OnCommand Connection helps fl eets analyze
data and form action plans based on a certain fault
code or grouping of codes.
“Th e soft ware outlines the symptoms, suggests
questions to ask the driver about what they are
experiencing, and then outlines what steps to
take,” Dondlinger says. “We’ve recently launched
a more detailed version of this that takes it a step
further. If you know what the symptom is, the
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soft ware tells you which parts are
needed and where the nearest dealers
are located.”
Navistar does offer its own
telematics device. It comes standard on
International Trucks and is also available
as an aft ermarket item.
Fix issues from
afar with remote
programming
Th ere is an important distinction
to acknowledge when
talking about remote diagnostics,
says Dario Peruch, general
manager of TEXA USA. Basic
GPS fl eet management tools
are used to monitor vehicles.
Remote programming, on the
other hand, will also perform
activities to fi x issues and put
a vehicle back on the road.
Oftentimes it is an emissions
related issue.
“Let’s say a truck is stuck on
the highway with a clogged
DPF (diesel particulate fi lter),”
Peruch off ers as an example.
“Th e driver could allow a technician
remote access to the
truck in order to force regen.”
TEXA USA off ers a complete
range of products and services
for diagnostic repair and maintenance.
One of its newer products,
eTRUCK, is a compact
telematics device that connects
to a truck and transmits
diagnostic information via
Bluetooth. eTRUCK is designed
to work in tandem with TEXA’s
IDC5 soft ware.
eTRUCK involves three key
stakeholders in the remote
diagnostic process:
Th e driver can view data via
a smartphone app.
Th e fl eet can check vehicle
status through a dedicated
fl eet manager portal.
Th e technician can see the
complete picture of information
through remote diagnostics,
and also perform remote
programming and repair
activities through the workshop
portal.
Volvo’s 2018 proprietary
engine-powered trucks with
factory-installed connectivity
hardware feature Remote
Programming. If authorized by
the vehicle’s decision maker, a
technician can perform overthe
air soft ware and parameter
updates anywhere in
the U.S. and Canada where
a cellular connection is
available. Software
updates take roughly
20 minutes while
parameter updates take
less than 10 minutes.
“Volvo’s Remote
Programming provides
a significant time
savings when compared
with the 2.3-day industry
average when a
» TEXA USA’s eTRUCK
telematics device
connects to a truck
and communicates
diagnostic information
via Bluetooth to an
app and web portal.
Technicians can also
perform remote
reprogramming
activities. Pictured
here is the screen a
technician would see
when performing a
remote DPF regen.
Photos courtesy of TEXA USA
truck arrives at a bay, is
plugged in and manually
receives updates,” says Ash Makki, Volvo Trucks
North America product manager.
Mack Trucks, part of the Volvo Group, off ers a
similar product called Mack Over Th e Air. It now
comes standard on all Mack Trucks equipped with
Mack 2017 or newer engines. Mack Over Th e Air
works in tandem with Mack’s remote diagnostics
solution, GuardDog Connect.
Both the Mack and Volvo remote programming
systems work similarly. If the truck’s remote
diagnostics system detects a fault code that
qualifi es for an over-the-air update, the fl eet
is notifi ed and can then work with the truck
manufacturer’s Uptime Center representatives
to initiate the update.
“Th e process is very easy for the fl eet manager,”
says Scott Barraclough, Mack Trucks technology
product manager.
Sharing data with
service partners
In the case of remote programming with Volvo
and Mack, vehicle data is shared with the vehicle
manufacturer’s call center to help solve an issue
as quickly as possible. With remote diagnostics,
this concept of data sharing is important to maximizing
the benefi ts.
In the case of Geotab, it holds the raw data.
Geotab then leaves it up to the fl eet as to whom it
shares that data with.
“Th e fl eet could share it with an in-house
employee, one of its service partners or a data
analytics company,” Geotab’s Sutarik explains.
Dondlinger says Navistar has several International
Truck dealers who monitor their customers’ fl eets.
An aft ermarket shop can benefi t from remote
diagnostics, especially if it is servicing numerous
fl eets or vehicles.
“As a vehicle is driving along and experiences
a fault code, that can initiate a work order,”
NEXIQ’s Kotenko says. “Th en the shop can
contact the fl eet to recommend that the vehicle
be brought in for service. Everything is much
more transparent.”
Th e point is that the fl eet decides what data it
needs, who needs it and what is to be done with it.
With remote diagnostics, fl eets can take a big step
toward solving their uptime challenge.
ubstitute
.
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