Mobile communications provider PeopleNet Communications has issued a flurry of service-related announcements.

The Minneapolis-based company has launched IMessaging and Start/Stop technologies in the first-phase implementation of PACOS, a comprehensive, exception-based load and driver management system aimed primarily at private and LTL fleets.
When fully deployed, PACOS will record critical operations information while automatically notifying dispatch and even customers of relevant events, such as delays or off-route diversions. PeopleNet announced development of PACOS in September of 2001.
Imessaging allows drivers and dispatch to send significantly larger blocks of data, such as load assignments and routing instructions, often in one, rather than several billable messages
Start/Stop will enable PACOS event-based locating and reporting. Starts and stops are determined by combining speed, time, and ignition parameters. The technology will monitor average number and duration of stops, a tool for determining driver productivity and detention times among other things.
In the same announcement, PeopleNet said that another technology, Q1 OTAP (Over the Air Programming), will allow over-the-air-programming of PeopleNet onboard systems, eliminating the need for customers to bring power units off the road for re-programming.
Meanwhile, PeopleNet announced integration of its wireless fleet system with Melton Technologies dispatch and operations software. Melton, of Winston-Salem, N.C., specializes in software for small to mid-sized fleets, including TL and LTL dispatch, freight billing, trip settlement packages, solutions for driver compliance, maintenance and more.
PeopleNet said it has signed three new fleet customers, including the transportation division of agricultural cooperative Cenex Harvest States. The other two are Canadian fleets MacKinnon Transport of Guelph, Ontario and Coastal Pacific Xpress (CPX) of Cloverdale, B.C.