Old Dominion Using PeopleNet-FleetNet Real-Time Engine Monitoring to Proactively Manage Fleet Maintenance and Reduce Maintenance Costs
MINNEAPOLIS, Feb. 21, 2011 – PeopleNet, the leading provider of innovative and integrated onboard computing and mobile communications systems for effective fleet management, today announced that Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc. (NASDAQ: ODFL) is using PeopleNet’s real-time engine monitoring to enable FleetNet America to proactively manage its fleet maintenance and reduce maintenance costs. PeopleNet’s Vehicle Management application collects fault code information from the vehicles’ ECM and sends the data to FleetNet over the PeopleNet network. FleetNet interprets the data and immediately contacts and instructs the driver of the vehicle with the fault code alarm to pull over and park the vehicle.
According to Old Dominion director of field maintenance, Tom Newby, PeopleNet-FleetNet monitoring has been installed on 3,500 vehicles. By late Spring, the remaining 2,200 trucks will be equipped. He explained that the system delivered a pay-off before day one. “While we were testing the system, just a few days before we went live, we saved the $20,000-plus cost of a catastrophic engine failure. FleetNet received a fault code from PeopleNet indicating low oil pressure. A FleetNet maintenance representative called the driver and instructed him to pull over and park. As a result, we incurred minor repair costs, compared to the engine failure that would have occurred if attention to the problem had been deferred until the driver returned to the terminal for diagnosis.“
The company’s maintenance department identified urgent fault codes that could result in catastrophic engine failure and should be sent to FleetNet immediately: high temperature, low coolant, low oil pressure and high oil temperature. Tom added, “The fault code gives FleetNet a better idea of what’s needed. The last thing we want to do is have technician dispatched to the truck, only to learn that it can’t be fixed at roadside and will need a tow. It’s all about better visibility and analysis that will keep our maintenance costs and vehicle/driver downtime in check.”
Old Dominion is currently talking with vehicle manufacturers as they consider adding more fault codes.
About Old Dominion Freight Line
Old Dominion Freight Line Inc. (NASDAQ: ODFL) is a national less-than-truckload motor carrier providing one-to-five day service among six regions in the United States and next-day and second-day service within these regions. Through its four product groups, OD-Domestic, OD-Expedited, OD-Global and OD-Technology, the Company offers an array of innovative products and services that provide direct service to 48 states within the Southeast, Gulf Coast, Northeast, Midwest, Central and West regions of the country. In addition to domestic less-than-truckload services, the Company offers assembly and distribution services as well as LCL and FCL delivery services to and from all of North America, Central America, South America and the Far East. The Company also offers a broad range of expedited and logistical services for both its domestic and global markets, and for more than 75 years, Old Dominion has been helping the world keep promises. More information can be found at www.odlf.com.
About PeopleNet
PeopleNet is exclusively focused on providing innovative Internet-based and integrated onboard computing and mobile communications systems to improve North America’s trucking industry’s fleet management. Its products are used by nearly 1,500 truckload, LTL, private, and service fleets in the United States and Canada, including several Fortune 500 companies. Reputed for its customer-driven technological innovation, unparalleled flexibility, and proactive customer care, PeopleNet was the first major technology provider to offer Internet-based communications to the transportation industry 15 years ago. Since then, the company annually reinvests 100 percent of its profits into the business for aggressively developing new products that continue to improve fleet management. Industry recognition of the company’s leadership includes: Inbound Logistics Top 100 Award; Food Logistics’ 100 Top Technology Solutions and Service Providers; Frost & Sullivan Market Engineering Award; and M2M Value Chain Award. For more information about PeopleNet and its products, call (888) 346-3486, or visit www.peoplenetonline.com.
About FleetNet America
FleetNet Americ is a third-party vendor-management company that coordinates maintenance management services comprising emergency roadside events and all other scheduled/unscheduled services for commercial and material handling equipment. FleetNet’s coordinators and fleet managers have an average of more than 25 years of maintenance and repair expertise and utilize a network of over 60,000 vendors throughout the continental United States and Canada. Through the FleetNet Select Towing and Recovery Program, customers have nationwide access to preferential towing and recovery providers at competitive prices. The TMcare division of FleetNet specializes in fleet-maintenance management programs, and customizes solutions for each customer’s specific needs for managing maintenance and keeping equipment fully compliant.
