Volvo’s 25,000th Truck With Remote Diagnostics Goes to Averitt
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Volvo Trucks announced that its 25,000th truck equipped with its remote diagnostics system was placed in service earlier this month by Averitt Express.
The companies made the joint announcement here March 11 at the Technology & Maintenance Council’s annual meeting.
Volvo first announced the launch of the system in May 2012 for its VN models. The diagnostics system has since been expanded to its full fleet.
Averitt, based in Cookville, Tenn., uses about 4,000 tractors and ranks No. 29 on the Transport Topics Top 100 list of the largest for-hire carriers in the United States and Canada.
Doug Lloyd, Averitt’s director of maintenance, said the company has about 700 Volvo trucks with the diagnostics system. Its fleet includes between 2,600 and 2,700 Volvos, he said.
Lloyd told TT the “best scenario” is to have a truck in need of service make it back to the company’s own shop for a repair. However, since that is not always possible, Volvo’s system has consistently proven to reduce downtime and “save on towing costs due to mechanical issues,” he said.
When drivers begin using the system, they are tempted to continue attempting to deliver a load, even when a fault light comes on, said Lloyd. The result could be a breakdown in an area far less convenient than if the driver acts when the light first comes on, he said.
Lloyd and Steve Maxson, vice president of equipment, said problems with an engine’s emissions aftertreatment system have been the cause of the most common fault code reported by drivers.
Conal Deedy, Volvo’s product marketing manager for electronics, said remote diagnostics can offer fleets a 70% reduction in diagnostic time and a 20% drop in repair time.
