Public Safety and Security Case Studies

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.

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), part of the Department of Transportation, needed a more durable mobile computer for its field inspectors to replace their laptops that were failing 35% of the time. The new solution would have to improve the inspectors’ productivity in data collection and research, so that inspectors could more quickly identify safety issues and intermodal system opportunities. After testing several models, FRA chose Panasonic's semi-rugged Toughbook laptops with their magnesium alloy cases, shock-mounted hard drives and spill-resistant keyboards to protect against dust, rain and other outdoor environmental hazards. The results have been astounding. The Toughbook mobile computers drastically reduced the FRA inspectors' downtime in the field and dramatically reduced their laptop annual failure rate to less than 1%.