TransCore introduced SmartYard, a system for integrating yard and dock management, and SmartWatch, a system for tracking rolling assets, as extensions of its Amtech wireless asset tracking technology.

Wireless radio frequency identification (RFID) systems provide raw tracking data but require a company to integrate asset tracking into their information systems. With the introduction of SmartWatch and SmartYard, TransCore marries the hardware technology to a fleet's system applications, eliminating the cost and need for additional integration services, products or suppliers.
SmartYard is an integrated yard and dock management system designed for private fleet, less-than-truckload, third-party logistics, package delivery carriers, and intermodal container yards. SmartYard provides more than just data on a trailer. The system manages data, automating cross-dock operations, yard moves, equipment status, arrivals and departures, and shipment tracking. SmartYard links the rolling asset, commodities, and the processes occurring within a distribution facility, eliminating manual and labor-intensive tasks. SmartYard is fully scalable to fit any size operation and is platform and database independent to operate on all modern computer systems and networks using a standard Internet browser. SmartYard integrates with a wireless communications and data collection system using mobile data terminals and handheld computers to relay information between yard supervisors and yard drivers.
To use SmartYard, users enter a secure login and access the system from a wireless device or personal computer. SmartYard's intuitive, customizable user interface provides visual yard and dock displays, enabling supervisors to direct the move of a trailer or container to a new location with a simple drag-and-drop tool on the display screen. Yard drivers then get a prioritized list of yard moves and notify the system of critical operations such as accepting a move or hooking a trailer by pressing a single button. All moves are updated immediately in the system as work flows, providing a real-time status board of yard activity.
SmartYard also accepts input from RFID systems such as TransCore's Amtech technology for automated arrival, departure and location data on moving trailers and other assets.
SmartWatch is an automated asset and gate management application that can track from several dozen to several thousand trailers, trucks, tractors and other rolling assets, providing accurate asset, gate and equipment inventory checks in real-time. Users can easily perform tasks such as monitoring and controlling gate activity, database maintenance, and reports with a Microsoft Access compatible database.
SmartWatch accepts data input from an RFID tag and reader system for fully automatic operation. In this mode the system will continuously monitor arrivals, departures, and equipment moves, validate tags, open gates, automate and control fueling, and update yard inventory.
SmartWatch II is a supervisor server application for customers operating multiple SmartWatch sites using RFID. SmartWatch II enables centralized administration and maintenance of one or more SmartWatch satellites, gathering gate and asset management data in real- time.
SmartWatch is scalable and may be integrated with SmartWatch II at any time as needed.
TransCore officials say the cost of system implementation is dependent on the quantity of sites to be installed, number of assets (for RFID options), and quantity of wireless devices. The typical return on investment is 12 months, according to the company.
The smart product line folds into TransCore's overall strategy to integrate its core technologies and services, which include Amtech wireless asset tracking, DAT Services and Link Logistics freight-exchange network, Keypoint operations and dispatch software, and Viastar cash and fuel management and regulatory compliance services.
For more on this new technology, see "On-Board Technologies" in the September issue of Heavy Duty Trucking magazine.