Diminished radio frequency, a need to rein in unbudgeted overtime and “no lunch” expenditures tied to driver contracts, and the availability of information technology talent brought on by the dot com crash converged to prompt the Pacific Northwest's ready mixed market leader to develop its own truck-tracking and status-mapping product.

Over the past two years Seattle-based Glacier Northwest has crafted a GPS and wireless communications-enabled system for internal use, plus sister operations in Oregon and California (Catalina Pacific). The system has been gradually installed on the company's 150-mixer fleet in Washington — ahead of launches in Portland and Los Angeles.

Standard hardware for the system consists of:

• Vehicle-mounted GPS receiver sensors for drum rotation speed and direction, water and admixture flow to drum, and wash water flow indication;

• A robust connection box housing a PC running on the Window XP operating system for easy linkage with peripherals such as thermal printers (mobile paper tickets), signature capture pads (paperless tickets), Web cameras (rear truck vision), and magnetic card readers (COD orders);

• Connection box-mounted cell phone to maintain the wireless link; and,

• PC displays or mobile data terminals for time management, route mapping and two-way messaging.

The sensors communicate delivery status information, from loading to washout, via a wireless network. The connection boxes are built as robust PCs running on a widely adopted Microsoft business platform. The 10.4-in. display screens feature maps, for order routing, and can relay driver messages and store vehicle performance data. A basic alternative to the PC display is the mobile data terminal that can receive and respond to text messages from the dispatch office.

“Initially, we are set up for status reporting and billing-data collection,” notes Glacier NW/Washington Division's Mark Leatham, general manager of concrete operations. “We are now ready to transition from paper time cards to electronic ones — where drivers can go directly to their vehicles and clock in.”

With ample time to gauge the vehicles in the field, Glacier NW has noted productivity trends suggesting system payback within one year: budgeted overtime expenditures are down 32 percent, while yards/hour are nearly 4 percent better than projected. Projected numbers are for 2003 and reflect adjustments for the Seattle market's double-digit drop against 2001 figures. Additional positive payback features will be realized as Glacier NW takes advantage of other functions that can be added to the system, including mobile ticket printing.

The amount of vehicle operating data — especially speed, engine rpm and drum revolution — will enable Glacier NW to evaluate implementation of a management system for drivers that has been established at a distant sister operation, Joyo Ready Mix, in Tokyo. There, using technology similar to Glacier NW's, fleet management staff cull data on sudden vehicle stops and starts and deviation from optimal engine conditions (1,500 rpm). Drivers are ranked on a scale reflecting vehicle care and safe operating practice, with the best performers enjoying quarterly bonuses.

OUTSIDE USERS

Looking beyond internal implementation, Glacier NW has set up a partnership with a local technology provider, Capstone Technologies, to form TruckTrax, which is now offering the system for producers across the country. Initial users include Glacier NW's neighbor, Miles Sand & Gravel, based in Auburn, Wash., and running a fleet of 75 mixers in plants on the outskirts of Seattle.

In addition to the XP operating platform, most TruckTrax hardware is of shelf variety that users can procure in local markets, and have their own mechanics install. Compatible with Windows-based dispatch and production software, the system is intended to run on a user's server versus a hosted network.

Glacier NW cites key functions that its partner Capstone Technologies has programmed into TruckTrax :

Full-on capabilities

Users can make spontaneous decisions with the graphical display of real-timed information on current delivery status.

Order mapping

The software integrates with database or file-based order systems. It offers automated address search and automatically maps memorized delivery sites. It maps order distribution across all plants and flags irregularities.

Real-time truck tracking

The software collects information on vehicle location, direction, speed, and current sensor readings for each truck. Using different colored icons, users can view their entire fleet at a glance and note the status of individual trucks. Minute by minute sensor readings are captured on the map in text.

Payroll solution

The electronic timecard function permits viewing which trucks are on overtime. Timecard data, along with all other vehicle data, are integrated with central business systems.

TruckTrax staff offers IT services to interface the software with existing business systems; preconfigure data servers; build fire-walls; and, establish such options a remote data hosting. — 800/626-4561, www.trucktrax.net