Qualcomm, San Diego, Calif., announced that an automated driver productivity module will be available by June 2004.

The first phase of the solution will automatically detect stops en route, most importantly arrivals and departures from shipper and consignee locations.
According to Qualcomm, the solution will integrate with most enterprise software systems.
"With the ability to receive alerts of planned and unplanned events in
real-time, we can provide our customers with the information that they need to drive efficiencies throughout their operations," said Tom McLeod, president and CEO of McLeod Software.
The Qualcomm announcement also specifically noted truckload software providers Innovative Computing Corporation and Maddocks Systems.
"Fleets need more accurate and granular visibility of driver activity
information to reduce detention and unplanned stops, and this solution
satisfies that requirement while offering complete integration to back-office systems typically without mobile hardware upgrades," said Glynn Spangenberg, vice president and general manager of Qualcomm Wireless Business Solutions.
Qualcomm noted that the module comes at a time when carriers are beginning to deal with the impact of new hours-of-service rules.
The company joins a growing group of technology providers who have either developed new products or repositioned existing ones to note pickup and delivery stops without any action on the part of the driver. Some of these produce documentation for detention charges, which are intended to encourage quicker loading and unloading to save available driver hours.