| Cover Story The future of vehicle maintenance Key trends causing a metamorphosis within the fl eet maintenance industry over the next fi ve years By David A. Kolman, Editor Adjustments and innovation have long been a hallmark of the vehicle maintenance industry. However, with dramatic changes reshaping the industry occurring much more frequently, it has become paramount that shops strategically embrace changes in order to not just survive, but prosper. Th at is a considerably formidable task. Th e accelerated rise in advanced onboard technologies; the increasing availability of vehicle data and information from the proliferation of onboard sensors and telematics systems; the growth of increasingly intelligent, inter-connected and instrumented vehicles; the expanding regulatory requirements on fuel economy and emissions; the evolution of autonomous vehicles and more are changing the rules of the vehicle maintenance and repair game. Th is article is intended to help you better plan for the future. It is a roundup of views from various organizations involved in the fl eet maintenance industry – including OEMs and suppliers – on what they feel are the most transformative and disruptive technology trends impacting vehicle maintenance over the next fi ve years. Vehicle connectivity and customer expectations By Catherine Auckland Director, Aftermarket Marketing Daimler Trucks North America (www.daimler-trucksnorthamerica. com) produces and markets Class 5 to 8 trucks and is the leading heavy duty truck manufacturer in North America. Two of the biggest trends that will have an impact on maintenance now and in the next fi ve years are vehicle connectivity and customer expectations. Th e “connected truck” is not just a buzzword in the industry. It refl ects a signifi cant turning point. Trucks are becoming more effi cient and safer through connectivity, as well as easier to maintain. At the same time, lower margins, increased competition and the speed of business are adding new demands and pressures for owner operators and fl eets who, in turn, expect much more from their service teams. Th ese ever-increasing expectations and new technologies are shaping the industry in a signifi cant way. Over the past fi ve years, vehicle connectivity, in the form of remote diagnostics, has become commonplace among commercial vehicle OEM off erings. DTNA introduced Detroit Connect Virtual Technician more than fi ve years ago, and other truck and engine OEMs have followed suit with their own remote diagnostic products. Continued Page 10 8 FLEET MAINTENANCE ❚ NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2016 ❚ VehicleServicePros.com
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