The Electronic Logging Device (ELD) Mandate took effect on December 18, 2017. Since then drivers were given some leeway. If they were caught without the proper ELD equipment, documents, or training they were written up, but neither they nor the companies they drive for were penalized for it. That leeway officially ended on April 1^st.

Under the Compliance, Safety, and Accountability program (CSA) any driver now caught without the proper ELD equipment will have CSA points levied against them and their companies. Furthermore, according to Kerri Wirachowsky, Director of the roadside inspection program at the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance, trucks will be put into the penalty box, in most cases for up to 10 hours.

With the ELD Mandate drivers must have and be able to do the following.

1. Tell enforcement that there is an electronic user manual with instructions for using the device, on the device, in the form of help screens.
2. Be able to produce recent data and transfer it to an inspector electronically.
3. Instructions for reporting malfunctions and record-keeping procedures during malfunctions.
4. Have at least an eight day supply of blank forms for recording a driver’s hours of service in the event the mobile device fails.

April 1^st has come and gone, hence if drivers are not ELD compliant by now its important to do so. Mainly because just having an ELD does not mean the driver is in compliance. The driver must also be able to operate the ELD. Not being able to do so will be treated as if the driver didn’t have the proper equipment on board.

To comply with the ELD Mandate you’ll need a device, below are some of the newest mobile device options for ELD:

• Zebra TC56 rugged smartphone
• Honeywell CT50 rugged smartphone
• Panasonic Toughpad FZ-G1 rugged tablet
• Samsung Galaxy Tab tablet

To learn more about the ELD Mandate or to get a free consultation on an ELD hardware and software solution, reach out to one of our Barcodes, Inc. representatives.

Klaus Schwab founder and executive chairman of the World Economic Forum once said, “In the new world, it is not the big fish which eats the small fish, it’s the fast fish which eats the slow fish.” His words ring true, especially in today’s technology dependent world. Either move forward or get left behind.

Zebra Technologies does a great job explaining this revolution with, Transform Your Organization By Harnessing the Workforce Mobility Revolution. You’ll learn what this revolution looks like and the benefits it can provide to your organization. To fully realize the potential of workforce mobility your organization will need advanced mobile operating systems, mobile devices, and software solutions. Redefine how your organization gets things done by implementing faster and smarter processes that help propel your organization forward.

Gains to Expect:

• Productivity: From the use of advanced operating systems, devices and purpose-built software applications that speed up workflows.
• Efficiency: Via processes that eliminate waste or complexity.
• Accuracy: With advanced data collection capabilities that reduce the soft and hard costs associated with errors.

To read the full white paper by Zebra Technologies, download your copy HERE!

To help improve your organizations Workforce Mobility please contact our dedicated account managers for mobile solutions!

Most ruggedized handheld devices are powered by legacy operating systems. The problem, the extended support for legacy OS is quickly approaching its end. For infrastructure and operations leaders responsible for mobile and endpoint strategies it’s recommended to stop buying equipment with legacy OSs and begin planning their migration strategies.

In Gartner’s report, Revisit Your Ruggedized Strategy Before You’re Hit by the End of OS Support,  industry analysts, Leif-Olof Wallin and Stephen Kleynhans go in depth on how to overcome key challenges and their recommendations for planning a strategic migration. Their research is based on a large number of inquiries with clients, as well as discussions with technology vendors.

Kleynhans’s and Wallin’s expert research:

• Explains what to stop buying and where to focus planning.
• Evaluates the business case for ruggedized equipment, based on actual requirements and a fully loaded total cost of ownership calculation.
• Outlines when to standardize versus when to diversify the ruggedized device portfolio.
• Describes how to protect current investments in software and systems with application virtualization technology.

To download and read the full Gartner report please click HERE.

Any questions concerning the end of legacy operating systems please contact our dedicated account managers.

There are a variety of options when it comes to consumables. Whether it be receipt paper, wristbands, labels, or tags each and everyone has their benefits when it comes to maintaining your printer. Printing supplies can impact everything from the printhead’s lifespan to the printer’s operational efficiency. It’s an important decision when it comes to maintaing the lifespan of your printer.

As a leading manufacturer of label printers and media, Honeywell provides a wide range of label materials to meet any need. When it comes to label printing the Duratherm series and Duratran Series provide cost-effective printing with various levels of durability, from un-coated paper to top-coated synthetic labels.

Duratherm and Duratran products are easy to use and demand less user intervention. There are no shortage of options to pick from and you can choose what best fits your application whether it be healthcare, shipping, inventory tracking, general purpose, or etc.

