April/May 2003

Two French-based transport operators have embarked on major programmes to equip their vehicles with telematics systems. Sernam, a subsidiary of rail operator SNCF, is to fit Minorplanet tracking and mobile management systems in 3,200 vehicles; and France Express, a subsidiary of Geodis Group, is to supply Intermec handheld terminals to 3,000 drivers for real-time proof-of-delivery gathering.

Sernam operates in a number of market sectors including express parcel delivery, logistics and door-to-door freight. It is buying its Vehicle Management System from Minorplanet SAS, the French arm of the UK company, and the equipment will be built in Britain.

France Express's project aims to allow delivery drivers to scan and photograph signed delivery dockets at every delivery point. It is using Intermec 700 Color Series mobile computers with GPRS capability plus imaging and scanning technologies. Data will be uploaded by GPRS every 10 minutes to a dedicated France Express server, and made available to customers via the company's e-sp@ce Web server.

The same terminals will also be used to provide drivers with delivery manifest information. They are equipped for WiFi local-area networking, and this data will be uploaded to them as drivers return to depots.

Initially the system is being trialled with 150 units; the rest are due to be installed later in the year. Integration and deployment are being handled by Interscan Systems using the Mesoke applications generator.

• Minorplanet has transferred ownership of its French associate to its local management in what it describes as a policy decision to switch to a franchise model "for certain overseas operations". It will retain a significant interest in the business through existing interest-bearing loans of £5.4 million, which it says are repayable over five years.