Geotab, J.J. Keller Partner on Telematics Solution

Geotab and J.J. Keller & Associates, Inc. announced a new partnership to offer a solution combining Geotab's telematics solutions and J.J. Keller's electronic logging solution.

This partnership provides a powerful solution for fleets seeking in-cab technology that combines telematics and compliance, while addressing the needs of the market as the Electronic Logbook (ELog) becomes mandated for millions of drivers on December 18, 2017.

Neil Cawse, CEO of Geotab

“Catering to the needs of the market and our customers is just as important to us at Geotab as it is in developing the most robust and comprehensive fleet management technology,” said Geotab CEO Neil Cawse. “This partnership with J.J. Keller will bring a new level of service to the industry, especially in light of the ELD mandate.”

Geotab is partnering with J. J. Keller to distribute the integrated solution to customers throughout North America.

“We are proud to partner with Geotab, a leading telematics hardware provider with more than 500,000 installed devices,” said Rustin Keller, executive vice president and chief operating officer for J. J. Keller & Associates, Inc. “For more than 60 years we've helped fleets comply with hours of service regulations. We are excited to offer the industry the option to utilize the Geotab GO7 device and get the J. J. Keller Elog service and support they've come to expect from the leader in compliance.”

Related: Geotab Acquires Data Visualization Partner

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Trailer aerodynamic devices have caught on, but it apparently took the California ARB rules to force most fleets to begin adopting them. Photo: Tom Berg

Trailer aerodynamics comprise the least accepted type of fuel-saving methods, according to a study by the North American Council for Freight Efficiency. It appears that it took a government decree to push operators into it, and it will take another set of rules to force further adoption of drag-reduction methods for trailers.

Those are among the takeaways from the NACFE's 2016 Annual Fleet Fuel Study. Participating were 17 large American and Canadian fleets, admittedly representing only 4% of the long-haul tractor-trailers on the road. And the adoption figures reflect companies, not the numbers of vehicles they have, NACFE said.

Some of the fleets are well-known and most have the resources to analyze results from various technologies to determine if they're worth spending money on.

The study included 69 fuel-saving technologies that were grouped into seven categories: tractor aerodynamics, trailer aerodynamics, powertrains, tires/wheels, idle reduction, chassis, and fleet practices. Of those, trailer aerodynamics had the lowest acceptance rate, about 21% of the fleets surveyed.

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A few thinking managers began using aero devices on trailers not long afterward. By the late ‘70s I was living in California and went through the second oil embargo of '79. I recall seeing ...Read the rest of this story

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