Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/476554
the contracts because they derived such high value from the service." He believes trucking will continue to see growth in the use of telematics devices and telematics-enabled technology. "The technologies that enable telematics, such as cellular networks, vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-infrastructure communications and Wi-Fi are developing at a fast pace." This means the cost of communication is coming down so the cost of telematics services is becoming more affordable. "Fleets are UHDOL]LQJWKHEHQHƄWV>RIWHOHPDWLFV@DQGLQDQ era of the driver shortage and resource constraints, telematics comes as a major VDYLRUIRUƅHHWVr Pardue says one of the key drivers behind the growth in telematics is the disruption caused by the Federal government's Compliance, Safety, Accountability regulations. "Potential CSA violations can be avoided by proactively knowing how the vehicle is operating and taking care of the issues before you hit the road. I think this is going to continue to be true because it DIIHFWVERWKWKHGULYHUDQGWKHƅHHWr Kar calls this proactive approach mobile resource management, and says that the diagnostic and even prognostic ability WHOHPDWLFVSURYLGHVLVFDXVLQJVPDUWƅHHW owners to turn to telematics to give them a competitive advantage. Real-time data It used to be the only way to diagnose a truck was to plug the vehicle into a PC-based tool and download the data. While that is still common practice, now, "it's all about real-time data vs. waiting for the end of the month to know what's going on with \RXUƅHHWr3DUGXHVD\Vq:LWKDOOWKHODWHVW advances in telematics, you are able to get rich data in real time and analyze potential problems well in advance of the normal analysis curve." Michael Riemer, vice president of products and channel marketing for Decisiv, a software solution for service relationship management, VD\VƅHHWVDUHXVLQJWKHIDXOWFRGHVIURPWKH various systems and components on trucks, dry vans and reefers to obtain valuable information about their status. But having the data is only the beginning. The true power comes in how you leverage it. "At the moment, what kind of data do we get from telematics?" Kar asks. "We know where the vehicle is. We know whether the vehicle is being driven safely. We know if the vehicle is regulation compliant. We know if the vehicle has any problems. There are so many GLIIHUHQWGDWDSRLQWVFRPLQJLQWRWKHƅHHW manager that it can almost be too much information." Enter Mack ® GuardDog ® Connect, a tool WKDWKHOSVƅHHWVPDQDJHWKHƅRZRIGDWD using telematics to monitor a range of engine and after-treatment fault codes and ranks them into two categories. "Red codes we know will cause the vehicle to derate (lose engine power) in three hours or less," Pardue explains. "Yellow codes require attention as well, but the truck doesn't need immediate repair. The driver can continue to deliver the load and then get the vehicle repaired." A red code is automatically transferred to Mack's OneCall ® team in the Uptime Center in Greensboro, North Carolina, where an event case is opened in ASIST, Mack's service management platform. "The fault codes have been pre-diagnosed so we know both the correct repair instructions, as well as parts required," Pardue says. "Using our geofence technology we can determine where the closest dealer location is so the truck can be serviced as quickly as possible." Riemer explains that GuardDog Connect fully leverages telematics (especially ECM fault codes) into a closed loop involving the ƅHHWWKHGHDOHUDQG0DFNpV8SWLPH&HQWHUWR drive more uptime, reduce service events and lessen shop dwell time. Fleets can customize the way they handle the communication process. They decide who the point of contact is and if they prefer contact via phone or email. They can even have multiple points of contact based on regions of the country or other factors. "We recognize that there is a lot of data for customers to wade through," Pardue says. "We communicate to the customer VSHFLƄFDOO\WKHLQIRUPDWLRQWKH\QHHGWRNQRZ and recommendations on what they should do. Our goal is to equip them with key information to drive decisions and to help them stay informed on what's going on with a piece of equipment." Tom Tenseth, Mack truck sales representative at Bruckner Truck Sales, Fort Worth, Texas, says that GuardDog Connect is the "best differentiator soft product our team has to sell." In fact, he believes GuardDog Connect helped him earn the business of propane hauler JP Liquids, which operates out of remote locations and was concerned about the ability to have service and uptime when operating units in its yards outside of Bruckner's area. Tenseth says he was able to demonstrate to JP Liquids maintenance director Mack's commitment to keep a ZDWFKIXOH\HRQWKHLUƅHHW:LWK*XDUG'RJ Connect "they feel like they're wrapped in a blanket," he says. GuardDog Connect gives Bruckner customers peace of mind that if they have a problem on the road, it will be WDNHQFDUHRITXLFNO\DQGHIƄFLHQWO\ Tenseth says two customers — CDK 3HUIRUDWLQJDQRLOƄHOGZLUHOLQHFRPSDQ\DQG Cisco Trucking, a sand hauler — had active fault codes and "ran through the system with COVER STORY 8 | BULLDOG | 2 0 1 5 V 1 Ninety percent of ƅHHWVZKR start using telematics continue, according to a Frost & Sullivan study. "People renewed the contracts because they derived such high value from the service." Sandeep Kar, global director – commercial vehicle research for Frost & Sullivan