Zonar used the occasion of the 2016 American Trucking Management Conference & Exhibition in Las Vegas to unveil its Zonar Connect. It is a next generation tablet and software ecosystem that empowers commercial fleets to take greater control of their operations.
Additionally, the ELD-ready smart fleet tablet and seamless software platform allows fleets to customize and upgrade for future.
Connect allows fleets to seamlessly enter the next era in fleet management technology using a smart fleet platform which is faster, more responsive, readily customizable and more user-friendly than current solutions in the commercial fleet marketplace, says Ian McKerlich, president, Zonar (www.zonarsystems.com), a pioneer of fleet management technology by providing innovative technology. The ruggedized, high-performance, easy-to-use tablet delivers management tools for commercial vehicle operations including compliance, safety and efficiency monitoring.
“We are entering an age in connected commercial vehicles where the capabilities go beyond the individual vehicle and extend to fleet management and industry decisions regarding job bidding, safety, efficiency and compliance,” he points out. “Connect is designed to exceed industry needs with electronic logging device (ELD) readiness, Electronic Verified Inspection Reporting (EVIR) and a growing number of apps built in a scalable environment to address needs further down the road.
“We believe that Connect is the path forward for designing and delivering the next generation of solutions for the smart fleet management era.”
Always connected
Connect is always connected whether docked or undocked, which represents “a significant milestone: in smart fleet management," McKerlich notes. For example, a driver can submit a completed EVIR inspection to dispatch without returning to the cab of the truck.
The tablet-based platform further connects vehicles, driver/operators and fleet managers with critical information, such as vehicle health, efficiency, driver hours of service, performance, data capture, compliance, safety and asset utilization.
Over-the-air updates
“Just as smartphones have become an integral part of our daily lives, you soon won’t be able to run your fleet operations efficiently without a smart fleet technology like Connect,” says Brett Brinton, co-founder and CEO, Zonar. “Connect will help operators manage their fleets more effectively as technology changes with hardware that supports over-the-air updates to give them greater flexibility and scalability to grow.”
Connect has the ease of use of everyday consumer devices with the power and ruggedization needed for commercial vehicles, he adds. “With it, drivers and operators can streamline daily tasks, such as pre- and post-trip inspections; hours of service logging with Roadside View for compliance inspections; communicating with fleet management; documenting deliveries; navigating routes and – in the case of passenger services – verifying ridership.
“The tablet also equips drivers and operators with tools that ensure adherence to a broad range of safety and compliance regulations."
Key features
Among the new features of the new technology:
- Powered by a Quad-Core processor, 2GB of built-in memory and 32GB of storage for enhanced speed and responsiveness.
- Scalable Android platform supports options for third-party and custom Zonar apps to increase driver productivity and fleet compliance.
- Compliant with Automatic Onboard Recording Device (AOBRD) and Hours of Service regulations.
- Ready for the ELD mandate with capability for over-the-air software update service.
- LTE, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity keeps drivers connected to fleet managers, dispatch and operations.
- Constructed with a ruggedized hardware design and a Corning Gorilla Glass screen to endure harsh conditions.
- Seamlessly integrates with Zonar’s Ground Traffic Control web portal and third-party programs including maintenance, payroll, navigation, workforce management software and more.
