PeopleNet Debuts First-Of-Its-Kind myRoads To Maximize Fleet Performance With Real-Time Weather And Road Condition Alerts

PeopleNet, a Trimble Company and leading provider of fleet mobility technology, recently introduced myRoads, a weather alerting solution that provides drivers with information on current and forecasted road and weather conditions along their route. With myRoads, fleets can access data related to current radar, temperature, precipitation and wind speed to determine if a vehicle is in or near inclement weather that could impact driver safety and delivery time.

The myRoads solution will be available on Android-based tablets as part of the ConnectedFleet platform—which connects drivers, devices and equipment in real-time—to display real-time road conditions and current and forecasted weather information. When the truck is not in motion, drivers can view animated maps that show road conditions as well as long-term weather forecasts. When a driver is behind the wheel, the myRoads text-to-speech functionality allows drivers to play detailed weather warnings related to severe thunderstorms, tornadoes, torrential rains and heavy winds.

“From posing safety risks to drivers to causing delayed arrival times, weather can have a big impact on a fleet’s bottom line,” said Jim Rodi, Executive Vice President/Group General Manager, Transportation for PeopleNet. “With myRoads, drivers have access to active radar detailing road conditions and forecasts along their route, giving them the knowledge they need to either modify their driving or reroute to avoid hazardous weather.”

According to the most recent U.S. Department of Transportation study between 2005 and 2014, 22 percent of all vehicle crashes were weather-related.^[1] Of these crashes, 73 percent are caused by wet roadways. ^[2] In addition, the Federal Highway Administration projects that weather-related delays add $3.4M a year to freight costs.^[3] With myRoads, drivers can plan ahead to adjust their driving to match road conditions, better anticipate delays and adjust travel plans as needed.

“At PeopleNet, we are in the business of providing our customers with insight and information to make better decisions,” said Rodi. “The critical weather data provided by myRoads is another way we are giving drivers easy access to new data to help them be safer and more effective.”

PeopleNet debuted myRoads at the National Private Truck Council (NPTC) 2017 Annual Convention being held in Cincinnati from April 30-May 2.

About PeopleNet
PeopleNet provides solutions to help fleets improve safety and compliance and reduce costs. PeopleNet’s network communications, mobility and analytics products are used by more than 2,000 truckload, LTL, private, and energy services fleets throughout North America. PeopleNet was established in 1994 and is headquartered in Minnetonka, Minnesota, with an office in Ontario, Canada. PeopleNet is a Trimble Company and part of its international Transportation and Logistics Division. For more information, visit www.peoplenetonline.com.

^[1] https://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/weather/q1_roadimpact.htm

^[2] https://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/weather/q1_roadimpact.htm

^[3] https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/innovation/everydaycounts/edcnews/20170302.cfm