Technology news and briefs for the week of Sept. 11, 2022:
TomTom launches truck-specific routing via app
Geolocation technology provider TomTom has introduced truck-specific routing features via app that aims to fill the gaps left by generic navigation apps.
With its new GO Navigation truck plan, drivers can plan routes that account for their vehicle’s dimensions, fuel requirements, desired maximum speeds and cargo, such as dangerous goods. They can also plan multiple drop-offs and gain access to an overview of upcoming points of interest, including fuel stations suitable for their vehicle and truck stops.
These additions work in conjunction with the app’s existing navigation features, including intuitive lane guidance, live traffic and the Route Bar, which provides a snapshot of the route, stops, relevant alerts and restrictions ahead. 
“As a third-generation truck driver, I can say with some confidence that this addition couldn’t come sooner. Having TomTom’s large-vehicle navigation features right there on an app is a big win for the trucking community,” Luke Cuss, one of TomTom’s trucking ambassadors, said in a news release. “The job gets challenging at times, sure, and changing traffic conditions and regulations can be hard to keep up with, but this plan will help us stay on top of all that, meaning we can focus on the road ahead, enjoy the ride and stay on schedule.” 
The new offering takes into account things like vehicle size and cargo type to help drivers stay up to speed with ever-changing road regulations such as avoiding prohibited routes. TomTom has plans for additional updates that will allow the truck plan feature to measure low emission zones.
The truck plan user interface is designed to minimize distractions and keep attention on the road, and with Android Auto compatibility, drivers also have the option to sync their route with their in-dash screen.
GO Navigation’s truck plan is available now for Android users on the Google Play Store.
Samsara marks 200th integration, hires leader to expand ecosystem
IoT company Samsara has reached its 200th partner integration and has hired a new leader of channel and partnership strategy to accelerate the growth of its ecosystem.
The company has added RUBICONSmartCity to its platform – something Samsara says has made it the largest open ecosystem for physical operations. This addition improves efficiency and sustainability in government fleets by providing fault code, speeding, fuel level and GPS data from Samsara in the RUBICONSmartCity suite for shared customers, offering visibility into waste and recycling information alongside operational data to increase the safety and transparency of citizen services.
Samsara customers can access data across the Samsara app marketplace and other systems, like RUBICONSmartCity, streamlining data sharing to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and maintain operational resilience. Other systems include Navistar and recent integrations with ThermoKing, General Motors and Stellantis’s Free2move.
Samsara has processed over 2.6 trillion data points and more than 23 billion API calls in the last six months. As the scale of this data grows, Samsara said it continues to tune analytics models and iterate on its platform to provide even richer insights to create a competitive advantage for new and existing customers.
The company has also welcomed a new vice president of channel and strategic partnerships to expand upon the ecosystem to scale data. Ursula Worth joins Samsara from C.H. Robinson, where she headed the global partnership and strategic alliances program. She has over 20 years of partnership experience, previously working in leadership roles at Networked Insights, Google, and Compuware Corporation.
New Haul Hero driver app now available
A new mobile app designed to help over-the-road drivers save money has launched.
Haul Hero, a customized mobile platform, tracks every haul, every gallon, every stop and more to help drivers calculate real-time cost per mile before they accept loads and tracks every dollar spent.
Haul Hero offers two versions.
The first is a free version that features an estimator that delivers route mileage, fuel time, stops and rig costs based on national averages as well as saving expense receipts. The paid version, called Superhero, is a premium version that features the estimator along with an actualizer to capture exact expenses and receipts in calculating more precise cost per mile.
Haul Hero partnered with Chester’s Chicken, CDL 4 Life, Woody’s Smokehouse, Big Boys Travel Center and Fuel X through a series of pre-launch promotions.
Overall, there are 10 intuitive features and functions in the app, now available in the Apple Store and Google Play.
