Case Study: SMART (Suburban Mobility Authority for Rapid Transit) achieves real-time fleet monitoring and $70K/year cost savings with Digi International's TransPort WR44R

Greater Detroit Transit Agency Turns to Digi Transport WR44 R Cellular Router to Monitor Bus Fleet

The Suburban Mobility Authority for Rapid Transit (SMART) operates more than 330 buses across 1,100 square miles and up to 200 vehicles on the road nearly 24 hours a day, serving over 32,000 riders daily. SMART’s 20‑year‑old analog AVL radio system was becoming unreliable and expensive to maintain (including leased towers and a retiring frequency), and upgrading the radio network was cost‑prohibitive, so the agency needed a modern, real‑time fleet monitoring solution.

SMART selected a cellular AVL from Clever Devices using the Digi TransPort WR44R router to provide VoIP dispatch, secure VPN communications, remote device management, and prioritized bandwidth for critical telemetry. The new system delivers real‑time location, speed and maintenance data to operations, powers a passenger texting app with 10,000+ monthly queries, and is already saving about $70,000 in hard costs annually (with an estimated $150K–$200K in additional soft‑cost savings), while improving reliability and operational efficiency.

Smart

Mel Evans

IT Manager