Volvo Trucks Increases Uptime, Efficiency with Remote Programming

Volvo says software updates can be done while the driver is having lunch.

NASHVILLE — Volvo Trucks North America is expanding its connected vehicle services with new Remote Programming over-the-air updates for powertrain software and parameters.

Remote Programming uses Volvo's factory-installed telematics hardware and allows Volvo customers to perform over-the-air powertrain software and parameter updates anywhere in the U.S. and Canada where a cellular connection is available, and at the discretion of the vehicle's decision maker.

The system works through Volvo's Uptime Center, which will trigger the required updates once the fleet decision maker as designated through its Asist system OKs the update. The Uptime Center communicates with the driver to make sure the truck is secure, with the key off and the brakes set, explained Wade Long, product marketing manager, to HDT at the Technology & Maintenance Council annual meeting Tuesday.

Parameter changes can be initiated at the request of the fleet. For instance, Long said, a fleet might want to change its top speed settings if the fuel of price spikes. Or it may want to change the programming on an engine or transmission to better suit a change in the truck's application, say from dry bulk trailers to liquid tankers.

Starting early next year, he said, the system will be able to remotely correct fault codes using software fixes.

“You don't have to go to the Apple store every time you update the OS on your iPhone,” he says. This is the same general concept. Instead of having to bring a truck into the shop, plug in and change programming while the shop is in for a PM, it can be done in 10 to 30 minutes while the driver is eating lunch or fueling.

The service will be available in the third quarter of 2017 for all Volvo trucks equipped with engines meeting ...Read the rest of this story

Stoughton Offers Sneak Peak of its New Refrigerated Van

NASHVILLE -- Stoughton Trailers provided a sneak peak of its soon-to-be-released refrigerated van trailer during a press event held at the ATA's Technology & Maintenance Council Annual Meeting on Tuesday.

Stoughton's vice-president of engineering, Gary Fenton, showed a few images of the trailer and provided a list of the trailers features.

"The trailer is in track and field tests as we speak," he said. "We expect to be taking orders for the trailer in the fourth quarter of 2017, and production will begin in the first quarter of 2018."

Features of the new reefer trailer include:

Bonded side posts -- The bonded side posts on our new Refrigerated Trailer reduces the number of holes in the sidewalls to aid in preventing moisture intrusion into the trailer.

Composit rear door -- The design of the composite rear door optimizes thermal efficiency and reduces weight, providing a lightweight yet strong rear door.

Aluminum scuff -- The 6-inch scuff with a 12-inch liner scuff helps prevent damage while loading and unloading. There are no exposed attachments that loads can snag or tear out.

Triple wiper seal -- We build our refrigerated trailers with a triple wiper seal door gasket to prevent water intrusion and minimize air lose, protecting the interior of the trailer and your cargo from the elements.

Rear underride gaurd -- The new rear underride guard comes standard with no additional cost and weight. It resists compartmental intrusion of an automobile when the location of impact is at 30% to 100% overlap of the width of the car to the guard. Complies with all applicable U.S. and Canadian regulations.

Platen foamed sides and roof -- The Stoughton insulating process ensures that the trailer is fully insulated in 360 degrees with no voids or uneven areas.

Aluminum crissmembers -- The extruded aluminum cross members provide a strong yet lightweight floor. Floor ratings ...Read the rest of this story

Wireless Monitoring System Checks Battery Charge, Battery Health

Solar panel system provider eNow is offering the Wireless Monitoring System for commercial vehicles. It's designed to provide updates on the state of charge and state of health of the batteries.

The system looks at both the source and usage of power to offer a better understanding of the power balance between all inputs and outputs. This allows the solution to be both a battery and power management system with the ability to also monitor air conditioning, hotel loads and liftgate usage.

The Wireless Monitoring System can be accessed through a desktop PC, Mac or mobile device.

“This new solution fits in with our overall vision to make life easier and more prosperous for fleet owners and commercial drivers as well as to help the environment,” said Jeff Flath, founder and CEO of eNow. “Preventative maintenance saves both time and money, which is what this system enables one to do.”

