Standards for Vehicle to Office Data Communication

Modern trucking companies are finding mobile data communication to be significant for operating fleets cost effectively in a competitive environment. Today's systems pass both business data and vehicle technical data between the vehicle and the business office. The communications companies which created these innovations have done so with proprietary designs, as, of course, is necessary when new technology is developed. However, as the diversity of applications expands and the market matures, the need for standards becomes apparent. In this paper we will outline standards being considered by The Maintenance Council (TMC) of the American Trucking Association to allow interoperability between onboard electronics, mobile communication systems, and office software applications.