The Department of Transportation's Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) wanted to increase the efficiency of its commercial vehicle by having data entered electronically on-site so it could be shared faster. Because FMCSA inspectors are constantly on the go, they needed mobile computers capable of withstanding the inclement weather, bumps and drops associated with routine usage. Before the FMCSA chose their new mobile computers, they tested several rugged laptop models from various vendors. The Panasonic Toughbook design, with all-weather magnesium cases, shock-mounted hard drives and internal dampeners to protect the display and components, came out on top as the most durable solution. The FMCSA deployed Panasonic Toughbook mobile computers to its inspectors nationwide. As a result, FMCSA has experienced fewer failures, enabling FMCSA's inspectors to be more productive.

One of FMCSA's primary responsibilities is to conduct random roadside inspections of large trucks. These inspections are done to ensure that drivers and trucking companies are following safety regulations in regard to the handling of hazardous materials and truck weight. These inspections can be very time-consuming when done manually. Therefore, FMCSA decided to deploy commercial-grade laptops to their inspectors. But due to the environmental conditions found on the job, the commercial-grade laptops failed often, and as a result, inspectors were still performing up to 30% of the inspections manually.