GPS World

Tag: Rand McNally

  • Rand McNally Device Turns GPS Devices into Compliant EOBR Systems

    Rand McNally unveiled its HD 100 device — which provides electronic Hours of Service (HOS) recording, text- and dispatch-integrated messaging plus driver performance monitoring capabilities — at the American Trucking Association Management Conference and Exhibition.

    The HD 100 will be commercially available in April 2013 for use with Android tablets and the Rand McNally IntelliRoute TND 720 truck GPS device. Later in the year, the HD 100 will integrate with other platforms including Android smart phones and iOS tablets and smart phones.

    Designed to work seamlessly with a variety of mobile devices, the HD 100’s Hours of Service recorder qualifies as a compliant electronic driver log. The HD 100 plugs into a truck’s on-board diagnostics port and records the truck’s GPS position along with critical vehicle-specific information such as engine diagnostics and driving behavior. The device — 3 ½ inches by 5 inches — can be installed in less than 10 minutes.

    Drivers interact with the HD 100’s HOS and messaging functions through an application that they download and run on their mobile device or Rand McNally’s IntelliRoute TND 720.

    “With the HD 100, Rand McNally now provides a wide range of options for compliance, communication, and electronic Hours of Service. Our product line offers large fleets and smaller operators unparalleled flexibility with features and pricing options,” said Dave Muscatel, CEO of Rand McNally. “Our goal is to be hardware agnostic in order to provide a cost-effective EOBR (electronic on-board recording) solution for owner operators who already own a smart phone, tablet, or one of our GPS devices and the HD 100 accomplishes this objective. The HD 100 will help fleets and drivers alike with meeting the upcoming EOBR implementation mandated by MAP 21.”

    Just as with the company’s premier enterprise solution, TPC 7600, and the robust cost-effective single-box device, the TND 760, the HD 100 allows data integration with more than 20 third-party dispatch and fuel tax applications via Rand McNally Connect software.

  • Rand McNally GPS for RVers Includes Weather, Rear-View Camera Capability

    Photo: Randy McNally GPS
    Photo: Randy McNally GPS

    Rand McNally today introduced the RVND 7720, a 7-inch RV GPS device with Wi-Fi connectivity allowing for real-time weather information and display, and new hardware with rugged casing, video input, and brighter screen.

    The new device — shipping now to stores, online retailers, and RV dealers and distributors — joins Rand McNally’s line of RVND GPS devices for RVers. Rand McNally pioneered RV-specific navigation by launching the first GPS device designed specifically for RVers and campers, the company said.

    RV-specific navigation is necessary to route large vehicles and towables around road restrictions, low bridges and other physical hazards. However, like all Rand McNally RV GPS devices, the RVND 7720 can be used as a car GPS by changing a simple setting.

    One of the key new features of the RVND 7720 is Wi-Fi connectivity, which enables the transmission and display of weather as well as other real-time information. With updated weather information, RVers will be able to anticipate delays and make plans by viewing current and predicted conditions displayed on the map and along the route, the company said. Besides weather, other RV-specific connected services will be coming soon for this device.

    The RVND 7720 has a new hardware platform as well, with a rugged design with ridged casing for added protection, a brighter screen that adjusts for low and strong light, and video input compatible with a range of back-up and rear-view cameras, Rand McNally said.

    The base maps and overlaying content, such as campgrounds, parks, RV service and other RV points of interest, also have been updated for the RVND 7720.

    The new device ships with Lifetime Maps, so owners will be able to update their devices at no additional cost.

    The RVND 7720 GPS includes the following additional new features:

    • Fully updated road data, including RV-specific information such as speed limits, legal and physical restrictions, and all Rand McNally proprietary RV data
    • Fully updated points of interest necessary for safe and convenient routing, including travel centers and RV parking information at rest stops, exits, and other locations
    • Fuel logs, which are accessible from the Virtual Dashboard or via RV Tools; the feature enables drivers to record fuel purchases for a trip
    • Additional routing options such as “Avoid State or Province” and “Avoid Smaller Roads”
    • Address book icon enhancement, which enables unique icons to be created by group and shown on the map for imported locations; address book items can be sorted by name, distance from current location or date added
    • Text-to-speech alert details for user-imported custom points of interest, such as red light cameras, to reduce driver distraction

    The RVND 7720 also has these features: Virtual Dashboard; junction view with lane assist; free downloads of Rand McNally’s proprietary construction information and software updates; Exits Quick View, which shows RV parking and amenities at exits; RV Tools, RV amenities and locations such as campgrounds, RV services, and dumps; Woodall’s Campground information with searchable amenities; Rand McNally exclusive pre-planned trips with photos and video; and routing for 11 types of RVs as well as for cars.

  • Rand McNally Upgrades TND 760 Mobile Comm/Fleet Management System

    Rand McNally Upgrades TND 760 Mobile Comm/Fleet Management System

    Photo: Rand McNally

    Rand McNally has announced a new pricing plan, new features, and a new warranty program for its single-box compliance solution for fleets. The TND 760 Fleet Edition is a next-generation in-cab electronic on-board recorder (EOBR) device that installs in less than 30 minutes, is low cost, and is easily adopted by drivers, the company said.

    For as little as $649 for the hardware, and $19.95 per month for service, trucks can be equipped with a fully compliant EOBR solution. For $799, the device also comes loaded with Rand McNally’s navigation. Lease options are available for as low as $39 per month for qualifying fleets.

    Among the new items announced today, three monthly service plan options are now available. The EOBR plan, offering electronic hours of service and vehicle inspection reporting, for $19.95/month; the Basic plan, which layers on vehicle positioning and online mapping, text and form messages, driver email and attachments, as well as integration access via Rand McNally Connect, for $29.95; and the full Enterprise plan that layers on a driver scorecard, vehicle performance, critical event reporting and vehicle maintenance, for $39.95. These service plan prices are based on a three-year commitment.

    A three-year warranty is now standard on the TND 760 hardware, providing customers peace of mind for the term of the agreement that their hardware is covered under warranty. This is an upgrade from the standard one-year warranty typically offered in the industry.

    And, Rand McNally announced a group of new features coming on stream in the next few months. By the end of June, a new back-end mapping portal with upgraded geofencing, alerting, and route replay will be up and running. This feature will be part of the Basic and Enterprise monthly plans. Also in development are significant enhancements to the IntelliRoute TND GPS navigation software, including the ability for fleets to send, and for drivers to receive, routes on the TND 760.

    “As we roll out the TND 760 to more fleets and transportation companies, we’re finding that there are a number of items they’re responding to,” said Dave Muscatel, CEO of Rand McNally. “The low cost, the quick installation, and the fact that Rand McNally is well regarded among professional drivers is key. When drivers accept the device, they use it.”

    The Rand McNally TND 760, Fleet Edition, first available Q4 of 2011, integrates with a truck’s on-board computer and sends and receives information via both Wi-Fi and cellular modes. The TND 760, manufactured in the U.S.A., is designed to be set up in less than 30 minutes and does not require the installation of a separate “black box” monitoring unit like traditional mobile communication systems.

    Despite its compact design, the TND 760 features a broad array of capabilities including fleet communications via email, driver and vehicle performance monitoring, electronic hours of service (HOS) compliance, and truck-specific navigation. Information on fleet activity is managed via Rand McNally’s significantly enhanced FleetWatcher web-based portal.

    For more information and product demonstrations, potential customers should call 1-800-641-RAND (7263) or go to randmcnally.com/tnd760.