Mobile communications maker Qualcomm earlier this month outlined its plans to help establish transportation security standards by demonstrating security features of its OmniTRACS satellite-based mobile communications and tracking system at a Washington, D.C. event attended by congressional leaders and Department of Transportation (DOT) representatives.
Attendees viewed live demonstrations of a truck equipped with satellite-based mobile communications and position-tracking systems, and associated safety and security technology, such as emergency notification panic buttons, driver I.D. authentication, and tamper detection alerts, as well as several different prototype technologies for disabling the truck in case of an emergency, either remotely via satellite communication or triggered by events occurring in the vehicle.
Congressional and DOT attendees included Rep. Thomas Petri (Wis.), chairman of the Highways and Transit Subcommittee; Rep. Mike Rogers (Mich.), co-chair of the Intelligent Transportation Systems Caucus; Rep. Randy “Duke” Cunningham (Calif.), who serves on the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee and the Select Committee on Intelligence; Sen. Conrad Burns (Mont.), who serves on the Surface Transportation Subcommittee of the Senate Commerce Committee, Science & Transportation Committee and the Senate Appropriations Committee; and DOT’s Research and Special Programs Administrator Ellen Engleman, the lead appointee within DOT on homeland security issues for hazardous materials transportation.
“We need to deploy smart technologies like this (OmniTRACS) to secure hazardous materials,” said Rogers. “Qualcomm is leading the charge with smarter technology.”
“Qualcomm is a world leader in advanced wireless technology,” said Cunningham. “Qualcomm’s security technology, which automatically enables drivers to call for help in an emergency, is the type of innovation we need for Homeland Security.”
“We are delighted to see the private sector respond with key technologies that improve safety and enhance productivity,” added Engleman.
All U.S. trucking carriers currently authorized to transport ammunition for the Department of Defense use the Qualcomm system for messaging, reporting and incident response management. Qualcomm meets the Defense Transportation Tracking System’s (DTTS) stringent performance standards for the hauling of munitions and other hazardous loads. Other Military activities and Government agencies, including the Department of Justice, Department of Energy and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), use the Qualcomm system to track and maintain “assured” communications with vehicles transporting sensitive cargo.
Qualcomm has helped the transportation industry become more efficient since 1988 when the introduction of the OmniTRACS mobile communications system provided transportation companies with an innovative and effective way of managing logistics. Its fleet management solutions continue to set the standard by offering products and services that meet the demands of a constantly changing marketplace.
With OmniExpress, a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA)-based digital wireless communications and tracking system, along with other industry-leading technologies, Qualcomm continues to expand into new mobile markets. With a Network Management Center that processes more than seven million transactions each day and over 425,000 Qualcomm mobile systems shipped to businesses in more than 33 countries on four continents, Qualcomm continues to lead the industry in providing wireless data solutions.
