ALK Technologies Inc. has made available version 16 of its PC-Miler/Rail software. The product offers routing, mileage and mapping capabilities for rail carriers. Used in tandem with ALK's PC-Miler application, the product can help users to analyze intermodal alternatives to truck-only moves. Shippers and logistics providers can locate nearby ramps, compare truck and rail-intermodal mileage, and estimate savings in fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. They can also obtain accurate mileage for fair payment of fuel surcharges, car hire and ad valorem taxes, in addition to tracking empty and loaded miles in order to minimize empty haulage. Version 16 contains extensive updates of rail freight stations, railroads, interline routing and track-ownership rights, as well as details of the CN and CP post-merger system. In another company announcement, ALK has teamed with Cadec Global, a provider of fleet-management software, to help truck fleets optimize routes, reduce out-of-route mileage and lower fuel consumption. Users of Cadec's Mobius TTS and PowerVue systems can now add ALK's CoPilot Truck GPS navigation to their Cadec 100 Series of on-board computers. The Cadec fleet-management applications help users to monitor driver behavior, improve safety and reduce costs, according to ALK. CoPilot Truck is a hands-free, truck-legal GPS navigation system which provides voice-guided, turn-by-turn instructions and a choice of visual mapping styles.
