First Choice Transport Chooses Blue Tree Systems

Roanoke, Virginia – November 15, 2011 – Blue Tree Systems, Inc. a provider of trailer tracking, reefer monitoring and fleet management solutions, today announced that First Choice Transport is equipping its entire fleet of trailers with the new R:COM Dot low cost trailer tracking solution and will be outfitting its tractor fleet with the R:COM Fleet Management Solution in the near future. The Fort Worth, Texas-based interstate truckload carrier is using the Blue Tree systems to monitor and control operations more efficiently and productively.

“We’ve been using tracking and asset management systems for over 15 years now,” said Carla Luig, president and CEO of First Choice Transport. “Blue Tree has a product unlike anything else we’ve used or have seen on the market. With R:COM we can manage assets in real-time, unlike the previous system we had that only provided location and status updates three time per day. R:COM’s ability to provide location and detailed tracking history, as well as geo-fence locations so we can monitor untethered trailers is also very beneficial.”

First Choice Transport’s decision to upgrade all of its trailers from its current trailer tracking system to the new R:COM Dot trailer solution coincided with the replacement of the entire fleet. As the 175 new 53-ft Great Dane dry freight vans are being added to the fleet they are being equipped at the factory by the OEM with the R:COM Dot system.

The 85 tractors in the First Choice fleet will be outfitted with R:COM systems by a local vendor during routine maintenance intervals. Installation is expected to take about one hour per vehicle.

Integration between the Blue Tree Systems and First Choice Transport’s dispatch and enterprise management solutions is nearing completion, and Blue Tree has already completed training of fleet personnel on the R:COM systems. The carrier’s driver recruiter and safety director will train drivers.

R:COM Dot from Blue Tree Systems is a next generation dry van trailer solution offering capabilities that include vehicle tracking displays of the current location of any vehicle or group of vehicles with road, aerial and bird’s eye views, detailed trailer movement information with tracking history that can include trip, stop and time at location reports, live tethered trailer reports and scheduled reports on untethered units, the ability to name and geo-fence thousands of locations and provide exception-based alerts, cargo control alerts for monitoring door open and close events, and over-the-air programming and upgrades.

R:COM Dot utilizes the latest GPS technology for highly accurate location data. The fully self-contained ruggedized solution does not require an external antenna. A lithium polymer battery rated for three or more years of operation powers R:COM Dot. A rechargeable battery is also available as an option.

The R:COM Fleet Management Solution provides vehicle tracking, in-cab communication and navigation, fuel, engine and driver performance monitoring, and automated IFTA fuel tax reporting capabilities.

R:COM’s onboard communications and driver interface hardware has an advanced electronic Hours-of-Service functionality, including a user friendly touch screen combined with extensive features that enable drivers to easily manage hours, edit non-driving log entries, review and sign logs, and perform pre-and-post trip inspections. First Choice expects its drivers to eventually use the system’s electronic log capabilities to manage compliance with Hours-of-Service regulations.

“By choosing Blue Tree’s R:COM system First Choice Transport is adopting a highly reliable set of solutions for managing its fleet of tractors and trailers,” said Charlie Cahill, CEO of Blue Tree. “The R:COM system will provide a comprehensive range of features designed to maximize fleet efficiency, reduce costs and improve customer service. We are very pleased that First Choice Transport has chosen Blue Tree to address its fleet management requirements and we look forward to serving them.”

About Blue Tree Systems Ltd.

Blue Tree Systems, established in 1995, provides the R:COM Fleet Management solution to both U.S. and European markets. The comprehensive system includes a range of features designed to maximize fleet efficiency and improve customer service. Capabilities of the solution can be selected to meet any variety of operational requirements, and allow fleets to more efficiently manage assets and lower operating costs by making effective decisions that result in improved business operations, fleet flexibility and higher service levels. For more information, visit www.bluetreesystems.com.