MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Zonar Systems unveiled at the NAPT Summit Trade Show its next-generation 2020 telematics tablet that offers student transporters apps to access the company’s Electronic Vehicle Inspection Reports (EVIR), the ZPass student tracking solution as well as routing information, driver hours of service reports with Zonar Zlogs and vehicle fuel efficiency.
The 2020 tablet takes the previous 2010 hand-held device, which is used with EVIR, to the next level. It was released earlier this month to the trucking industry at the National Truck Equipment Association show in earlier this month, but on Tuesday it was unveiled to the student transportation industry. A company representative called it a “game changer.”
The tablet is touted as the first portable device that provides driver and fleet management tools for school bus operators and is FMCSA 395.15 compliant. It also offers two-way messaging, instant driver feedback and advanced navigation. The company rep told School Transportation News that Zonar chose to develop the apps on an Android powered tablet because of the open-source capability that can allow fleets to integrate other systems and to custom the tablet’s use.
“This product is the most important advancement for Zonar since the invention of the patented, Electronic Vehicle Inspection Report (EVIR),” said Mike McQuade, Zonar’s chief technology officer. “From vehicle inspections to driver behavior, the 2020 is an all-in-one device that captures information throughout various aspects of fleet operations to provide managers with true fleet visibility and drivers with a versatile productivity tool.”
The 2020 tablet utilizes a built-in EVIR reader to scan bus inspection points, similar to the 2010 device. Drivers identify component conditions using the onscreen QWERTY keyboard and can send pictures of defects with the completed report. All inspection information is available to fleet and maintenance managers through Zonar’s web-based Ground Traffic Control application. The 2020 also allows drivers to view available hours, update duty status and electronically submit service records.
