ALK Technologies acquired by Trimble

ALK Technologies, a provider of solutions for transportation, logistics and mobile workforces, was acquired by Trimble, parent company of Trimble Transportation & Logistics (T&L) a provider of end-to-end technology solutions to for-hire motor carriers, private fleets, freight brokerage, and third-party logistics providers.

Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Trimble officials said that bringing ALK into the fold is expected to augment and complement Trimble’s Transportation and Logistics product portfolio, including TMW Systems’ transportation management solutions, which is part of its Analytical Tools offerings, PeopleNet’s integrated onboard computing and mobile communications systems, which is part of its Mobile Resource Management Solutions, and GEOTrac’s fleet management and worker safety solutions for the oil and gas industry.

ALK is well known in transportation circles for various products, including:

• CoPilot Live, which offers onboard GPS navigation for professional drivers;
• PC*MILER, a truck-specific mileage solution recognized as an industry standard for logistics, manufacturing, government and transportation operations; and
• a consistent data platform for operational planning activities, such as mileage and routing and in-cab navigation applications used by fleet drivers.

Trimble said approx­imately 64 percent of North American for-hire motor carriers use ALK solutions, including 98 of the Top 100 largest for-hire carriers, 47 of the Top 50 logistics companies and 77 of the Top 100 private fleets.

“The combination of ALK’s routing, mapping, mileage and navigation capabilities with our enterprise transportation management software and the mobile communications solutions under Trimble Transportation and Logistics supports our comprehensive and industry-focused technology approach,” said Scott Vanselous, Chief Marketing Officer, TMW Systems, a Trimble Company.

When asked how Trimble will leverage ALK’s strengths into its product and service lines, Vanselous said substantial opportunities for new solutions exist by combining mapping, mileage, routing and navigation solutions from ALK with those from other business units within Trimble Transportation and Logistics, including PeopleNet, TMW Systems, GEOTrac, DSD, Trimble Transport Europe, Australia, and India.

And he explained that both Trimble and ALK share a singular focus on supporting the success of their customers as the foundation of their approach to business.

“With the added assurance of business continuity and continued growth for a technology partner that is often central to their operations,” he said. “Working with their familiar account and support teams as well as a broader range of Trimble business consulting professionals focused on optimizing business performance, ALK customers will find what they need to succeed from the industry’s broadest range of transportation technology and integrated services.

Trimble and ALK Technologies are committed to working with customers to understand their evolving business needs in order to better support their goals and to help them accomplish their objectives, explained Vanselous, adding that ALK customers will also benefit from reduced business risk due to the broader geographic reach and scale of a larger organization.

“This is a significant milestone in ALK’s long history in transportation,” said Barry Glick, Executive Vice President and General Manager of ALK Technologies, who will continue to lead the organization. “We are excited to join our well-known and respected partner TMW Systems under the global umbrella of Trimble. These organizations share our passion and vision for how location information can transform business and productivity.”