Railways are among the most eco-friendly and safe modes of transporting freight. However, the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the need for advanced technology that allows for real-time tracking of rail freight and real-time alerts, notifications, and automation. Union Pacific is leading the charge in implementing GPS and sensor technology that can monitor the location of railcars, identify if the handbrake is set on the railcar, detect excessive impact, and report the loaded/empty state of the railcar or if doors/hatches are open or closed.
However, implementing such technology requires industry-wide collaboration and innovation, given that there are 1.6 million rail cars in North America owned by over 200 companies, all of which are exchanged across multiple Class I and short-line railroads, as well as customers. To facilitate this, Union Pacific has joined RailPulse, a coalition of railcar owners working together to accelerate the adoption of GPS and other telematics technology across the entire rail network.
ZTR's PIVOT, Powered by BlackBerry, is a state-of-the-art solution that addresses the industry's data latency, accuracy, integrity, and accessibility challenges that persist as roadblocks to better service. PIVOT offers insights through an intuitive online dashboard, making it easier for manufacturers, railroads, shippers, and logistic providers to work faster and smarter to deliver for the industry. With PIVOT, users can know where their assets are, understand dwell and cycle times, and clearly understand how their railcars are being used. PIVOT also helps users improve maintenance efficiency by reducing response time to issues and exceeding customer expectations by providing supply chain visibility through secure data sharing.
In conclusion, the railway industry must embrace advanced telematics, and PIVOT is an excellent solution for rail industry players looking to benefit from the technology. With real-time tracking of railcars, real-time alerts, and notifications, the railway industry can offer its customers safer, more efficient, and more reliable service. PIVOT can help rail industry players make this a reality by providing the data and insights they need to streamline operations, reduce costs, and improve customer satisfaction.
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