Navistar has announced an open architecture remote diagnostics program that works with a fleets' existing telematics provider and covers all makes of vehicles.
The OnCommand Connection program was demonstrated during the American Trucking Associations Management Conference & Exhibition. It is currently being field-tested in preparation for a January launch.
"By partnering with our customers' existing telematics providers, we can pull diagnostics related data to create easy to understand vehicle health reports," Nadine Haupt, director of powertrain product marketing. "The visibility into the operational health of the vehicle empowers customers to understand the severity of vehicle issues and determine the appropriate actions - ultimately leading to increased uptime."
Fleet owners or service managers are able to view their vehicles through a proprietary portal. There, they can identify fault codes and determine the severity of a situation. The program can direct the operator to the nearest dealer location - including competitor dealerships if the vehicle is not an International. Haupt described the Navistar program as being more "fleet-centric" than existing remote diagnostics programs in the market.
So far, the system has been approved for use with Omnitracs, PeopleNet, Teletrac, GeoTab, XRS Corp., CyntrX and Pedigree technologies, which provide telematics services to the vast majority of International truck customers.
When a problem with a vehicle is identified, the program creates a case file for the vehicle. Included in this file is an easy to understand description of what needs to be done, as well as links to additional reference material.
Hirschbach Motor Lines is currently testing OnCommand Connection.
"Based on my vehicle's location, fault severity and load schedule, Navistar's OnCommand Connection helps me prioritize how and where to implement needed repairs and maintenance," said Jim Coffren , vice-president of fleet management for Hirschbach Motor Lines. "Before my vehicle reaches the dealership, I have already received a diagnosis and a recommended solution, which allows me to make better decisions."
OnCommand Connection will initially monitor fault codes generated by the engine, but can be expanded in time to include the transmission, body controllers and other components.
