Mobile Communications Overview

The Mobile Communications Module encompasses several main programs within TruckMate. Below will follow a brief explanation of what the functions of each of these programs are:

The Mobile Device Maintenance program is used to assign mobile communication devices to power units. (Power units are configured in the Power Unit Profiles program). The Mobile Device Maintenance program is also used to create groups of devices, so that in the Driver Call In program you can send the same message to several mobile units at once. The Authorized Phone Number list for HighwayMaster devices is also configured using the Mobile Device Maintenance program.

The Communications Macro Setup program is used to create pre-formatted messages (called "macros") that can be sent from the dispatch office to the remote devices or vice versa. Generally, macros are used to send information from the TruckMate database to drivers, and to update the TruckMate database with information the drivers send back to the office. The advantage of macros is that the structure is stored both on the TruckMate system and on the remote unit; therefore, only the data needs to be sent, not the field labels or layout. This reduces communication costs and data entry errors. There are two types of macros: Forward and Return. Forward macros are sent from the Dispatch or Driver Call In program to remote devices. Return macros are sent from the remote devices to the TruckMate system, and can be read in the Driver Call In program.

The Communication Manager program interfaces with Cancom’s QTracs, AMSC’s Exec2000 and HighwayMaster’s WinHost Comm Handler software, transmitting incoming messages from remote devices to data in TruckMate, and sending messages from TruckMate to remote devices.

Communication Manager is also used to configure the method by which macros from the remote devices are used to update the TruckMate database, such as trip status, freight bill details, and ETA dates.

The Dispatch program is used to create trips that represent the movement of freight and / or equipment. Trips can be organized into multiple legs, each leg representing a stop on the trip. For example, on a trip with a single freight bill, the first leg of the trip is the movement of the equipment to the pickup location of the freight, the second leg is the movement of the equipment and the freight to the delivery location of the freight. Empty and Loaded miles can be calculated for all legs, thus creating automatic driver payments and location and usage history for equipment (useful in the Repairs and Maintenance module).

The Driver Call-In program is used to record and view dispatch-related driver information such as Driver Hours, Driver Position, free-form Notes and the remaining hours in a driver’s Cycle. You can also reposition drivers and change trip status in the Driver Call-In program. The trip grid displayed in the Driver Call-In program is shared with the Dispatch program, so changes made in either program will affect the other. Driver Call-In also forms an integral part of the Mobile Dispatch module. It is used to view incoming messages from remote devices and to create and send messages to remote units. You can also view message history and status, and view the driver’s geographic position at the time the message was sent.

The GL Reconciliation program allows you to set your preferences for your incoming and outgoing messages.