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PeopleNet is a registered trademark of PeopleNet Communications Corporation. All other trademarks belong to their respective companies.
According to Old Dominion director of field maintenance, Tom Newby, PeopleNet-FleetNet monitoring has been installed on 3,500 vehicles. By late Spring, the remaining 2,200 trucks will be equipped. He explained that the system delivered a pay-off before day one. “While we were testing the system, just a few days before we went live, we saved the $20,000-plus cost of a catastrophic engine failure. FleetNet received a fault code from PeopleNet indicating low oil pressure. A FleetNet maintenance representative called the driver and instructed him to pull over and park. As a result, we incurred minor repair costs, compared to the engine failure that would have occurred if attention to the problem had been deferred until the driver returned to the terminal for diagnosis.“
The company’s maintenance department identified urgent fault codes that could result in catastrophic engine failure and should be sent to FleetNet immediately: high temperature, low coolant, low oil pressure and high oil temperature. Tom added, “The fault code gives FleetNet a better idea of what’s needed. The last thing we want to do is have technician dispatched to the truck, only to learn that it can’t be fixed at roadside and will need a tow. It’s all about better visibility and analysis that will keep our maintenance costs and vehicle/driver downtime in check.”
Old Dominion is currently talking with vehicle manufacturers as they consider adding more fault codes.
About Old Dominion Freight Line
Old Dominion Freight Line Inc. (NASDAQ: ODFL) is a national less-than-truckload motor carrier providing one-to-five day service among six regions in the United States and next-day and second-day service within these regions. Through its four product groups, OD-Domestic, OD-Expedited, OD-Global and OD-Technology, the Company offers an array of innovative products and services that provide direct service to 48 states within the Southeast, Gulf Coast, Northeast, Midwest, Central and West regions of the country. In addition to domestic less-than-truckload services, the Company offers assembly and distribution services as well as LCL and FCL delivery services to and from all of North America, Central America, South America and the Far East. The Company also offers a broad range of expedited and logistical services for both its domestic and global markets, and for more than 75 years, Old Dominion has been helping the world keep promises. More information can be found at www.odlf.com.
About PeopleNet
PeopleNet is exclusively focused on providing innovative Internet-based and integrated onboard computing and mobile communications systems to improve North America’s trucking industry’s fleet management. Its products are used by nearly 1,500 truckload, LTL, private, and service fleets in the United States and Canada, including several Fortune 500 companies. Reputed for its customer-driven technological innovation, unparalleled flexibility, and proactive customer care, PeopleNet was the first major technology provider to offer Internet-based communications to the transportation industry 15 years ago. Since then, the company annually reinvests 100 percent of its profits into the business for aggressively developing new products that continue to improve fleet management. Industry recognition of the company’s leadership includes: Inbound Logistics Top 100 Award; Food Logistics’ 100 Top Technology Solutions and Service Providers; Frost & Sullivan Market Engineering Award; and M2M Value Chain Award. For more information about PeopleNet and its products, call (888) 346-3486, or visit www.peoplenetonline.com.
About FleetNet America
FleetNet Americ is a third-party vendor-management company that coordinates maintenance management services comprising emergency roadside events and all other scheduled/unscheduled services for commercial and material handling equipment. FleetNet’s coordinators and fleet managers have an average of more than 25 years of maintenance and repair expertise and utilize a network of over 60,000 vendors throughout the continental United States and Canada. Through the FleetNet Select Towing and Recovery Program, customers have nationwide access to preferential towing and recovery providers at competitive prices. The TMcare division of FleetNet specializes in fleet-maintenance management programs, and customizes solutions for each customer’s specific needs for managing maintenance and keeping equipment fully compliant.
# # #
PeopleNet is a registered trademark of PeopleNet Communications Corporation. All other trademarks belong to their respective companies.