Feb/Mar 2008

Look out for a neat in-vehicle 'mini-computer' from Minorplanet Systems at the CV Show in Birmingham this April. The company's Fixed Data Terminal, or FDT, will allow two-way communication with drivers via email, Internet/intranet access, satnav and telephony. Delivery requirements can be scheduled and despatched to the unit, and it can also be used for providing real-time progress updates back to the control room.

We're told it is a development of Minorplanet's AEM6000 Data Collection Unit, and will be offered either on its own or to work in conjunction with that product. We can't show you what it looks like yet, but in any case it will be out of sight behind the dashboard once fitted. Minorplanet says this is to discourage theft. Its touch screen is visible, but in a neat security measure, this is easily removed when the driver is out of the vehicle making deliveries.

We'll bring your more on this later in the year.