More than 3,000 Motorola HDT 500 Series handheld data terminals have been assigned to Airborne drivers in Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles and Seattle. The system eventually may include as many as 20,000 of the handheld data terminals, the Seattle-based package-delivery firm said.

"The new system releases our drivers from dependence on any vehicle-mounted technology and enables us to relay information throughout the system in real time," said Airborne vp Bill Ashby. "Although we have just begun system roll-out nationwide, it already has had a dramatic impact on services we are able to provide our customers."