Cummins continues the digital march

Mack Launches Wireless Software Updates

Photo: Mack Trucks

NASVILLE -- Mack Trucks has launched Over The Air, to let customers update software wirelessly to minimize scheduling disruptions and increase efficiency and uptime. The company announced the rollout at the American Trucking Associations' Technology & Maintenance Council annual meeting here.

Two categories of software updates are available through Mack Over The Air: one for powertrain components and the other for vehicle parameters like road speed limits, optimizing performance for customers with trucks that change duty cycles based on economics load type and geographic area.

“Mack Over The Air represents the next step in Mack's industry-leading approach to uptime,” said David Pardue, vice president of connected vehicles and uptime services for Mack Trucks. “Our customers can now make these updates whenever and wherever it is convenient for them.”

Mack Over The Air uses Mack GuardDog Connects integrated telematics hardware to deliver the software updates to customers. GuardDog Connect comes standard on every Mack model equipped with a Mack engine and provides proactive monitoring and repair planning, enabling real-time diagnosis of issues, scheduling of repairs and confirmation that needed parts are in stock and ready to install.

Mack Over The Air will be available for all Mack models equipped with GuardDog Connect and Mack's 2017 engines.

Mack Trucks also announced with Telogis that it is offering a free 30-day trial of Mack Fleet Management Services with Telogis Fleet. Telogis Fleet for Mack is a fleet management and telematics solution that can be activated over the air and scaled to different fleet sizes.

Using data from GuardDog Connect, Telogis Fleet provides real-time visibility of truck and driver performance.

“It's easy to read about the features that Mack Fleet Management Services with Telogis Fleet offers, but it's a game changer when you can try them first hand,” said Mack's Pardue. “With a 30-day free trial, customers can see ...Read the rest of this story

Photo from TMC in Nashville

HDT was on hand for the annual meeting of the American Trucking Associations' Technology & Maintenance Council in Nashville, Tennessee, Feb. 27-March 1, 2017. Here are a few of the sights.

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Remote updates coming for Volvo trucks

NASHVILLE. Volvo Trucks North America is adding remote update capability for all of its vehicles equipped with 2017 Volvo engines, transmissions, aftertreatment systems and other powertrain components. The new Remote Programming service will push our powertrain software updates, which average about two a year, as well as react to fault code conditions that can be corrected with a software download.

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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