April/May 2002

VeMIS ramps up in-cab offering

A fully interactive on-board computer, communications and tracking system called VeMIS Logistics has been launched by VeMIS, the telematics company that is nowadays owned by DaimlerChrysler. It marks a major advance for the company, whose well-established on-board systems have previously concentrated on monitoring driver and vehicle performance, rather than managing delivery activities on a live basis.

The new package allows delivery information to be fed to the driver in the form of a "manifest" via one of the mobile networks, while records of delivery activity are passed back to base. The data can be integrated readily with operator and customer information systems over the Internet, the company says. Unusually, the use of XML as the communications medium allows instructions to be passed directly to vehicles from third-party systems.

 

The on-board package includes a full QWERTY keyboard, 7in display screen (made by Aplicom), GPS location unit and mobile phone.

The system is now the standard in-cab offering from Mercedes-Benz, and the first user is Forest Freight, which has fitted it in vehicles at Rainham and Rotherham.