• Duratherm Receipt Paper – A direct thermal paper that provides excellent print quality. Well-suited for most general receipt applications, most notably for use in portable thermal printers.
• Duratherm Wristband -  The Duratherm wristbands are recommended for healthcare and provide the positive identification hospitals need for maximum patient safety. The full-coverage thermal print coating enables high quality printing on the entire length of the band, thus eliminating the need to reposition a sleeping patient just to scan their band.
• Duratherm II Label – A general purpose direct thermal paper label that delivers high-quality, cost-effective printing. Duratherm II is recommended for most general use applications where exposure to chemicals and moisture is not anticipated.
• Duratherm III Label – A top-coated direct thermal paper label that delivers high-quality printing and enhanced durability. Duratherm III is recommended for applications where high humidity, moisture contact and surface abrasion are concerns.
• Duratherm NIR Label – A premium direct thermal paper label engineered to deliver high-contrast images and enhanced durability. Duratherm III NIR is targeted for use in applications with challenging barcode scanning requirements and is well-suited for high-speed sortation applications.
• Duratherm II Tag - A general purpose paper tag providing high-quality, cost-effective printing. Duratherm II Tag is recommended for applications where labeling is not suitable. This product resists curling, even in high humidity environments.
• Duratran II Label – A paper label coated thermal transfer label that exhibits excellent print quality. Offered with a variety of adhesive options, recommended for applications with moderate abrasion, heat, or sunlight is present.
• Duratran II RFID Label – The flexible RFID smart labels provide a versatile architecture that can be used in open or closed loop environments. These labels can be deployed with confidence to meet a broad range of customer requirements including thermal transfer and direct thermal printing.

For any questions or a quote on any of your consumable needs, please contact us at Barcodes, Inc.

Today, April 22, is Earth day and it’s time to return the love to the planet we all call home. Thanks to Global Technology Systems (GTS) they will be providing a Lithium-Ion Battery Recycling program.

You may be asking yourself why do I need to recycle my batteries? Well, Lithium-Ion batteries consist primarily of chemicals and metals which in turn allow the battery to hold a long charge and remain light at the same time. These chemicals and metals consist of lithium, cobalt, and other materials that can be extremely harmful to the environment we live in. The improper disposal of these batteries as trash leads to water contamination, soil contamination, and among other things negative environmental/health outcomes.

The Recycling Process:

• GTS will provide customers involved in the program with free battery recycling boxes at each enrolled facility.
• Once the battery recycling box is filled, simply call the toll-free phone number on the box and it will be picked-up and properly disposed of by a GTS-certified recycling firm.
• Once a recycling box has been provided to the recycling firm another recycling box will be provided to continue this free service.

Help make our Earth a better place to live, recycle the batteries that help power all of your mobile operations.

For more information on how to start recycling those Lithium-Ion Batteries please Contact Us!

To go along with yesterday’s blog about Unique Device Identification Compliance some may be wondering what is required to be fully compliant with the FDA. With another UDI deadline approaching it’s important to know the steps that will help you get in compliance. With the help of Zebra Technologies, they wrote a small walk through to help you through each step.

Read the walk through below to clear up any confusion. If you have any further questions please don’t hesitate to contact our dedicated account managers.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has established and continues to implement a unique device identification system to properly identify medical devices through their distribution and use. Once fully implemented, the label of most devices will include a unique device identifier (UDI) in human and machine-readable form.

The unique device identification system will be phased in over the next couple of years and offers several benefits. Implementing UDI will improve patient safety, modernize device post-market surveillance, and facilitate medical device innovation. To learn more about UDI read the infographic below!

If you want to learn more, feel free to contact our dedicated account manager.

It might be kind of hard to choose the right scanner to use. So to make things easier below is a flow chart with recommended scanners to find out what kind of scanner will work best for your application. For corded scanners, the main questions are what type of barcode do you need to scan and what kind of environment will you use the scanner? Which, will ultimately determine if you need a rugged or a non-rugged scanner. If you are still unsure about what type of scanners you need feel free to contact our dedicated account manager and we will be happy to help.

                                                                 

   Intermec SR61                               Airtrack S1                                Zebra DS3608                                      Airtrack S2

As seen in the 10 Key Challenges of Enterprise Mobility Infographic, customers need a better and easier way to deploy and manage their mobile solutions.

Accelerate Deployments, Optimize Performance, and Extend Lifecycle are all possible with Honeywell‘s Mobility Edge. Read below for more!

If you want to learn more, feel free to contact our dedicated account manager.

It is important to choose the right ribbon to print on your label. Choosing the wrong type of ribbon can result in a poorly printed barcode label, the ink can smear or fade.

There are three types of ribbons: wax, wax/resin, and resin. Please ensure you have a thermal transfer capable printer, we recommend the Airtrack DP-1. It is most reliable, compact, and affordable printer in its class.

Determine the proper ribbon size, choose a ribbon that is equal or less than your printer’s maximum print width where is it enough to cover the surface of your label.

Below is an easy chart for you to choose the right type of ribbon for your application.

Most ribbons are black, but there are color ribbons available to print your labels in color for categorization. If you are interested in a quote for ribbons or colored ribbons, please contact our dedicated account managers.