New service and hardware options are driving the shift.The first fleets to adopt wireless communications have almost all been truckload and other for-hire carriers. This year, however, and for the next few, most of the new activity in wireless is expected to be among private fleets, which operate approximately 63% of all commercial vehicles registered in the U.S. The reasons for this new interest in mobile communications are almost as varied as private fleet operations themselves.

New levels of integration between wireless communications and transportation logistics systems is one reason mobile communications is becoming more attractive to private fleets, according to Gopal Singh, general manager of Eaton Corp.'s Trucking Information Services. "Everyone talks about integration, but what really happens is that fleets end up with two separate platforms sitting in their vehicles -- one for communications and one for logistics," he says.

Seamless integration brings real benefits because it allows automatic and real-time communications with a fleet's MIS operations independent of the driver, Singh says. "That lets private fleets re-engineer logistics systems, which compared to simple messaging will bring a higher order of magnitude in productivity increases . Fleets can make decisions based on information instead of assumptions when you have a real-time, seamlessly integrated system."

Another reason private fleets have become more interested in wireless communications is the development of more robust systems, according to Singh. "If you re-engineer your logistics to take advantage of real-time communications, you can't afford to lose even a little bit of data," he says. Coverage also becomes a more important issue, which is why development of lower cost satellite data services should further accelerate private fleet adoption of wireless systems, he adds.

Lower cost hardware for mobile communications is also fueling private fleet interest in wireless data, according to Al Stern, manager of transportation marketing communications for RAM Mobile Data. New interactive paging services suit many field service and delivery fleets, providing short message communications over low-cost, compact pagers, he says. Software vendors are also driving the move to these simpler systems by providing management systems for interactive paging that are both flexible and reliable, he says.

Many private fleet operations, especially those run by manufacturers and food distribution companies, are also beginning to realize that in some ways their operations are quite similar to those of truckload carriers. "They may have a fixed route going out, but not on the backhaul, so at least 50% of their operation is truckload-like," says Dennis Harlow, a senior product manager for Qualcomm Inc.

"They're also traveling a lot of miles, so there's an opportunity to cut costs by controlling out-of-route miles," he says. "Many private fleets also use on-board computers, and they want some way to access that accumulated data in real-time, as well as translate it into useful information."

Overall, cost pressures are high at these kinds of private fleets, especially now that their costs are often being compared to truckload operations.

"They understand that better communications can translate into better control of drivers and routes, and better opportunities to increase loaded miles, all of which will help them control their costs," says Harlow. Qualcomm's satellite-based system "is not going to be the right (wireless) solution for P&D operations, but if a private fleet looks at all like a truckload carrier, they're beginning to see the benefits in our type of mobile communications."

HighwayMaster adds MIS services Having purchased proprietary fleet operating software and MIS facilities from Burlington Motor Carriers, HighwayMaster Communications says it will now offer information support services on a contract basis to fleets using its cellular-based mobile communications system.

"We're not getting into the software business," says chief operating officer Gordan Quick. "We're extending integrated software support to our small and midsized fleet customers that couldn't afford to develop their own systems." The information services will be provided on a per-mile contract basis, which will allow fleets to grow without worrying about MIS capacity or capital investment, he says.

"This is the first time I've ever seen MIS on a contract basis in the trucking business," Quick says. "We think it will be most attractive to truckload carriers with 50 to 300 tractors."

A truckload carrier with over 2,000 power units, Burlington began developing its own integrated fleet management system in 1984. The system eventually encompassed route optimization, maintenance, safety, rating, and all other fleet information functions. Under terms of an agreement that includes installing HighwayMaster mobile communications units in all of the fleet's tractors, the company will also take over the fleet's entire MIS operation including personnel and AS/400 equipment.

FedEx closes wireless loop Federal Express Corp. will fill the one remaining gap in its wireless package tracking system by adding a satellite communications system for its linehaul fleet. Pick-up and delivery portions of the company's expedited service already use a private radio network.

