Descartes (News - Alert) Systems Group specializing in logistics technology announced that it has acquired Telargo Inc., a provider of telematics solutions.

In a release Ed Ryan, chief commercial officer at Descartes said, “Descartes is a leader in MRM solutions with a long history of providing delivery route planning and mobile solutions for vehicles.”

“By adding Telargo’s telematics solutions to the Descartes Routing, Mobile and Telematics suite, we can now offer customers a pre-integrated, end-to-end MRM solution that combines hardware and software and is delivered over the Descartes Global Logistics Network,” Ryan added.

A privately-held company, Telargo is a software-as-a-service (SaaS (News - Alert)) provider of MRM telematics solutions. These solutions help clients to monitor and manage mobile assets such as vehicles, workforce, equipment and cargo. Users like fleet owners can easily comply with domestic transportation regulations also.

The company’s solutions are capable of providing information regarding vehicles giving their location, engine use and braking information besides throwing light on the drivers of these vehicles including hours of driver service.

Company sources added that all this data will be useful in making real-time decisions, and making dynamic estimated time of arrival notifications for delivery recipients. It also assists in drawing advanced operational analysis.

Telargo’s telematics solutions match the needs of the evolving United States regulatory environment besides also helping fleet owners to comply with new driver hours of service (HOS) and fuel tax reporting (IFTA) regulations.

According to Descartes sources its Routing, Mobile and Telematics suite enables end-to-end processes fleet operators to make plans that serves customers cost effectively; ensure that the plans are being executed in the field and deal with changes in real-time; capture and distribute customer data from the field; track the performance of vehicles and related equipment and comply with government reporting and working mandates.

Art Mesher, chairman and CEO of Descartes said, “Our customers want routing, mobile, and telematics solutions combined as part of one integrated suite. Our customers viewed Telargo’s solutions as a premier, flexible and powerful complement to Descartes’ existing MRM technologies that could help drive their businesses forward. So, with our customers behind us, we added Telargo to our MRM portfolio of market-leading solutions.”

In related news TMCnet reported in 2009 that UAE-based Mirak Group, a producer and distributor of fresh flowers, fruits and vegetables, has deployed Telargo’s Fleet Management System to improve fleet operations and enhance driver performance.

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Shamila Janakiraman is a contributing editor for TMCnet. To read more of Shamila’s articles, please visit her columnist page.

Edited by Jennifer Russell