Landstar and HELP, Inc. Team Up on PrePass
IV Quarterly
October 1999

The company and the consortium are both looking forward to the benefits of having implemented intelligent vehicle enhancements on Landstar's 8500-truck fleet.

Landstar Systems, Inc., one of the largest U.S. freight carriers with a fleet of 8500 trucks, announced their successful adoption of the HELP, Inc. PrePass system at Demo ’99.  In a highly orchestrated effort, deployment to the entire fleet occurred within one week, offering their drivers the opportunity to save about fifteen minutes per weigh station, which can add up to hours of savings on a long run.

Calling PrePass a “technology entrée” to intelligent vehicle systems, HELP President Dick Landis sees the Prepass wireless data transfer technology simplifying the driver’s complex job and envisions adding services such as gate control and engine diagnostics in the future.

Landstar is composed of innovative owner-operator and small fleet entrepreneurs, called business capacity owners,  who choose to ally with the company to access Landstar’s network of freight shipment representatives and collective buying power for new equipment.

“What they choose to put on their trucks is a good bellwether for where the industry is going,” says Jim Martin, Landstar Vice President for Corporate Development.  Martin says that  “the pace of industry innovations is accelerating,” noting that their business capacity owners are enthusiastic users of the Eaton VORAD EVT-200 forward collision warning system, for example.  Significant accidents for the fleet have decreased from .75 per million miles to .55 per million miles from 1994 to 1998, showing positive results of an aggressive safety program.  Echoing sentiments expressed at the National Transportation Safety Board hearing on truck safety, Martin supports incentives for the adoption of IV safety systems.  “And don’t penalize us for jumping on the leadership edge” through undue increased attention by federal regulators, he warns, going on to stress that “data privacy is key.”

Looking for Prices to Drop on IV Systems

Rocco Davanzo, Director of Business Capacity Owner Programs for Landstar, says they are ready to see the price of IV devices come down, particularly the Eaton VORAD product, as they have purchased many units at an “introductory” price for several years.  Reflecting a strong price conscious approach, as they consider new devices for driver monitoring and collision warning, Davanzo says their first step would normally be to set a price point, and then buy some units for evaluation.

Demo ’99 a Major Hit

While previously familiar with IV devices generally, Landstar representatives were especially enthusiastic about  Demo ’99 — “we would have brought more people if we had realized all that we would be seeing here,” said Martin.  “The braking capabilities of the Volvo and Freightliner trucks were especially striking, as was the 360 degree warning capability of the Altra Technologies system,” he said, adding that ITS America should do another demo “soon.”  HELP president Landis echoed Martin’s sentiments, noting that the presence of three full size trucks loaded with features proves the leadership of the commercial vehicle operations niche within the ITS industry.  He remarked on the level of integration of the various devices, particularly in the Volvo unit — “these were just ‘boxes’ five years ago.”

Drowsiness a “Daily Issue”

When asked about the usefulness of drowsy driver countermeasures, an item of increasing interest within the commercial freight industry, Martin said that  drowsiness is a “daily issue, and our drivers are professionals who know how to handle it.”  He is concerned that, once drowsiness is detected, effective techniques be used to regain alertness.  “Maybe using audible, escalating alarms will help the driver respond appropriately,” he says.   He believes that many drivers would consider drowsiness monitors helpful, adding that they are generally quiet on the issue out of concerns that driver drowsiness systems will lead to government mandates or monitoring.  They prefer simple systems which provide information only to them.

Watching IVI with Interest

From their perch on the front lines of  the commercial vehicle industry, Martin and Landis are watching the USDOT Intelligent Vehicle Initiative “with interest.”  Martin stresses that “the focus should be on deployed systems; I’d rather technology be standard and not optional from the OEMs so as to create a level playing field.”  At this stage in deployment evolution, he believes real-time aids, such as lane tracking, are better than systems which collect data on driver performance.  Regarding deployment of IV systems, Landis asserts that “the private sector is quite capable of making it work.  The USDOT role is that of facilitator — let the market make the choices.”

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The rigs from Volvo and Mack -- on deck at Demo ‘99

For More Information ...

... on Landstar, contact Jim Martin, at jmartin@landstar.com, or access their website at www.landstar.com.

... on HELP, Inc., contact Dick Landis at helpinc@amug.org.

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