A review on the ability to reactivate the two major EOBR
solutions on the secondary market in the battle of used mobile communications
supremacy in the trucking industry.
AN UNBIASED OPINION - THE FACTS BETWEEN THE TWO
Over the past six years, Pivot Technology Resources has been
responsible for moving thousands of quality used mobile communications and
asset tracking systems from many of the industry's top manufacturers and
service providers like QUALCOMM or OMNITRACS, PeopleNet, Rand McNally,
CarrierWeb, GeoLogic, Xata, SkyBitz, and more. In order to add the most value
to our customers, we try to be as up front with our customers as possible. We
want to be transparent when informing our customers about a product, service,
or ancillary fee that will affect the decision to move forward with a service
provider or product. Why we are doing this? Companies need to know what to look
for when investing money in a solution provider for eLogs, satellite or
terrestrial communications, vehicle tracking, or even simple Navigation. There
is an abundance of high quality, functional equipment available on the
secondary market in the trucking industry. We do the work to sort through the
good, the bad, and the ugly to bring the best to companies that have a use for
them.
We have consolidated the information we have experienced in
the industry and would like to inform anyone looking to reactivate a used MCP200
or a used BLU2. Let's look at the processes on how to activate a used unit
purchased from a company owning used equipment:
OMNITRACS - Formerly QUALCOMM
OmniTRACS has a minimal transfer fee that most times gets
waived for their customers. On a daily level, Pivot Technology Resources
initiates transfers to and from current OmniTRACS customers and ensures the success
in a transfer has been made. The current process that we experience is defined
below:
The seller provides a Bill of Sale for a used MCP200 to
Pivot Technology Resources. We pay the company for the unit and upon inspection
and approval, initiates a transfer out of their account into Pivot Technology
Resources. The equipment is now in a holding account for testing until the
equipment is sold to a company in need. Once a new customer orders quality
tested, cleaned, and packaged equipment, the Bill of Sale (including the necessary
activation serial numbers and account information) is sent via email to the
OmniTRACS transfer department with the new customer copied. Once accepted by the
new customer, assignments of vehicle numbers and profile information can be set
up on the customer's portal. Installations can now begin and the units are
working in the new customer's account. The total time for a transfer can be in
as little as an hour or as long as a week in some larger orders or busy times.
Working with OmniTRACS, we have a defined process with many successful
transfers initiated daily. The support staff is very helpful on the technical
as well as administrative side.
PEOPLENET
A used PeopleNet OBC not only has the highest
"reactivation or transfer fee" costs in the market, they are
virtually alone in what is essentially penalizing their own customers for not
buying new equipment through them. They frustrate the consumer into staying away from used
equipment by issuing high "reactivation or transfer" fees, a runaround of
policies that change from week to week and from customer to customer. The cloudy
policies keep customers from understanding the true and defined processes by
which a successful transfer can be made.
Over the past year, we have had PeopleNet customer support
reps quote three different transfer fees, multiple procedures, and never have a
quick and easy solution. We have even had complete walk-throughs with very
helpful PeopleNet customer support personnel on many levels with flying colors on
our test bench with all aspects of an OBC checking out okay and is thoroughly
approved through PeopleNet tech support. The units have now tested good and can
be packaged to ship to a customer to fill an order. However, upon installation,
the OBCs are not functional and the company is now instructed that the
defective OBCs need to be sent back to PeopleNet for reactivation and a
nonrefundable $100 fee. If they want a new warranty through PeopleNet, they can
pay an extra $350 per unit. So what could happen during a transit time of a
couple days that would allow the OBCs to drop their numbers and become
worthless? That is a very good question that we are unable to get answered
through multiple email and voicemails to multiple contacts from support to
sales and operations.
This undefined process puts stress on everyone when a
customer tries to install a known, good working used OBC in a truck, and it
"needs to be sent in for further testing and reactivation processes"
per PeopleNet. When a mutual PeopleNet customer can't order OBC's directly from
PeopleNet for four weeks because of shortages, and a customer can't order known
good working OBC's from Pivot to get the next day because of a runaround in
policy, how are you as a service provider standing behind your customers when
you refuse to support known functional equipment? Unfortunately, we are
regressing in our ability to support our mutual customer base on the OBC side
of things. So discounting the other equipment is our only option.
In my opinion, our success is summed up when we can allow
carriers to save money on the high cost of mobile communications equipment, while
continuing to be a resource for trucking companies that no longer have a use
for a specific type of product or service. Research the facts, and make an
educated decision on how you would like to spend the next three, five, and even
10 years with your investment dollars. Pivot Technology Resources has the
customers' best interest in mind with the information we provide, the solutions
we make available, and the ease and energy level at which they operate.
If you are still having problems deciding on which provider
to invest on the used side of the EOBR or ELD market, here are some front end questions
to ask the provider before signing on the dotted line for hardware and
messaging fees:
Is there a price break for buying more units over a period
of growth over the next few years?
If I order too many and end up downsizing, will you take the
units back within a specified time?
Is there a fee for deactivating units if we end up
downsizing?
Call I sell any units to which we no longer have any use? Is
there a fee? What is the process?
If we deactivate a unit, will it still have any value on the
open market to other fleets using the same product?
Does the equipment meet current and future FMCSA ELD
mandates?
What is the current failure rate on products over the life cycle?
How many components make up a complete system?
How reliable are the main components?
How often is there a waiting period for equipment when
ordered/needed?
What is the perception of the manufacturer and service
provider in the trucking industry?
How important is ongoing customer support and the
relationship with your service provider?
Additional Distinguishing Factors:
PERFORMANCE AND FLEXIBILITY
USER FRIENDLY HARDWARE
PRODUCT RELIABILITY AND LONGEVITY
POWER AND APPLICATIONS
CUSTOMER SUPPORT ON THE SECONDARY MARKET
WILLINGNESS TO WORK FOR CUSTOMER'S BEST INTEREST
Once again, I would like to state the sole purpose of Pivot
Technology Resources: to take the risk out of investing in quality used mobile
communications and asset tracking equipment.
Pivot Technology Resources is the premier source to find new
and used mobile communications and asset tracking equipment. Call today to see
how they can help your company with your equipment needs at 800 679 0177 or email
at info@pivottr.com, look up the web site at www.pivotresources.com
