MINNEAPOLIS, June 29, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, the U.S. Congress has adopted a bill that requires the use of electronic logging devices to track hours of service for all carriers that are required to file a record of duty status (RODS). The bill is part of the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21), authorizing longer term funding for highway improvement projects as well as introducing a number of safety related provisions to reduce crashes, injuries and fatalities on the country's roadways. Xata Corporation (Nasdaq:XATA), the leader in mobile fleet optimization software and low-cost electronic logging device solutions, is prepared to help carriers and independent drivers understand and comply with the new legislation.
"Passing this bill is great news for the U.S. economy and will bring much needed job creation. This new legislation will also impact carriers of all sizes and affect everyone from owners to dispatchers to drivers," says Jay Coughlan, chairman and chief executive officer, Xata. "This is the largest piece of legislation in the industry in recent history, and we're prepared to help carriers adjust to this new reality."
Xata is providing free resources, tools and the latest news on the new legislation at www.EOBR.com. The company's low-cost EOBR/electronic logging device, Xata Turnpike, provides an industry-leading compliance solution, as well as providing return on investment such as paperwork savings, increased drive time, and operational savings from performance management tools.
"The support available on www.EOBR.com is the latest example of Xata's ongoing commitment to making compliance easy and affordable for fleets of all sizes and independent owner-operators," says Coughlan. "And Xata Turnpike provides a low-cost, 395.15-certified solution that's easy to install and uses the power of a driver's existing cell phone, tablet computer or rugged handheld. There's no expensive hardware to buy, no holes to drill in your truck and no long-term contracts to sign."
Developed by the first company to produce a paper-free driver log, Xata Turnpike is the first truly mobile solution designed to harness the power of road science to help fleets and owner-operators automate and simplify the fleet management process to improve safety and compliance, reduce operations costs and improve customer satisfaction.
The new legislation means that for anyone keeping paper log books today for RODS, they are required to utilize a Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) certified electronic logging device beginning two years after the final rule is released from the FMCSA. The FMCSA will be required to create a regulation within one year.
Xata has assisted the FMCSA Motor Carrier Safety Advisory Committee (MCSAC) EOBR task force in developing technical specifications for the regulation. The FMCSA's final rule will take into consideration the technical specifications provided by the MCSAC EOBR task force required for EOBR/electronic logging device manufacturers to build compliant systems. Since the MCSAC recommendations were made, there have been identified criteria in the final MAP 21 bill language that could require some additional review for implementation once the final regulatory Notice of Proposed Rule Making is released. As any additional changes are made to the final language, Xata will be providing updated information through www.EOBR.com.
"Xata Turnpike is a software-as-a-service solution, meaning it can be updated anywhere, anytime so it remains compliant at no additional cost to our customers, even in the face of the new legislation," says Coughlan. "And carriers and owner-operators can reap the benefits of EOBRs and fleet management solutions now rather than waiting for three years. For example, we work with more than 1,500 companies that have voluntarily adopted electronic logging devices through Xata Turnpike, with proven improvements in compliance with hours of service regulations, as well as saving time and money," says Coughlan.
For more information about the EOBR legislation and compliance support, visit www.EOBR.com or call 1.800.745.9282.
About Xata
Xata Corporation (Nasdaq:XATA) delivers mobile compliance and fleet management software solutions to the trucking industry, resulting in a previously unattainable level of mobile fleet optimization for its customers. Xata Turnpike is leading the trucking industry's migration to mobile devices for collecting and analyzing compliance and management data. It is a low-cost and easy-to-install solution that runs on consumer grade smartphones, tablets and rugged handhelds-- devices most often owned by drivers themselves. Xata is the only company with compliance partnerships with all three of the major mobile platform providers in the trucking industry – AT&T, Sprint and Verizon.
Xata's software helps drivers and fleets comply with governmental regulations, keeping drivers on the job. Xata makes it easy for fleet managers, dispatchers and drivers to collect, sort, view and analyze data to help reduce costs, increase safety and compliance, and improve customer satisfaction.
For more information, visit www.xata.com or call 1-800-745-9282.
Contacts:
Megan Mahoney
Xata Corporation
megan.mahoney@xata.com
952.707.5681
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