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Improved Routing Algorithms and Map Data with PC*MILER’s Latest Updates

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Cutting corners in the transportation industry isn’t an option. The success of the supply chain relies on the smart, efficient and innovative movement of goods, which happens through best-in-class tools and systems that help connect all of the dots.

Carriers and shippers across the country have long relied on PC*MILER as the industry standard for route planning and as the source of truth for mileage and distance calculations. For many transportation companies, PC*MILER’s reliable tracking of mileage, route performance and hours of service (HOS) compliance are integral to daily operations; the data collected informs how much customers should be charged and drivers should be paid.

Jeff Sibio, senior director of product management at Trimble says, “PC*MILER is the common translation engine between entities within transportation. It is essentially the ‘Rosetta Stone’ of the transportation industry – providing a common link so carriers, shippers and other partners are at an equivalent level and can understand each other”.

In fact, PC*MILER is used by 94% of FreightWaves' top 100 carriers, and 96% of the US-based for-hire carriers included in Transport Topics' top 100 list. PC*MILER is the go-to resource for practical routing for commercial vehicles, and with the newest version, we continue to improve the customer experience.

Upgrading the Newest Release

“In today's competitive market, carriers can't afford to waste a penny or a minute, so having the most direct, most practical, most efficient route to operate their fleet is critical to saving time, fuel and energy,” adds Sibio.

To ensure optimal performance, profitability and safety of every planned route, we’ve made a number of enhancements to core functionality. Read the complete release notes for all of the details, but updates include:

  • Improved Routing Algorithms – Routing capabilities for 53-foot tractor trailers that travel within Trimble’s state and national network, plus in-state areas where exemptions exist, have been improved for drivers. Additionally, PC*MILER’s mapping functions have been enhanced to better anticipate state exceptions so the safest, most efficient routes in different markets are shared with drivers.
     
  • Enhanced Turn Restrictions – To help prevent drivers from being forced to make unsafe turns, including U-turns, hundreds of thousands of new turn restrictions have been added to PC*MILER’s North America map data. This update results in safer routing in busy downtown areas with complex road networks and turn structures.
     
  • Expanded Map Data Information – A vast library of construction projects, points of interest and site locations across different categories, distribution centers, retail locations, manufacturing plants and more have been added to PC*MILER. The numbers include:
    • 413 new construction road projects
    • Over 49,000 new points of interest
    • Over 43,000 new site locations
    • More than 8,700 miles of new highway-level network (U.S.)

A Powerful Solution & Integration

Carriers that want a customized routing solution and the ability to add features can integrate PC*MILER into their applications to gain access to routes, maps and driving directions without purchasing, installing or maintaining software on their end. Plug-in APIs allow carriers to access new features and useful data within other solutions for information like predictive and real-time traffic and weather conditions, comparisons of alternative routes, live diesel fuel prices and more.

To date, PC*MILER integrates with more than 75 transportation management system (TMS) providers, meaning users can access industry standard PC*MILER data in solutions they use the most. These integrations allow carriers to compute a source of truth for mileage and distance calculations, which are used to charge their customers and pay their drivers, as well as generating transit times and ETAs, tracking HOS and more.

Additionally, the web-based version of PC*MILER allows any company to utilize the solution from anywhere and at any time.

Free Product Trial & Trial API Key

To learn more about PC*MILER and how it could take your transportation business to the next level, you can speak with a customer representative from Trimble and sign up for a complimentary 15-day trial at www.pcmiler.com/trial/. You’ll have free access to:

  • The latest highway and street-level maps of the U.S. and Canada with millions of commercial vehicle restrictions
  • Hazardous materials road classes and routing types
  • Hours of Service planning tools with hour-duty limit regulations
  • Updated toll costs for cash and discount programs
  • Weather alerts and radar overlays
  • Energy routing on private oil and gas lease roads

To learn more about how you can integrate PC*MILER’s routing and data into your application, contact us to request a free trial API key.