Qualcom

[heel4you]

Hello Everyone,
I have been reading alot about the functionality of the qualcomm on the forum. Just need some things cleared up.
What information should the qualcomm be giving me other than correspondence with dispatch??
I have read that it has boards to tell if there are other trucks in the area, 1st on the board and load availabilty in other areas etc.
Maybe this company does not want me to see such information cause all I receive is the correspondence with dispatch. All this particular qualcomm is doing is keeping track of us and a message center.
Maybe I have been thinking wrong when reading posts that it is the qualcomm that has this funtionality. I always thought that this would be a helpful tool for the truck, but it's not. Maybe I just don't know how to properly use it or it's programming is proposely limited by the company?!
If anyone can set me straight on this I would be very appreciative.
I wish that I had the tools to make more informative decisions rather than depending souly on dispatch.
Let me know and be safe!!

 

[redytrk]

Every company picks and chooses the amounts of information that can be obtained through the use of Qualcom equipment.

You should make your company aware that other companies are providing information that would be useful to you. If they get enough request,and recruiting efforts are poor,things just might change.

 

[terryandrene]

heel4you:

In addition to redytrk's suggestion, tell us the name of the company to which you are leased, so that our members can advise you on their interpretation of your company's Qualcomm features.

Terry

 

[Doggie Daddy]

Just a guess,but it sounds like he is with FECC.

 

[heel4you]

Hello Everyone,
I am signed with Bolt Express. I will let them know. The tools that should be on the qualcomm would be helpful to me I am sure.
Please, if you could list the tools you guys are talking about.
Thanks,
Laura

 

[ATeam]

Bandwith (the amount and speed of data transfer)is the core issue when it comes to offering Qualcomm features. The more data that is sent and received, the higher the cost to the carriers. Some carriers, though no expediters that I know of, provide limited personal e-mail services to their drivers through Qualcomm.

At FedEx CC, we receive reports about how many trucks are in an area but the reports are not that specific. For example, we were in Louisville yesterday. Qualcomm unit tells us that at about 3:00 PM, there were 4 B-units, 2 C-units, 10 D-units, and 2 E-units in the area (Louisville express center), and that no trucks had been dispatched out of that express center so far that day (Sunday).

Translation: Sloooooooooowwwwwwwwwwww.

While the numbers of trucks are high, they are understandable since a whole-heck-of-a-lot-a FedEx trucks deadheaded to Louisville to attend the big truck show.

While the numbers on Qualcomm are interesting, they are not all that infomative. They do not tell us how many trucks are team-driven, how many are White Glove-equipped, how many have "less than 75 status" (completing a previous run of less than 75 miles puts you first in the dispatch order), and how many trucks our size or greater are ahead of us in the dispatch order. For that information, we call FedEx's VRU (voice response unit), which gives it out in a computer-generated voice message.

Through VRU, we can get truck info for any express center. Yesterday, we used VRU to determine that we'd be better off deadheading to Cincinnati, where there were less trucks, less teams, and less White Glove trucks. That's where we sit as I write this.

Smaller carriers may not have VRU capability, but if you have not already done so, you might want to check to see if you can obtain similar truck info simply by calling someone at Bolt, perhaps a dispatcher, and asking.

I would think most carriers would want their drivers to know where fleet trucks were and were not. That information enables drivers to best position themselves for freight and/or to sync their break time with slow-freight times.

 

[LDB]

Panther has a macro letting you choose a radius of 100, 200 or 300 miles to see how many trucks are available as well as how many are inbound. It only tells you how many of your same truck class on the theory it doesn't matter how many vans are around if you are a D unit. It isn't live data so the numbers are only approximate. I don't know what time of day the snapshot is taken so depending on when you send it you could get info only a few minutes old or almost 24 hours old or anywhere in between. It doesn't differentiate solo or team either. It's better than nothing though because if you are in Cinci and there are a lot of trucks it can help you decide whether to go toward Dayton or Louisville or Columbus or wherever. Calling dispatch can get you the breakdown of solo/team etc. but often they are busy and not thrilled about being called for that.

If Landstar has something similar on the QC I am not familiar with it yet however they have an excellent online system so I haven't been interested in fooling with the QC anyway.

Leo Bricker, owner trucks 3034, 4958
OOIDA 677319
73's K5LDB
Highway Watch Participant, Truckerbuddy
EO Forum Moderator
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Support the entire Constitution, not just the parts you like.

 

[cheri1122]

At ConWay Now, you have to call dispatch to find out anything more than what number you are on a specific board. I don't like calling them too much - they are always helpful, but I think their time would be better spent on other things. (Like assisting drivers who need help, bidding on loads, etc) If I could call a VRU, maybe I wouldn't always hear "All dispatchers are busy at this time" EVERY time I call, & neither would the drivers who need help ASAP......:'(