FedEx has 1,300 tractors moving packages over the road between consolidation and hub facilities. By the end of May, all of those tractors will be carrying Qualcomm's OmniTRACS messaging and location systems. "The satellite system will be integrated with our other ground (communications) system," says John Traendly, managing director of surface movement systems. "We'll be able to track a package from the time we pick it up until we deliver. And the system will be 'conveyance neutral.' It won't make any difference if the package is on the road or in the air."

The new satellite communications link will actually feed a number of information systems, including systems for routing, load management, and maintenance, as well as for package tracking, Traendly points out.

CF puts routes, services on Internet Shippers looking for routing and service information from LTL carrier Consolidated Freightways can visit the fleet's new Internet Customer Service Guide at www.cfwy.com. The new Web site also offers real-time shipment status and tracking for up to nine shipments.

Information on freight bill delivery receipts, international shipment documentation, and logistics support services are also available at the CF site. Future plans call for a CF terminal locator feature and ocean shipping schedules.

Teletrac adding nine cities Vehicle location and two-way communications services offered by Teletrac Inc. will be expanded from six to 15 metropolitan areas by the end of the year, according to the company. Teletrac currently provides wireless fleet management service for some 57,000 vehicles over terrestrial-based networks in Chicago, Dallas/Ft. Worth, Detroit, Houston, Los Angeles, and Miami.

Service was scheduled to go online last month in Orlando and San Francisco. New York, San Diego, and Washington, D.C., are supposed to follow by the end of June, with Boston joining the Teletrac system by September. The company says it intends to begin service in Indianapolis, Philadelphia, and Columbus, Ohio, by the end of 1997.

Houston adding AVL to emergency fleet Dispatching operations for Houston's fire department and emergency medical services are getting a new $1.5-million automatic vehicle location (AVL) system that will be able to predict travel times based on actual street and traffic conditions. The system, developed by Trimble Navigation Ltd., uses GPS to track vehicles, an on-board message data terminal, and proprietary "automatic vehicle recommendation" software.

The city will equip 205 emergency vehicles with the Trimble AVL system, which will be integrated with an existing computer aided dispatch system. The company will also supply the Houston Fire Dept. with a software system that will let it maintain and update street maps and address records.

Caterpillar tries LEO communications Caterpillar Inc. and five partners have completed a demonstration project that provided remote engine monitoring over the Orbcomm low-earth orbiting (LEO) network of communications satellites. Drawing on information generated by engine electronic controls and vehicle sensors, Caterpillar was able to track and record status information from widely dispersed heavy equipment without any operator input.

Joining Cat and Orbcomm in the test were Torrey Science, a maker of two-way communications hardware and sensors for the LEO system; mobile network developer Racotek Inc.; software provider Advanced Systems Designs Inc.; and Globitrac, a value-added reseller of the Orbcomm service.

Orbcomm currently has the first two satellites operating in its LEO network, and plans to expand that network to 36 satellites.

Qualcomm changing software tactics Having invested heavily in developing its own integrated fleet management software, Qualcomm is now encouraging third-party providers to take over future development work for its OmniTRACS satellite communications customers with a new Software Certification Program (SCP).

The new third-party program, which spells out software integration and support requirements for the OmniTRACS system, has currently certified Tom McLeod Software Corp., TMW Systems Inc., and Innovative Computing Co.

Announcing the new certification program, Tom Doyle, OmniTRACS vp-marketing, said that Qualcomm was not only "de-emphasizing our development activity in these business solution products,'" but was also "considering other options, including the sale (of proprietary management software) to a qualified transportation software provider."

Cummins to make its own Java Cummins Engine Co. will join forces with Sun Microsystems to develop a non-proprietary Java application program interface (API) that could be used by its engine electronics. Java is an open computer language designed to help developers create software applications for public networks such as the Internet or Intranets. An industry standard "machine information exchange," or MIX, interface for Java would allow Cummins engines and users to connect directly over the Internet or other open architecture channels, as well as provide a well-accepted standard for third-party software developers.

