Ace Hardware Tools Up with Omnitracs to Improve Driver Communications

Omnitracs, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Qualcomm Incorporated, has announced that Ace Hardware has deployed Omnitracs’ Mobile Computing Platform 110 (MCP110) across its entire fleet to help enable safe in-cab communication between drivers and dispatchers and improve operational efficiency.

Ace Hardware has a fleet of 410 trucks. Having used a legacy Omnitracs mobile fleet management solution since 1999, Ace Hardware turned to Omnitracs once again 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 end-to-end fleet management solution 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 capitalizing on the MCP110’s suite of applications, adopting the following:

• 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 to help fleets save money, increase accuracy and completeness, and improve reporting, compliance and defect resolution;
• Critical Event Reporting—delivers a comprehensive, actionable 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.

“Private fleets face unique challenges in trying to balance operational objectives, costs and regulatory compliance,” said Norm Ellis, vice president of sales and marketing at Omnitracs, Inc. “As a long-time, trusted partner of Ace Hardware, we’re committed to supporting their fleets’ needs with the latest mobile technology to help them deliver value to their customers safely, every step of the way.”

Category: Featured, Fleet Diagnostics & Software, General Update, Management