties.

“In the future, for instance, the Wi-VAN platform will enable the collection and integration of more comprehensive data, including things like tire pressure and reefer monitoring and more,” Dorazio added. “What we are seeing is that the point solutions are being driven by the fleets. Our opportunity is to integrate all those into a single solution process and get that information back to the fleets faster and in a unified way via one communication path.”

About the Author

Wendy Leavitt

Wendy Leavitt joined Fleet Owner in 1998 after serving as editor-in-chief of Trucking Technology magazine for four years.

She began her career in the trucking industry at Kenworth Truck Company in Kirkland, WA where she spent 16 years—the first five years as safety and compliance manager in the engineering department and more than a decade as the company’s manager of advertising and public relations. She has also worked as a book editor, guided authors through the self-publishing process and operated her own marketing and public relations business.

Wendy has a Masters Degree in English and Art History from Western Washington University, where, as a graduate student, she also taught writing.