Like many other business sectors, the transportation industry
has been transformed by the explosion of digital
technologies. Some of these tools help drivers stay
safe on the road and minimize fuel emissions,
while others help businesses review details of collisions
and other accidents. This list shares, in no
particular order, some companies that are reshaping the
ways that people and commodities get from Point
A to Point B.
The # 1 entry is Nikola Motor Company,
based in Phoenix Arizona, which designs and builds
electric cargo trucks, off-roading vehicles, and watercraft. The
Reckless model is military-grade and is the only
OHV that does not require air to operate.
There are several models in Nikola's line of
semi-trailers. The vehicles are able to accelerate up
to two times faster than a stock diesel
tractor, and have torque vectoring, which allows control
of each wheel independently for better maneuvering during
cornering and braking. All the vehicles are zero
emission machines.
Coming in at # 2 we have SmartDrive,
an app for commercial transportation companies. It gives
fleets and drivers performance insight and analysis, with
the goal of saving fuel and preventing collisions.
Its video safety, predictive analytics telematics, and compliance
program purports to help fleets improve driving skill
and lower operating costs.
SmartDrive has offices in the United Kingdom and
the United States. The company 's proprietary video software
allows administrators to capture distracted and drowsy driving,
aggressive speeding, and more. Users can install up
to four devices in one vehicle.
Next up, at # 3 we present Azuga,
a software company based in Fremont California. It
develops GPS Fleet tracking systems that can report
on mileage stops, and driver behavior. Actions are
then analyzed and reported to the fleet's administration
to improve driver safety and efficiency.
Azuga also sells a dual-facing car monitoring device,
called the SafetyCam The machine captures both front-facing
road events and in-cab driver behavior, giving fleet
operators critical evidence in the instance of a
collision.
The # 4 entry is David Evans and
Associates, located in Portland Oregon. It is a
design firm that works on a number of
transportation-related projects, including bridges roads highways, and railways.
It also offers construction engineering and administration assistance
to facilitate the planning design, and construction of
a project.
David Evans has a smart mobility team that
combines its traffic engineering transportation, and environmental planning
expertise to provide mobility and safety solutions for
cities. The company's projects have included the Nava
Boxcar Facility, the Portland-Milwaukie Light Rail, and the
Arapahoe Road Corridor.