Netherlands-based traffic information and mapping company TomTom has been selected to power Michelin’s new RoadConnect mobile application for truck drivers, and has launched its connected Bridge Hub unit in North America.
TomTom’s online services and map data will be used to help drivers find suitable routes and provide estimated journey times. Michelin RoadConnect, which is currently available on Android and will be on Apple’s OS before the end of the year, gives truck drivers information about their current route, as well as important stops along the way.
Millions of truck drivers face daily challenges to make their deliveries on time, as they need to find the right location to refuel, eat and rest on their journey. They also have to regularly deal with unexpected events, such as blocked roads, traffic jams and poor weather conditions. Using TomTom’s technology, Michelin RoadConnect provides a routing solution specifically tailored to the needs of the oversized vehicle market.
“Working with the transportation and logistics industry, we are transforming mobility across the world,” explained Anders Truelsen, managing director of TomTom’s licensing business. “By maximizing the value of our global map and online services, Michelin’s truck clients are better enabled to drive more efficient transportation routes.”
Xavier Gosselin, Michelin’s RoadConnect project manager, commented, “We found that TomTom could understand our requirements. Our key objectives were to provide the best routes for truckers and get a system that we could enhance with our ideas; we tested a number of systems and found the TomTom API to be a complete and adapted solution for mobile integration.”
TomTom is further expanding its commercial vehicle services with the North American launch of its Bridge Hub, which builds on the success of the popular Bridge unit, a rugged terminal built for professional drivers that seamlessly links business applications with TomTom maps, traffic and navigation software. Applications can interface with navigation using software development kits (SDKs), allowing companies to fully customize solutions tailor-made to their business needs.
The new Bridge Hub is a display agnostic device, allowing customers and partners in various industries, such as transportation, emergency, logistics and utilities, to connect with regular smartphones and tablets (BYOD), rugged professional devices, or even HDMI displays to create enhanced mobility systems. The built-in 4G/LTE connectivity and CANbus interface can connect not only with the driver and the back office, but also to the vehicle itself in real time.
