PedalCoach MPG application

Discussion in 'Trucking Electronics, Gadgets and Software Forum' started by Alaska76, Jun 24, 2014.

  1. Alaska76

    Alaska76 Road Train Member

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    PedalCoach MPG application: http://smallbusiness.foxbusiness.co...pp-helps-truckers-save-fuel/?intcmp=obnetwork

    I just came across this article and was curious if any of you have experience with application, and what your opinions of it are?

    I have to laugh at this statement from the article though;

    The article at the link posted above:


    [​IMG]
    PedalCoach wants to help trucking companies save on fuel costs.
    The app, from Boston startup LinkeDrive, works to help truck drivers get better gas mileage.
    The PedalCoach dongle plugs into a truck’s diagnostic port and wirelessly feeds information to a smartphone or a tablet. Drivers see a speedometer-like display on the mobile device, mounted near the side mirrors. When the monitor turns green, smooth sailing. Turning red? There’s room for improvement.
    “It’s a bit of a game and … if the drivers follow it, they can compete and earn points and save fuel. It engages them in the act of driving,” says LinkeDrive CEO and founder Jeff Baer. “[E]very mile they drive in the green, they get a point, and those points correspond to fuel savings.”
    Baer says roughly one-third of a truck’s fuel economy is dependent on driver behavior.
    “When a driver is bringing the vehicle up to speed or creating momentum -- when they’re preserving that momentum through the hills ... Always using the proper amount of fuel in those situations maximizes fuel economy,” says Baer.
    He says PedalCoach can save about 10% to 12% in fuel, which comes to about three to ten cents per mile. Customers pay between $100 and $150 each month for the service, and save roughly $300 to $600 each month in fuel costs, according to Baer.
    PedalCoach has raised $2 million from angel investors and management. The company launched the app in 2012 and has grown from xxx to 15 employees.
    “We’re in over 15 [companies] at this point,” says Baer. “We’re strong in the Northeast, [and the] central Midwest, Missouri, Arkansas area. We’re growing into Wisconsin and Minnesota, and then out in the Rocky Mountains – Denver, Salt Lake City.”

    Follow Gabrielle Karol on Twitter @GabrielleKarol[​IMG]
     
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  3. snowwy

    snowwy Road Train Member

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    how does that so called app know how and where to improve? as compared to what type of freight.cuz flatbedders will consistently be in the red compared to vans
     
  4. TexTrucker

    TexTrucker Medium Load Member

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    Sounds like an added distraction that could turn into a safety issue to me. Personally I've really been focusing on better fuel mileage as a company driver because it increases my bonus. Just slowing down from 65 (our governed speed) to 61 gives me an extra 1 mpg. Hoping to tweak it another half.
     
  5. windsmith

    windsmith Road Train Member

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    If your truck has EOBR, then the diagnostic port is already occupied...
     
  6. CondoCruiser

    CondoCruiser The Legend

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    It's probably counting injector pulses and displaying that in led format. A simple design they won't reveal as they want everyone to think it's complicated.

    Of course the driver running I-10 will do better than that driver running I-80. It's hard to compare drivers when you don't compare their running lanes.

    As soon as clueless fuel managers see this they'll want to buy it. Hearing cha-ching every time you get a point will make you want to take a hammer to it eventually. I don't know what happened? I rolled down the window and the thing fell out. :)
     
  7. jcb748

    jcb748 Bobtail Member

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    May 9, 2014
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    Easy fellas.

    Can you tell in the seat of your pants if you are light or heavy the minute you pull away with a trailer?

    This application can, too.

    It gives a unique, realistic target based upon that, and that allows the I-80 vs. I-10 (heavy vs. light, old vs. new, 15L vs 14L vs 13L) to make money with an achievable target.

    Don't knock it till you try it. Sound and screen are both easily turned on or off, so you can hear it if you want, or turn it down when you don't.

    Of course, if you come to work with a victim mentality, no app, bonus, nor effort can help make life better all involved.

    Stay safe out there, happy trails!
     
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