Vehicle intake: The next frontier in reducing costs

The numbers scream opportunity:

• 10%—Vehicle maintenance and repair as a share of fleet operating expenses;
• 57%—Incidence of commercial vehicles that leave the repair bay with unresolved issues; and
• 600%—Increase in commercial vehicle diagnostic trouble codes (DTC) since 2002.

According to the IT experts at TMW Systems, it is becoming increasingly apparent to fleet executives that the vehicle intake process is the point at which these statistics converge and where, given the right technology, businesses can achieve step-change improvements in asset management and operating costs.

Managing information overload

The proliferation of multiplexed ECUs and sensors on Class 2 through 8 vehicles offers an opportunity to gain a 360-degree view of a vehicle’s health. Unfortunately, a majority of fleets often miss this chance by relying on time-intensive and ineffective manual intake processes. As a result, technicians perform noted repairs only, often missing undiagnosed fault codes that could lead to safety issues, breakdowns and costly service comebacks.

TMW Systems has addressed this issue with a powerful new mobile diagnostic and intake solution—TMT First Step—that quickly performs an analysis covering the more than 35,000 DTCs from ECU, TCM, ABS, body controller, instrument cluster and engine controller systems, as well as any connected trailer systems. This wireless solution also monitors consumable fluids and other variables, providing color-coded repair priority indicators. Users cannot erase DTCs, which helps ensure that important repairs are addressed before the vehicle is returned to service.

Eliminate manual re-keying

All diagnostic information generated by TMT First Step, including physical inspection results and driver notes, is wirelessly transferred into the fleet’s TMT Fleet Maintenance software. The complete diagnostic check can be performed with a single cable, eliminating the complexity associated with multiple OEM tools and encouraging employees to follow a consistent, fully automated process that saves time and money while protecting the fleet’s valuable CSA safety scores.

The vehicle intake process isn’t simply an operational necessity; it is an opportunity to better leverage your investment in equipment, facilities and people. Technology is now available to transform this process and, in doing so, strengthen your operational and financial performance.