Here is the great idea!!!

[Duddy]

OK, in my original thread, I said that I had a great idea that is needed.

So, here is the idea...



My friend works for a trucking company here in Southeast Texas. He has been doing it for about 4 years now and visits here at the college everynow and then to party. Anyways, he had this HUGE folder that was a mess. I asked him what it was for. he said he had to record every route, time elapsed, gas used, shipment numbers etc...

I asked him if any trucking company had in-cab computers that did all that automatically. he said it hasn't been done, but that whoever would make the system would get VERY rich.

So here was my solution:

Build a dash mounted mobile PC that interfaces with the truck to get all the numbers needed. This device would have a Touchscreen, GPS, Flash Memory slot and a GSM radio. Those would be the basic components.

This PC would do EVERYTHING he normally would have to do on paper automatically.



Here would be the process:

He gets into his truck, inputs his assigned pin# and logs in. The PC would pull the latest assignments for him directly from the central server located at the company headquarters via a GSM connection. He selects his assignment via the touchscreen. He shifts into drive and the PC changes into GPS mode.

The GPS will lead him to his assignment using constantly updated traffic and weather. This will help avoid hold ups and save the company money. When he finishes the assignment, he logs out and his entire shift is recorded and the log is sent to the company. This log would be inputed into the company's payroll software.



This system would save the company hundreds of thousands of dollars. The GPS would keep the truckers from deviating from their assignment and keep them from trying to rack up extra miles and time. Also, the system would make back-ups of current information on the Flash memory. It is efficiency to the max.


He said it was absolute genius and that every trucking company in the world would buy it. He wanted to know if I was going to do it and I told him I would get back to him.





There, now you guys from the first thread can shut up.

 

[Mo0o]

Sounds kind of like police computers or cab company things

 

[wedi42]

i bet you're about 3 years too late
your friend just doesn't know what available

 

[linkgoron]

LOL. There are companies that do that.

 

[Mo0o]

Wait, wouldn't UPS/Fedex have to employ something like this over their network as well?

 

[skyking]

UPS was the first, IIRC. Fedex does it, as does Oak Harbor Freightlines here in the NW.
Those are the ones I know off the top of my head that use gps and some cab-to-dispatch communications.

 

[wedi42]

http://www.trimble.com/vtsys_sysinvehhardware.shtml

 

[Duddy]

Originally posted by: skyking
UPS was the first, IIRC. Fedex does it, as does Oak Harbor Freightlines here in the NW.
Those are the ones I know off the top of my head that use gps and some cab-to-dispatch communications.

True, but this solution is fully intrgrated. Also, it is very easy to implement. Our company would customize the software each company. There are thousands of trucking company's in the nation who do not know how to implement the system.

Mine is good because it is universal.

 

[Duddy]

Originally posted by: johngute
http://www.trimble.com/vtsys_sysinvehhardware.shtml

Too much hardware. My product would be fully intergrated into one device running Windows Mobile.

 

[linkgoron]

So your great idea is a truck wih a laptop in it?

 

[drum]

Originally posted by: linkgoron
So your great idea is a truck wih a laptop in it?

Thats what my company has. everyone gets aircards

 

[Duddy]

Originally posted by: linkgoron
So your great idea is a truck wih a laptop in it?

No. Laptops can be used for anything and cannot easily intergrate with the trucks mileage and gas consumption. This solution is cheaper and smaller. Remember, it is dash mounted. Kinda like a TomTom GPS.

 

[Mo0o]

Something tells me Trimble is already developing their own.

 

[Duddy]

Originally posted by: drum

Originally posted by: linkgoron
So your great idea is a truck wih a laptop in it?

Thats what my company has. everyone gets aircards

You prolly get Unlimted data use on it too. Awesome

 

[ironcrotch]

I liked your caffinated mouthpiece idea better

 

[Duddy]

Originally posted by: Mo0o
Something tells me Trimble is already developing their own.

Well now they are.

 

[Duddy]

Originally posted by: ironcrotch
I liked your caffinated mouthpiece idea better

 

[tami]

eh, first develop it and build out very specific specifications. then have your people review it with a programmer who can build software. then you need to deploy it in alpha, beta, and final stages. then you have to mass produce.

you need an excellent writeup of your idea, capital, and the means of going about doing this. it shouldn't look like a little laptop hanging out of a truck. it should be crafted in a unique way.

you're talking about years of work if you want a flawless piece of software/hardware+truck.

bear in mind that very few entrepreneurs ever act upon their excellent ideas. i'd be quite surprised if you follow through. (i also speak for myself in this capacity as i've had some great ideas but haven't followed through with them either.)

but good luck.

