Sam Hofstedt
From smartphones and tablets to cameras and data logging devices, the technology used by commercial drivers has advanced and changed every year—while the vehicles themselves have stayed relatively unchanged. This disconnect between the vehicle and the technology means that there is a serious need for some serious gear.
ELD & HANDS-FREE
Like it or not, mandates involving Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs) and “Hands-Free” vehicle operation are here to stay. Thankfully, the benefits of these initiatives far outweigh the costs. Safer roads, faster service, and more efficient operations lead to a better overall experience for both the customers and the drivers. An ELD can synchronize with a vehicle’s engine to automatically record driving time for easier, more accurate hours of service (HOS) recording. Gone are the days of trying to track miles, fuel, and route status on a pad and paper.
Acquiring the necessary devices, paying for the software, and then finding compatible hardware can get expensive. Thankfully, many companies have begun to see the cost savings of using existing technology in the form of smartphones and tablets.
SERIOUS MOUNTS
Anybody who has used a simple phone mount in their vehicle for navigation knows how much of a benefit it can be. Commercial drivers will also be quick to point out that the “consumer-grade” mount might work well for a family sedan, but fall short when put into a heavy-duty vehicle used for eight hours a day or more.
Enter Bracketron. Bracketron provides universal device mounting solutions and accessories for the transportation industry. Companies like Bracketron specialize in the heavy-duty, working industries. On these built-for-work products, components that were once made from cheap plastic are replaced with commercial-grade aluminum. Small, “good enough” suction cups are replaced with heavy-duty cups that will hold strong and secure, even in the harshest of conditions, such as en route to jobsites that are off the beaten path or the logging industry going from the logging site to the open road.
All of this, along with a strong emphasis on adaptability can give fleet managers a no-brainer solution for future-proofing some of the hardware in their fleet. The vehicles we drive and the tech that we use is everchanging in this industry. There’s already enough hassle in any driver’s daily routine, don’t let something as simple as a phone mount be one of them.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sam Hofstedt is a product specialist at Bracketron, a leader in universal mounting solutions and accessories for many of today’s most popular mobile and handheld technologies. Find out more, visit www.bracketron.com.
