Sep. 3 — Qualcomm has developed a mobile communications system for small fleets of less than 100 trucks. TruckMAIL offers two-way messaging and vehicle tracking at an affordable price, according to the company. It is targeted at fleets that use traditional manual dispatch, and is expected to begin shipping in the fourth quarter of 1998.
For $2,500 to $2,900 per truck, TruckMAIL includes an outdoor antenna communications unit and a driver display unit mounted inside the cab with a full keyboard and four-line display. In addition to continuous two-way communications, TruckMAIL delivers hourly position reports to the dispatch center. The system can be upgraded with options such as CabCARD driver e-mail.