 

[sniperruff]

Originally posted by: Duddy

Originally posted by: skyking
UPS was the first, IIRC. Fedex does it, as does Oak Harbor Freightlines here in the NW.
Those are the ones I know off the top of my head that use gps and some cab-to-dispatch communications.

True, but this solution is fully intrgrated. Also, it is very easy to implement. Our company would customize the software each company. There are thousands of trucking company's in the nation who do not know how to implement the system.

Mine is good because it is universal.

how can you integrate them? why can't other companies integrate them as well? how easy is it to implement? is the ones available difficult to implement? how is yours universal and the others are not?

and most importantly, would people spend money to buy this system? how about in areas where there are no GSM network? how about in tunnels? how would the trucker's union react to this system?

so many questions.

 

[Duddy]

Originally posted by: tami
Eh, first develop it and build out very specific specifications. then have your people review it with a programmer who can build software. then you need to eploy it in alpha, beta, and final stages. then you have to mass produce.

you need an excellent writeup of your idea, capital, and the means of going about doing this. it shouldn't look like a little laptop hanging out of a truck. it should be crafted in a unique way.

you're talking about years of work if you want a flawless piece of software/hardware+truck.

bear in mind that very few entrepreneurs ever act upon their excellent ideas. I'd be quite surprised if you follow through. (I also speak for myself in this capacity as i've had some great ideas but haven't followed through with them either.)

but good luck.

I just got off the phone with my friends boss. He said it is definatly needed and that it sounded too good to be true.

Your right though, I need someone to invest in this. I believe that if I work hard enough I manage the resources, I can ship the final product within 5 years. But it will take dedication. I would hate to come out of college without my Masters to devote my time to the project, but in the long run, it would be very profitable.

*sigh* I wish it was easier.

 

[minendo]

Legally, it would be quite difficult to get your idea off the ground. Such devices that allow someone to keep tabs on a trucker (for example, a tracking device) are not permitted.

 

[Duddy]

Originally posted by: sniperruff

Originally posted by: Duddy

Originally posted by: skyking
UPS was the first, IIRC. Fedex does it, as does Oak Harbor Freightlines here in the NW.
Those are the ones I know off the top of my head that use gps and some cab-to-dispatch communications.

True, but this solution is fully intrgrated. Also, it is very easy to implement. Our company would customize the software each company. There are thousands of trucking company's in the nation who do not know how to implement the system.

Mine is good because it is universal.

how can you integrate them? why can't other companies integrate them as well? how easy is it to implement? is the ones available difficult to implement? how is yours universal and the others are not?

and most importantly, would people spend money to buy this system? how about in areas where there are no GSM network? how about in tunnels? how would the trucker's union react to this system?

so many questions.

The truckers union would hate it and love it. For one, they never have to fill out another paper. But what grounds would they have to disapprove of it? They cannot say, "We want to be able to cheat the company!"

The tunnels wouldn't be a problem.

As for areas without GSM, I'm not sure. We would have to use satellites I suppose.


The other solutions are hard to implement. Mine is an All-in-One device basically.


FedEx and others companies took the time to invest in the research and development of it system. Basically, we would have done all that already and can have a company's entire fleet connected within a week.

 

[Duddy]

Originally posted by: minendo
Legally, it would be quite difficult to get your idea off the ground. Such devices that allow someone to keep tabs on a trucker (for example, a tracking device) are not permitted.

There is no tracking, only GPS navigation. You cannot track the truck in real time. You can however, see where the truck has been after it has completed it route.

 

[jjessico]

http://www.handheld.com/Site.aspx/na/en/products/sbus/?sbu=2
http://www.symbol.com/products/mobile_computers/mobile_computers.html

 

[Duddy]

Originally posted by: jjessico
http://www.handheld.com/Site.aspx/na/en/products/sbus/?sbu=2
http://www.symbol.com/products/mobile_computers/mobile_computers.html

Kinda, but my device is mostly screen. Input is not needed. Also, non of those devices have truck intergration or GPS built in.