Announcing the project at the JavaOne Developers Conference last month, George Brunemann, Cummins' manager of total system architecture, said: "Think of (Cummins) engines as nodes on a global network, where the driver, the mechanic, the fleet manager, and the company president all need access to the critical business information in each of their machines . . . We must be able to leverage the Internet as the infrastructure for Cummins information systems."

Geotek expands coverage in Florida Tampa was added last month as the third service region in Florida for Geotek Communications' wireless data and voice system. The system, which uses trunked radio frequencies and a patented technology, now provides vehicle tracking as well as packet data and voice services in nine metropolitan areas, including Miami, Orlando, New York, Boston, Philadelphia, and Dallas.

Geotek says it now has 3,200 fleet subscribers using its service and proprietary Windows-based logistics and management software. The company's wireless packages also provide "mobile workstations" integrating telephone, dispatch, text messaging, and vehicle location services, as well as PC-based dispatch stations.

Park 'N View lets drivers plug in at truckstop parking spaces to get cable television, telephone, and modem service for just $10/mo. The company says its hookups are currently available at 14 truckstops and that it has contracts to install the system at another 500.

John Sarto, senior vp and general manager of Qualcomm's OmniTRACS Div. since 1995, has been promoted to president of the satellite communications group.

The Management Systems Council of the American Trucking Assns. has recommended that member fleets not implement Version Release 3060 of the ANSI ASC X12 Electronic Data Interchange standards. Instead, MSC suggests that members move from the current EDI Version Release 3050 to Release 3070, which will be published in the group's spring 1997 EDI Implementation Guide.

Kenwood Communications Corp., maker of mobile radios for trunked communications systems, has named Tom Wineland president. Wineland has been with Kenwood for over 20 years, most recently servicing as vice president.

The Transportation Systems Group of Amtech Corp. has named John E. Wilson as president and COO. The company provides RFID and other wireless data communications systems for electronic toll collection and fleet asset management.

Tom McLeod Software Corp. says it has developed an interface between its LoadMaster dispatch software and Integrated Decision Support Corp.'s Expert Fuel, a decision support tool that helps fleets set optimal fuel purchase plans at the time of dispatch.

A new planning module from TranScape, a logistics software company, selects likely shipments for backhaul loads and transmits data to the National Transportation Exchange (NTE). The exchange serves as an electronic marketplace for shippers and carriers seeking backhauls.

Roadway Express customers can now use the fleet's Web site (www.roadway.com) to track shipments by purchase order, bill-of-lading, or PRO numbers. Previously, shipping information could only be obtained with a PRO number.

Under an agreement with Tandem Computers, Bluebird Systems will provide fleets with all support and maintenance for the Tandem Imaging Processing System (TIPS). The company, which develops server software for document imaging systems, will also provide future TIPS software add-ons.

Roadshow International Inc., a provider of routing and wireless systems for fleet management, has joined Microsoft's Value Chain Initiative. The initiative is an alliance of companies working to develop collaborative logistics systems for the Windows NT operating system.

Viking Freight Inc. has added online rating to its Web site (www.vikingfreight.com). The new feature provides instant access to rate quotes when shippers provide origin and destination ZIP codes, shipment class and weight, ship date, and product description. Future Web site plans call for adding transit time maps, terminal directories, and access to shipping documents.

A new Web site (rwa.metronetworks.com/rwadirect.html) developed by Metro Networks Inc. provides links to information on road conditions, construction, and weather for all 50 states and most major cities. Metro Networks gathers traffic data directly in over 60 cities, as well as monitors state and federal DOT reports.

CAPS Logistics and Distribution Services Inc. (DSI) have agreed to jointly develop an integrated transportation planning system for Windows NT. CAPS is a provider of load optimization and vehicle routing software, while DSI develops freight rating, auditing, and tracking software.

The ARDIS wireless data network now supports palmtop personal computers from Hewlett-Packard running the Windows CE operating system. Wireless packages that turn the HP 300LX and 320LX into mobile units for the ARDIS network include a Motorola wireless modem card, e-mail software, and Internet connectivity programs.