Mack, Volvo Enhance Over-the-Air Software Update Capabilities

Mack Trucks and Volvo Trucks have improved upon their over-the-air feature, which allows for updates to occur while a driver has downtime, such as while at a rest stop or home.

For Mack, the feature is called Over The Air; for Volvo, it’s Remote Programming. With it, software updates take less than 20 minutes and parameter updates take less than 10. Users can run the updates from anywhere in the United States or Canada where a cellular connection is available.

“Updates are performed during a driver’s lunch break or when the truck is back at a depot, providing significant benefits as opposed to taking far more time for a planned stop at a service center or taking a computer out to the truck,” Ashraf Makki, Volvo Trucks North America product marketing manager, said in a press release.

Remote Programming has added thousands of days of uptime while increasing truck performance, according to the release. OTA and Remote Programming offer multiple parameter packages to allow owners to change between operating modes for optimal fuel efficiency and preferred operating configurations.

“The end result is the customer saves time and money,” said David Pardue, Mack vice president of connected vehicles and uptime services.