HOUSTON – At the In.Sight 2018 user conference for Trimble companies, the fleet software provider announced plans to unify the TMW, PeopleNet, and 104 Systems brands under the Trimble name.

The event for TMW Systems, PeopleNet and ALK Technologies users kicked-off in Houston Sept. 8-12 with about 2,600 attendees.

The opening session on Sept. 10 featured remarks by Steve Berglund, Trimble president and CEO, Bryn Fosburgh, Trimble senior vice president and president of Transportation Enterprise and Thomas Fansler, president of Trimble Transportation Mobility as well as presentations on various product lines by company executives.

The three-day event features more than a hundred educational sessions and workshops relating to the various Trimble product lines within the transportation space as well as industry-related sessions on topics such as ELD implementation, regulatory outlooks and others.

The theme for this year’s conference, innovation inspired, stresses the value of creativity and collaboration for inspiring innovation.

Berglund delivered the keynote at the opening noting that Trimble’s companies are “involved in real people doing real work,” while focusing on long-term growth.

“Want to create world-class innovation,” he said, with feet planted in both the digital and the physical world. Berglund noted that two-thirds of the company’s global investment is in software development and described the company’s culture as “centered on our basic humility.”

Thomas Fansler, who heads the transportation mobility group which includes PeopleNet, followed by noting that “we work in the greatest industry in North American.” He quoted recent statistics showing that trucks deliver 70.6% of domestic freight tonnage and $672.2 billion in annual revenue which represents 8% of the nation’s freight bill.

“I’m proud to say that we are all part of this,” he said.

While the strong economy has boosted freight rates, fleets still face challenges in finding drivers and boosting productivity. That’s where the products developed by Trimble’s transportation groups can help their customers, he added.

Bryn Fosburg, head of transportation enterprise group, which includes TMW Systems, noting the conference theme, said he was excited by the conference because of its ability to inspire people. “You can’t plan innovation,” he said. “You have to be inspired. That what’s great about conferences like this. We all get together... The power of inspiration happens.”

He added that one must be “creative and curious” to innovate, but one must also know your market. As an example, he noted how 20 years ago, he and colleagues were successful at automating a go-cart, but there wasn’t much market for such a thing at the time. Twenty years later, Trimble has successfully automated tractors in the agricultural sector.

He closed by noting that “together we can innovate; together we are better.”

Also making presentations during the opening session were Mark Botticelli, CTO at Trimble Transportation; Joe DeBoth, vice president and general manager at 10-4 Systems; Ray West, senior vice president and general manager, Trimble Transportation; and Dan Popkin, senior vice president, ALK.