Omnitracs, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Qualcomm Incorporated, announced that Ace Hardware has deployed Omnitracs’ Mobile Computing Platform 110 (MCP110) across its entire fleet. The company says its use of Hours of Service and Navigation applications enhance productivity, driver satisfaction and regulatory compliance.
As announced on August 23, 2013, a definitive agreement was entered into to sell Omnitracs to Vista Equity Partners, a U.S. based private equity firm. Closing of the acquisition is expected during the first quarter of fiscal 2014, subject to the terms and conditions of the definitive agreement.
Ace Hardware has a fleet of 410 trucks. Having used a legacy Omnitracs mobile fleet management solution since 1999, Ace Hardware turned to Omnitracs when seeking to upgrade its capabilities and help eliminate the use of cell phones and pagers as the fleet’s primary communications tools. Following a thorough competitive review, Ace Hardware selected Omnitracs’ MCP110 to help enhance coordination between drivers and dispatchers, eliminate the use of paper logs that are more prone to human error, and, ultimately, improve service to their retail locations and customers.
Ace Hardware is using the following MCP110 applications:
- Hours of Service—an Electronic On-board Recorder (EOBR) application provides up-to-date information on driver-hours availability to help ensure regulatory compliance and improve productivity;
- Vehicle Inspection Report—eliminates paper DVIRs and makes it easier for drivers to record pertinent inspection information;
- Critical Event Reporting—delivers a view of safety-oriented, event-driven data summarized by vehicle and driver to help improve performance, safety and accident prevention;
- Trip Manager—allows fleet managers to plan, view and manage trips and driver activities in near real-time to improve back-office efficiency, driver productivity, and customer service; and
- ALK’s CoPilot Truck on-board, GPS-based truck navigation—allows drivers to input vehicle profile information, routing parameters, and load specification information to provide the best route and reduce fuel usage.
“Our primary objectives in adopting mobile fleet management technology were to improve dispatch-driver communication and eliminate time consuming and error-prone paper logs. Omnitracs was the ideal choice to help meet our daily operational needs, while ensuring a positive driver experience,” said Scott McLean, director of logistics and transportation at Ace Hardware Corporation. “Omnitracs’ MCP110 and applications have not only provided us greater visibility into what happens on the road, but also have helped us improve productivity. We’ve found our drivers appreciate the automated workflow and are more aware of their driving habits.”
