Resource management system, for example, tracking and management system for trucks

• US 20050171692A1
• Filed: 02/02/2004
• Published: 08/04/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Trucktrax, LLC
• Original Assignee: Glacier Northwest, Inc. (Taiheiyo Cement Corporation)
• Inventors: Xue, Ke, Smith, Daniel Bruce, Leatham, David Mark, Hamblen, G. Allen
• Granted Patent: US 7,246,009 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/209
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/085 using electronic data carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/20 Monitoring the location of vehicles belonging to a group, e.g. fleet of vehicles, countable or determined number of vehicles

Abstract

A resource management system for tracking the real-time location and status of a plurality of trucks during interaction with a plurality of batch plants and a plurality of jobsites to provide a system for managing the trucks and drivers; providing customer efficiency; and providing dispatch accountability. Vehicle-mounted sensors automatically communicate delivery status information via a wireless network, all without requiring driver intervention. The on-board personal computer (PC) or Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) displays GPS maps, relays driver messages and stores performance data. The status and performance data can be reviewed in real time to allow the dispatcher to efficiently manage the truck fleet with regard to the jobsite demands and the capabilities of the available batch plants. Alternatively, the status and performance data can be reviewed at a later time to analyze and improve resource allocation. Further, the system is automated and digital, thus eliminating driver-generated forms, minimizing entry errors and lowering the data entry costs associated with producing manual load tickets.

Claims

1. A resource management system for detecting the location and status of a plurality of trucks, comprising:

a plurality of trucks;

a plurality of sensors mounted to each of the trucks wherein the sensors measure selected truck functions; and

a processor on-board each truck, the processor further including a display and an input, wherein the sensors are operably connected to the processor and wherein the processor receives information from the sensors, the processor further receives information from a central server, the processor calculates the information from the sensors and from the central server to provide truck statuses and an electronic ticket.

2. The resource management system of claim 1 wherein the sensors provide information about:

the truck location using a GPS receiver;

vehicle operating data;

truck status;

drum rotation speed and direction;

water flow to the drum;

admixture flow to the drum;

wash water flow;

hydraulic hose line pressure;

door open/closed position;

engine diagnostic connection;

engine ignition on/off information;

or biometric data.

3. The resource management system of claim 1 wherein the processor is a personal computer.

4. The resource management system of claim 1 wherein the processor is a personal digital assistant.

5. The resource management system of claim 1 wherein the display is a touch screen.

6. The resource management system of claim 1 wherein the input is a keyboard.

7. The resource management system of claim 1 further including an exceptions report, the exceptions report generated in real-time, the server receiving information from the on-board processor to prepare an exceptions report based on each truck location and status information.

8. The resource management system of claim 7 wherein the exceptions report includes at least one of the following exceptions:

loaded status at the shop;

driver on over-time;

driver on double-time;

driver eligible for lunch;

truck stopped for greater than 5 minutes while in return status;

“

On Job”

status greater that 15 minutes without transitioning to “

Pour Status;

” and

/or a message from the driver.

9. The resource management system of claim 7 wherein the exception report is customized in an editable script file that executes on the data server.

10. The resource management system of claim 1 wherein the processor includes a customizable truck status calculation script.

11. The resource management system of claim 1 wherein the server includes a graphical display of pending orders by at least one of the following:

batch plant;

truck status;

exceptions;

job size;

or job location.

12. A method of tracking a plurality of trucks using a wireless communication system, comprising:

determining the location of each of the trucks using a Global Positioning System receiver;

determining the status of each of the trucks by polling sensors provided on-board each truck;

transmitting the location and status information via a wireless communication system; and

generating an electronic ticket containing relevant order information incorporating data transmitted via the wireless communication system as well as at least some of the information from the sensors.

13. The method of tracking a plurality of trucks of claim 12 wherein the location includes:

at the plant;

loading at the plant;

traveling to the job site;

at the job;

start pour;

end pour;

wash out drum;

or leave job-site.

14. The method of tracking a plurality of trucks of claim 12 wherein the sensors include providing information about at least one of the following:

vehicle operating data;

truck status;

drum rotation speed and direction;

water flow to the drum;

admixture flow to the drum;

wash water flow;

hydraulic hose line pressure;

door open/closed position;

engine diagnostic connection;

engine ignition on/off information;

or biometric data.

15. The method of tracking a plurality of trucks of claim 12 wherein the determining the location and determining the status includes collecting data at a frequency of at least every 60 seconds or less.

16. The method of tracking a plurality of trucks of claim 12 further including preparing an exceptions report on an exceptions server.

17. The method of tracking a plurality of trucks of claim 12 further including providing finishing sub-contractor with a billing service.

18. The method of tracking a plurality of trucks of claim 12 further including modifying the status calculation script remotely, thereby changing the status determination for selected trucks.

19. The method of tracking a plurality of trucks of claim 12 further including displaying graphically at a separate server location at least one of a status or location determination for the plurality of trucks.

20. The method of tracking a plurality of trucks of claim 12 further including managing the plurality of trucks from a remote server based on information transmitted wirelessly from the sensors of the trucks.

21. The method of tracking a plurality of trucks of claim 20 wherein the managing of the plurality of trucks includes redirecting trucks enroute based on resource allocation management.

22. The method of tracking a plurality of trucks of claim 20 wherein the managing of the plurality of trucks further includes a data collection frequency of every 60 seconds or less.

23. The method of tracking a plurality of trucks of claim 20 wherein the managing of the plurality of trucks further includes a data collection frequency of up to once per second.

24. The method of tracking a plurality of trucks of claim 20 wherein the managing of the plurality of trucks further includes a graphical display of at least one of the truck'"'"'s progress in a crumb-trail format.

25. The method of tracking a plurality of trucks of claim 20 wherein the managing of the plurality of trucks further includes providing data reports based on the information retrieved.

26. The method of tracking a plurality of trucks of claim 20 wherein the managing of the plurality of trucks further includes modifying at least one of the truck'"'"'s status or route in real-time.