Fleet Management News & Business Info | Commercial Carrier Journal
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/751200
68 commercial carrier journal | november 2016 BUSINESS | 2016 ATA MCE ROUNDUP Kenworth updates TruckTech+, T680 Advantage sleeper KENWORTH ANNOUNCED TRUCK- TECH+ SERVICE MANAGEMENT, an update to its remote diagnostics system that allows fleet managers to monitor the status of a truck service or repair in real time. It also provides the truck's service history, parts catalog and chassis information to help technicians diagnose and solve maintenance issues quicker. Kenworth partnered with Decisiv to develop TruckTech+ Service Manage - ment. The truck maker will offer the fleet portal for dealers and customers to access the service early next year. After introducing a day cab spec for its fuel-efficient T680 Advantage in August, Kenworth announced the addition of a 52-inch mid-roof sleeper option available in 2017. Mike Dozier, Kenworth general manager and Paccar Vice president, said the configuration is aimed at regional tank, bulk, flatbed and heavy haulers. Other announcements included cab temperature monitoring and auto start/ stop capability to its power manage - ment system, Cummins ISL G natural gas engine options for the T680 and T880, and Bendix Wingman Advanced system availability for the medium-duty T270 and T370 models. – Jeff Crissey Mack inks deal with Geotab, unlocking telematics for older trucks MACK TRUCKS ENTERED INTO A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH GEOTAB, a provider of end-to-end telematics technology, to enable connectivity for older vehicles model years 2010 and older not cur - rently equipped with the company's integrated telematics solution, Mack GuardDog Connect. David Pardue, Mack's vice president of connected vehicles and uptime services, said Geotab will be available for older vehicles and will not replace GuardDog Connect on newer trucks. GuardDog Connect enables real-time diagnosis of issues, scheduling of repairs and confirmation that needed parts are in stock and ready to install, all while the truck is still on the job. Through Mack ASIST and the Mack OneCall customer support network, GuardDog Connect also offers proactive communication of decision-critical information to maxi - mize customer uptime. GuardDog Connect is standard on Pinnacle, Granite, Titan and TerraPro cabover models. Mack also announced a new Mack ASIST mobile app designed to allow customers to manage service and unplanned events. Mack ASIST, a cloud-based service relationship man - agement tool, connects fleet customers, dealers, service providers, Mack field staff and Mack Uptime Center agents during service and repair events. The free app will feature a link to the Mack Uptime Center based in Greensboro, N.C., which houses person - nel from all customer support functions and connects them to customers and dealers through the latest vehicle communications technology and case management tools. – Jason Cannon Volvo rolling out Active Driver Assist platform VOLVO TRUCKS NORTH AMERICA introduced Volvo Active Driver Assist, a comprehensive collision mitigation system that combines both radar and camera capabilities to provide emergency braking and help drivers maintain a safe following distance through alerts and interventions. Volvo currently is the only OEM to fully integrate the system into its Driver Information Display, so no additional display units or prep kits are needed. Göran Nyberg, president of Volvo Trucks North America, said this feature makes the system simpler for both the fleet and the driver. Volvo Active Driver Assist is always active, com - bining stationary object detection with stationary vehicle braking and sending audible and visual warnings if a nonmoving metallic object is detected in front of the truck. Braking assist will be applied – at speeds greater than 15 mph – when the system recognizes the stationary object as a vehicle, indepen - dent of whether cruise control is engaged. The driver will receive a warning up to 3.5 seconds before an imminent impact with the stationary vehicle, and if no action is taken by the driver, Volvo Active Driver Assist automatically will engage the brakes. When cruise control is engaged, Volvo Active Driver Assist also will help the driver maintain a set following distance behind the forward vehicle. Should the forward vehicle slow down, Volvo Active Driver Assist will alert the driver and, if necessary, reduce throttle to the engine, apply the engine brake, downshift the Volvo I-Shift automated manual transmission and apply the foundation brakes and brake lights to help the driver maintain the set following distance gap. Using a front bumper-mounted radar sensor and a windshield-mounted camera, Volvo Active Driver Assist offers a series of visual and audible alerts depending on the forward distance of the front object. Cruise control does not have to be engaged for the Volvo Active Driver Assist system to work. Available now for order as an option on new Volvo VNL and VNM models, the system also improves metallic object detection and functionality in hazy, rainy, foggy and snowy conditions. – Jason Cannon The radar sensor has a detection range of 22 degrees wide and 500 feet in front of the truck and detects the angle, speed and distance of the object ahead.