Trucker Tools Reaffirms Position on U.S Cellular Carriers Sharing Location Data

RESTON, Va., Jan. 17, 2019 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Trucker Tools LLC, in response to inquiries from customers and partners, reaffirmed today that its applications do not use device location data obtained through "triangulation" of signals from cell phone towers operated by the nation's largest cellular network providers, and sold through third parties.

Trucker Tools provides shipment tracking, capacity visibility and carrier management software services to freight brokers, third-party logistics providers, shippers and truck fleets through its Load Track application and its cloud-based Smart Capacity platform. The company obtains location data directly from smart phones of participating truck drivers using the Trucker Tools Mobile Driver app, utilizing the GPS-location features built into the driver's smart phone.

Launched in 2013, the Trucker Tools Mobile Driver App has been downloaded by more than 500,000 truck drivers and is actively used by over 100,000 small fleet operators.

Late last week, in a story reported by The Wall Street Journal, the nation's largest wireless network operators announced they would stop selling cellphone customer location data, derived through "triangulation" of signals from cellphone towers, to middlemen, or aggregators.

Some providers of supply chain visibility software and services have been utilizing aggregator-acquired location data to populate their visibility and tracking applications.

"This has never been the case with Trucker Tools," emphasized Prasad Gollapalli, Trucker Tools founder and CEO. "While this decision affects some market offerings which rely on third-party purchases of customer location data from cellphone networks, our products do not," he said.

Unlike location tracking which depends on third-party aggregated data, known as "app-less" cellphone-based tracking, Trucker Tools employs another method, utilizing a mobile app, downloaded directly to the user's smart phone or other device, such as a tablet computer.

The mobile app integrates with the smart phone's GPS software to continually capture, in real time, precise location data, which is then transmitted over Trucker Tools' secure network, and displayed in the company's load tracking and carrier management applications.

"We made this decision, building and offering our own app, free to drivers, many years ago to ensure direct access to, and real-time accuracy of location data without involving a third-party," said Gollapalli. "It also was important to us to protect our users and the confidentiality and integrity of the data within our secure, proprietary network."

About Trucker Tools -- Trucker Tools, based in Reston, Va., is the leading provider of trip planning, shipment visibility and freight matching solutions for the transportation industry. Its ground-breaking Smart Capacity platform uses accurate, real-time data and powerful algorithms to optimally match freight by predicting when and where capacity will become available, days in advance. The company's popular driver smartphone app has been downloaded by over 500,000 owner operators and small-carrier drivers to access information and services conveniently while on the road. Load Track is a robust feature in the app that connects drivers with carriers and freight brokers to eliminate manual check calls. Visit Trucker Tools at http://www.truckertools.com or contact us directly at: [email protected].

SOURCE Trucker Tools