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October 2018 | VehicleServicePros.com 41
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Limit unplanned
and extended
service calls
Remote vehicle diagnostics
capabilities help improve shop
and vehicle service effi ciency.
While widespread adoption of remote
diagnostics capabilities may seem a long
way off, many fleets are testing out this
technology today with positive results.
Tom Howard, fleet director for San
Francisco-based Veritable Vegetable,
oversees an operation of 31 power
units in the organic produce distributor’s
fleet. Seven of these T680 tractors
are currently equipped with Kenworth
TruckTech+ Remote Diagnostics.
The TruckTech+ remote diagnostics
program continuously transmits vehicle
diagnostic information from the fleet
of Kenworth T680s around the clock to
the local dealer, NorCal Kenworth - San
Leandro. The vehicle’s real-time information
is also transmitted to any other
Kenworth dealerships where a Veritable
Vegetable truck may be en route.
In many cases, NorCal Kenworth dealership
branch manager Josh Hayes confirms
technicians already know where to
start the repairs and what parts they’ll
need to resolve the issue. As a result,
the vehicle often spends less time
in the NorCal Kenworth dealership’s
shop than it otherwise would have.
With the ability to track the location
of each unit, the dealership can plan
ahead and be prepared for the arrival
of each vehicle. “I can rearrange
schedules when necessary to be sure
that certain technicians with specific
skills or expertise are available to
look at the truck and initiate repairs
as soon as possible,” Hayes adds.
Once the truck arrives, the dealership
can provide the fleet with an estimate
of time to repair within two hours.
Meanwhile, Hayes or others at NorCal
Kenworth can monitor the situation
and assist with any necessary follow-up
with rental trucks, for example, or
respond to any warranty coverage
questions Howard may have later.
ALWAYS CONNECTED
Anytime sensors on board T680s or
T880s detect issues that require servicing,
Kenworth TruckTech+ Remote
Diagnostics transmits email alerts
with detailed information that Howard
can view on his smartphone. The
email alerts, which are also sent to
NorCal Kenworth dealership, include
links to the Paccar Solutions web
portal. In the web portal, Howard
can monitor the company’s trucks in
real time to get up-to-date information
and find the nearest Kenworth
dealers relative to its location.
If the problem can’t wait until the truck
returns to the company’s warehouse in
San Francisco, particularly if the issue
triggers activation of the truck engine
protection system, Howard can quickly
locate a nearby Kenworth dealer and
direct the driver there. The dealer’s
service shop can immediately start the
process of identifying potential issues
and options before the truck arrives.
MEASURED BENEFITS
Hayes advises the remote diagnostics
capabilities have aided in a reduction
of average shop service time by 30
percent, and a 15 percent reduction in
towing units back to the shop for service.
“That’s because remote diagnostics
allows us to monitor fault codes and
remotely diagnose issues to determine
if a truck can be driven into the shop or
if it should be towed in,” Hayes explains.
“If we have to stop and have the truck
towed in for servicing immediately,
depending on where the incident
takes place, the towing bill alone could
be about $2,000,” Howard says. He
adds the pickup and delivery schedule
of perishable goods sometimes
requires additional coordination
to ensure on-time deliveries and
compliance with hours of service.
Overall, Howard says using the
Kenworth TruckTech+ has aided in
minimizing these delivery issues,
and helps the fleet avoid unplanned
and extended service calls.
Veritable Vegetable initially spec’ed
its first T680 unit equipped with
TruckTech+ in 2016. With the positive
response of more efficient
service, Howard confirms plans to
add four additional units planned
for delivery this November.
» With the ability to track the location
of each unit, the dealership can plan
ahead and be prepared for the arrival of
each vehicle. Once the truck arrives, the
dealership can provide the fleet with an
estimate of time to repair within two hours.
Photo courtesy of Kenworth
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