The solution's sensors can now provide a better management view of the battery health of an entire truck fleet and can be monitored from a remote location and displayed on a smartphone. This kind of monitoring can prevent problems such as liftgate failure due to lack of battery power. In addition to being able to measure both incoming and outgoing power, it also stores data in the cloud for easier access.

The wireless battery monitor is a device that collects data on the charging and discharging of a battery or bank of batteries. It is typically located near the battery. The current flowing in and out of the battery is measured by installing the device in series with the negative or positive leads of the battery. The device measures the voltage of the battery.

It includes a temperature sensor either built into the device or externally that will connect to the battery case or ...Read the rest of this story

Decisiv Announces New Visualization Platform

NASHVILLE -- Decisiv Inc. says its new service management visualization platform, Insite 2.0, uses the latest cloud technologies to make reporting faster and easier to use.

"Decisiv's fleet, OEM, lessor and managed maintenance service provider customers can search, analyze and build network-wide dashboards and reports analyzing dwell time, performance, compliance and other actionable information,” said Dick Hyatt, president and CEO of Decisiv, Sunday at the 2017 TMC Annual Meeting & Transportation Technology Exhibition. “Imagine having a completely interactive ability to filter based on specific locations, types of repair, and other attributes, quickly identifying outliers across thousands of transactions, and then drilling into the actual service events and even to the asset level details.”

Reports can be notification based (e.g. every Tuesday at 8 a.m.), accessed at any time through any web browser, and the data can also be made available for export into any other thidrd party reporting tool. Dashboards allow extensive filtering and interactive drill-downs that enable users to go from the high level information down the specific service event or asset in question.

Insite 2.0 uniquely provides reporting and analytics on service events not captured anywhere else, according to Decisiv, including:

• Detailed downtime metrics (Reason for Repair, Asset Type, Type of Repair, etc. – what types of repairs are creating the most downtime and why – is it specific to a single Asset? A type of repair? Etc.)

• Shop/Provider/Service Event Performance (quantitative measure of specific attributes and activities rather than relying on second-hand information or chasing down disconnected emails)Service Enter “Compliance” (are you getting the information you need from your service events, no matter where they are performed, to make better business decisions)

• Event / Work Order VMRS (enables in-depth analysis of costs, downtime, breakdowns, maintenance events etc. across a broad range of parameters so you are not reliant on ...Read the rest of this story

TMW Streamlines Inventory Management with Parts Room App

TMW Systems has introduced the TMW Parts Room app, designed to help fleet maintenance and service center personnel perform a variety of parts inventory management processes quickly and easily using an Android or iOS device.

The Parts Room was introduced at the Technology & Maintenance Council's Annual Meeting and Transportation Technology Exhibition in Nashville, Tenn., and it is available for users of the company's TMT Fleet Maintenance and TMT Service Center solutions.

“Fleets and service center operations are challenged to reduce parts inventory and labor costs while improving service levels – and they can do both with the help of a modern shop management solution,” said Caroline Lyle, vice president, marketing, TMW. “TMW Parts Room streamlines the physical inventory process, which enables users to save time and improve accuracy and control in this cost-intensive area.”

With the Parts Room app, the parts manager or other employees can use their Android or iOS device to perform a complete physical inventory for the parts room, or narrow the list by bin, part number range or part type. Several filters are available to further streamline the process, including the ability to scan only uncounted parts or parts that show a quantity variance. Users also can scan the part number for lookup in conjunction with an inventory adjustment.

Functionality for administrative users of the Parts Room app includes reviewing open inventories, closing completed inventories and performing a quick adjustment for a single part.

TMT Fleet Maintenance is a comprehensive maintenance management solution designed to streamline in-house maintenance and repair operations, and track and monitor outsourced maintenance activities for audit and vehicle lifecycle reporting. TMW's TMT Service Center solution is designed for medium- and heavy-duty repair businesses.

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