Detroit Diesel Corp. unveiled its new On-Board Tablet. An advanced mobile device that is equipped with powerful apps to streamline communications, the On-Board Tablet uses the latest in commercial telematics technology to improve efficiency and driver performance. Detroit Diesel also launched a new addition to its family: Detroit Connect, the telematics arm that includes the Detroit Virtual Technician onboard diagnostics system.
Developed in collaboration with Zonar, the tablet works seamlessly with Detroit Virtual Technician and Visibility fleet software. Certified compliant with the United States Department of Transportation – Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) Hours of Service regulations, the tablet is designed for Freightliner and Western Star truck models, and can be easily mounted inside the cab.
“The On-Board Tablet is an intuitive tool that will help our customers and their drivers maximize operations while ensuring compliance with the new FMCSA regulations,” said Joe Saccio, manager, sales and marketing, Detroit Connect for Daimler Trucks North America. “The tablet is just one of a suite of proven solutions from Detroit Connect that seamlessly links vehicles with engineers, customer service and fleet managers, improving communication and ultimately benefitting productivity and product quality.”
The Detroit Connect On-Board Tablet offers Hours-of-Service logs for reporting; Two-Way Messaging, including text to voice; Advanced Navigation for asset specific routing; and simplified Pre- and Post-trip Inspection.
Specific features found with the On-Board Tablet include:
- Paperless Hours of Service Tracking, which notifies drivers at risk or in violation of FMCSA regulations;
- Two-Way Messaging allows for instant driver and fleet manager communication via free-form or pre-written messages and text-to-voice functionality;
- Advanced Navigation, which generates step-by-step directions, asset-specific routing, map-loading assignments and real-time traffic information, saving drivers’ time; and
- Pre- and Post-Trip Inspections, streamlining the vehicle inspection process with quick scanning technology, resulting in faster and more accurate inspections.
The Detroit Connect On-Board Tablet will be available for Freightliner trucks as a factory-installed option beginning Q1 2014 on new truck orders. Retrofit kits will also be available. Availability in Western Star trucks will be announced at a later date.
Detroit Virtual Technician
Available for Freightliner and Western Star trucks with an EPA 2010 or newer Detroit engines, the proprietary Virtual Technician technology helps reduce downtime and decrease maintenance costs by providing a technical snapshot of the engine’s status as soon as the Check Engine light comes on, enabling drivers and fleet managers to make informed decisions with real-time information. The Detroit Customer Support Center then relays the information to the provided contact to determine the issue, recommended service, how soon the engine needs to be serviced, and supply the closest authorized Detroit service location. Often, depending on the issue, the driver can complete the delivery before visiting the service center.
Trained technicians are alerted in advance of the customer’s arrival, so they can quickly line up the parts, arrange for service and repair the problem.
Visibility Fleet Software
Visibility fleet software uses wireless communication and a GPS satellite network to deliver real-time data on the entire fleet to a secured website, enabling fleet managers and owners to monitor the status of one or all of the trucks. The software generates reports that analyze fleet efficiency, and provides detailed information on vehicle location, speed, mileage, routes, stop times, idle times and more.
