TMW Launches Cloud-Based Business Intelligence Solutions

TMW Systems has launched software-as-a-service versions of its Data Warehouse, Data Warehouse Explorer and Visual Analytics solutions that offer business intelligence and analytics for for-hire and private fleets.

The cloud-based solutions are now available on a subscription basis to businesses using select TMW transportation management software and will be available to new customers in the coming months, according to TMW.

Data Warehouse and Data Warehouse Explorer were previously available as on-premises solutions only. These allow fleets to access operational data and answer critical questions regarding multiple areas of a business. The solutions can blend and analyze data from multiple areas such as operations, maintenance, finance and mobile communications to uncover actionable intelligence.

TMW's Visual Analytics allows for drag-and-drop creation of useful visuals and dashboards as well as preconfigured dashboard displays for better visibility and enhanced understanding of the interdependent factors that drive business performance. Users can then drill down to isolate specific issues and identify appropriate corrective actions.

“Big Data can help virtually any transportation business identify and eliminate deeply hidden operational constraints and other issues,” said David W. Wangler, TMW Systems president. “Our new and growing portfolio of SaaS products brings these capabilities to a much larger audience of transportation businesses, including those that might not have the internal IT resources or budget to support an on-premise model.”

TMW is a transportation software provider to fleets, brokerage and 3PL organizations in North America.

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Related: TMW Report: Carriers Face Declining Utilization

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Geotab Telematics Device Designed for Harsh Environments

Geotab has announced the availability of Go Rugged, a ruggedized telematics device designed for harsh outdoor environments common in industrial heavy-duty and service vehicle applications.

Go Rugged is aimed use in construction, engineering, agriculture, utilities, oil and gas, and mining applications, providing users with increased visibility of location and status of equipment, improved maintenance planning and reduced fuel costs.

The Go Rugged features a rugged exterior enclosure that allows for installation outside of the vehicle and is designed to the IP67 standard, protecting against intrusion of solid objects, dust, accidental contact and water. The device also provides engine data reporting on the Primary Cam Bus.

Additional features of the Go Rugged, which are also found in the Geotab GO7 device, include:

• IOX expandability, which allows users to expand the capability of their fleet management solution
• Intelligent in-vehicle driver coaching via IOX-BUZZ or the Geotab GO TALK
• Accident detection and notification
• Built-in auto-calibrating accelerometer
• Engine and battery health assessment
• G-force monitoring
• Real-time vehicle data and fast GPS acquisition time

Geotab is a telematics provider offering an open platform fleet management solution to fleets.

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Photos: The 2017 New Models

This year, fuel economy is a theme you'll hear often. How truck manufacturers will comply with 2017
fuel efficiency requirements—it's the tail end of Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Phase 1 rules before the impending GHG Phase 2 regs arrive—plays a big role in Fleet Owner's New Models Preview.

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Class 8 Truck Demand Hits 4-Year Low

Class 8 truck order numbers have hit a 4-year low, with demand remaining depressed so far in 2016, according to preliminary numbers released by ACT Research and FTR.

“The Class 8 market is stuck in a holding pattern, at the bottom end of this cycle. Fleets are cautious as freight demand has cooled off this year,” said Don Ake, vice president of commercial vehicles at FTR. “There are enough trucks to handle freight right now with carriers in a wait-and-see mode, before adding trucks or replacing older units.”

FTR projects Class 8 truck orders for the month of 13,000 units. That represents an 8% drop compared to May and a 34% decline compared to last June.

This month's order activity was the lowest monthly total since July 2012 and the worst June since 2009.

“This is what the summer looks like in a market down cycle, so we can expect this level of activity for a couple more months,” said Ake. “We do anticipate higher orders later this year. However, the volume of orders will be determined by the strength of the economy and freight activity at that time.”

Class 5-7 medium-duty vehicle orders also fell in June and are projected to hit 15,200 orders for the month, according to ACT Research. Unlike Class 8, which has struggled to get going in 2016, the drop in medium-duty orders was attributed to the strength of the market in previous months.

“The pull-back of the past two months follows a three-month stretch from February to April in which medium duty orders were booked at a volume well ahead of demand,” said Kenny Vieth, ACT's president and senior analyst.

Related: It's Wait and See for Fleets in 2016

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Large Truckload Fleets See 13% Drop in Turnover

Driver turnover at large truckload fleets fell by a significant amount in the first quarter of 2016, according to American Trucking Associations.

Turnover at large truckload fleets fell by 13% in the first quarter to 89%, hitting the lowest level in nearly a year. In 2015, turnover at large fleets averaged 93% for the entire year.

“While still fairly high, the decline in turnover is reflective of the softening in the freight economy during the first quarter,” said Bob Costello, ATA chief economist. “Should the freight economy witness an uptick during the second half of the year, we should see both turnover and demand for drivers rise as well.”

Turnover fell by only 1% at small truckload fleets in the same period of time, dipping to 88%, That was was the lowest decline since the third quarter of 2015. And it is up from last year's averages, which stayed around 79% for all of 2015.

Turnover at less-than-truckload fleet remained much lower than at truckload fleets, falling three points to 8%, the lowest point seen since the second quarter of 2013.

Related: In Search of Drivers

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