Oakland rolls out phone app for truck drivers

The port said it wants to have 3,000 drivers using the new application, which allows them to view waiting and transaction times at container terminals, by June.    The Port of Oakland said truckers can now use a mobile phone app to see how long they will wait to enter marine terminals and how long transactions are taking.
   The DrayQ program will allow truckers to plan their workdays with real-time information, Port Maritime Director John Driscoll said. The app is available for both Apple and Android phones.
   “For the first time, truckers and dispatchers will have a precise measure of how long a terminal transaction takes,” the port said. “If it’s too long, drivers can plan around slow periods.”
   In addition, the port noted that cargo owners and terminal operators will now have accurate data to determine if containerized shipments are being efficiently processed. If they’re not, the data can help pinpoint where operational changes are needed.
   DrayQ was developed for the Port by Reston, VA-based Leidos. It relies on Bluetooth, GPS and WiFi technology to measure truckers’ progress through the port.
   Automated DrayQ readers anonymously track every truck in the Port whose driver carries a cell phone. Leidos officials are at marine terminals today introducing harbor truckers to the app. They said their goal is to have 3,000 drivers download it by June.