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Wearside inventor's device keeps track of the buses
You wait just minutes for a bus – then one turns up by itself.
That's the dream of Wearside transport giant Arriva and parking campaigner Neil Herron.
Arriva has teamed up with Neil's company Fleetm8 to use the latest satellite technology to track its buses.
"The new contract has been tailored to monitor buses by the second, ensuring that they are staggered. All your buses coming at once will become a thing of the past," said marketing director Neil.
"This is an exciting time for the company. We're currently trialing with some major transport companies in the capital and we have a number of new inventions in the pipeline.
Neil Herron, 46, and business partner, Dr Phillip Tann, 47, founded Boldon-based Fleetm8 in autumn 2008.
Phillip, a former Sunderland University lecturer, hit the headlines when his own invention cleared him of speeding.
He was clocked doing 42mph in a 30mph zone, but data from his vehicle tracking device showed he was actually only traveling at 29.18mph.
"This is a very busy time," said Neil.
"Following the invention of the vehicle tracking systems, which offer clients the opportunity to track the exact location of their fleet in real time, we've also been working on a range of brand new products.
"We can now offer clients virtual loading bays, the latest in anti-theft technology and we're currently developing highly visible traffic signs – lollipop sticks – to make the walk to school safer for children."
The company recently received a grant from South Tyneside Council to help with capital expenditure.
"The help we have had from South Tyneside Council has been fantastic," said Neil.
"The workforce at Fleetm8 currently stands at 15 staff, but over the next 18 months as we take our new products to market, we hope to expand and take on up to 50 people generating more jobs in the region and bringing prosperity to the North East."
Coun Michael Clare said: "It's just incredible that the world's most accurate commercial vehicle tracking system is based right here in South Tyneside."
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Weather for Sunderland
Saturday 04 February 2012
Today
Light sleet showers
Temperature: -1 C to 2 C
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