Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/696225
Class 8 Feature benefits it offers. Nyberg pointed to the company's Uptime Center and its Certi- fied Uptime network — certified dealers, essentially — as major steps already taken in that direction. The company is now working to- ward greater connectivity and proactive prognostication of potential maintenance problems. Volvo wants "to predict and prevent" breakdowns before they hap- pen, Nyberg says. "And when they do happen, we proactively attend to that event," he said. "Communication is key. Trucks will break down in the future, but [the challenge is] how efficiently we will be to maximize uptime." "Uptime combined with a fuel ef- ficient truck, from a financial aspect, is the key ingredient for success going forward," he said. Phase II emissions standards Though Nilsson and Nyberg touted the company's recent successes, the industry still faces a quickly approaching chal- lenge, they said: Meeting the next phase of emissions and fuel economy standards outlined by Congress and regulators in recent years. Phase II standards take effect as early as next year, for 2018 year-model trail- ers. Though the trucks-specific portions of the new standards take hold a little later, 2021, truck OEs have already begun preparing to meet the new regula- tions. This time around, Nyberg said, the industry hopes to avoid a pre-buy like that seen before 2007 emissions stan- dards took effect. Volvo is working with lawmakers and regulators at all levels, Nyberg said, regarding the implementation of the new fuel economy and emissions standards. "We want to make sure we can address the challenges [to achieve] the benefits they want to see out of the new legisla- tion," he said. "And to make sure we do that with a good approach so we get industry acceptance for the new technol- ogy." The company couldn't say what tech- nology or aerodynamic-related changes, if any, may come from the govern- ment-initiated demands for better fuel economy, but Nyberg said any changes with this phase of emissions regulations should also be in line with carriers' inter- ests regarding fuel economy and fleet efficiency. Platooning Volvo announced just over a year ago its interests in truck platooning technol- ogy, making an investment in Peleton Technology. Peleton introduced its pla- tooning system in late 2014, and Volvo said it hopes to demonstrate its own platooning development soon, possibly even this summer in a track demonstra- tion in the San Jose, Calif., area — the technology hub of Silicon Valley. Nilsson says though the technology to develop automated platoon-ready trucks is just years away, if not already available, the challenge lies in bringing legislators on board and infrastructure up to speed. "I think it's going to take quite a long time" to do so, he said. "We have a product we are actively working with. I don't think the technology is that far away, but it will be up to the legal agenda to decide on how and at what pace we will be able to introduce this new technology." bdj 10 July 2016 BestDriverJOBS www.bestdriverjobs.com