MHW Magazine News and stories from the Materials Handling Industry
Carrier Transicold has launched an update for its Foretrack™ proprietary satellite tracking and fleet management
system, which helps customers improve productivity, profitability and efficiency
with comprehensive, real-time data and analysis of refrigerated fleets as they
travel across Europe. Carrier Transicold helps improve global transport and
shipping temperature control with a complete line of equipment for refrigerated
trucks, trailers and containers, and is a part of UTC Climate, Controls &
Security Systems, a unit of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX).
The Foretrack update represents a major investment by Carrier to make the system
compatible with all major web browsers, including an overhaul of the mapping
function that allows users to instantly turn addresses into GPS coordinates.
Also included in the upgrade are the integration of Bing™ maps, which includes
aerial imaging, and a refined Short Message Service (SMS) notification system
that records all sent and received messages. The Foretrack system also supports
faster generation of reports with a wider range of output format options.
In addition, a new "Find Nearest Device" feature allows users to instantly
locate the nearest vehicles, along with a journey indicator identifying each of
their intended destinations.
"The software-based upgrades to the Foretrack system make it easier and faster
to access information, provide users with more choice and paves the way for
further system enhancements in the future," said Mark Daniels, service
engineering manager, Carrier Transicold. "Listening to customer feedback is
crucial as this allows us to develop and implement improvements that respond
directly to their needs. All the benefits we have introduced are closely linked
to productivity, profitability and efficiency."
The Foretrack system provides a host of data direct via the internet, allowing
customers to see the live status of each refrigeration unit within the fleet,
including temperature, set point, running time, downtime, and, on the tracking
side, the exact location of the vehicle, average speed, journey length and time,
cumulative distance travelled and routes taken. Warning alarms in the form of e-
mail or SMS alerts are also sent to the transport office to highlight any
unexpected deviation from the temperature set point.
"Foretrack is a key strategic tool in the management of refrigerated fleets,"
Daniels said. "We are committed to ensuring that it remains at the forefront of
data and analysis systems for temperature controlled transport fleets."
The Foretrack system can be specified as original equipment or retro-fitted on
any Carrier Transicold temperature controlled system for vans, rigid trucks or
trailers.
