Mack Trucks puts OTR updates in fleets’ hands

Mack Trucks has enhanced its over-the-air capabilities by introducing automated software deployment through AutoSend and Self-Service Parameter Updates, designed to make it easier for customers to keep their fleets fully optimized.

AutoSend and Self-Service Parameter Updates designed to make it easier for customers to keep their fleets fully optimized. (Photo: Mack Trucks)

Beginning in the first quarter of this year, the new automated software deployment strategy, AutoSend, will become standard for customers with trucks equipped with Driver-Display Activation – Mack’s in-cab digital interface that enables drivers to review and install software updates directly from their truck’s dashboard display. Available through Mack’s Integrated Uptime subscription service, AutoSend comes as part of the Mack Over The Air (OTA) service at no additional charge.

“These enhanced connected vehicle capabilities demonstrate Mack’s ongoing commitment to providing insights and support that help our customers perform at their best,” said Jonathan Randall, president of Mack Trucks North America. “By automating and simplifying the software update process, we’re helping customers maximize their return on investment and better serve their own customers, while reducing the administrative burden of fleet management.”

Easy updates

Nicole Portello, senior vice president and chief digital officer, Mack Trucks, compared the AutoSend process to updates on a smartphone. “We’re going to automatically send updates directly to all the Mack trucks that have Driver-Display Activation, so the driver will see there’s software to be updated. The driver will click on that; the truck will be updated in less than 30 minutes,” she stated.

This means the fleet manager is no longer required to keep track of which trucks have the software updates and which ones don’t. “We make it very easy and populate the driver display so there’s an automatic push of those software updates when they’re needed,” said Portello. “This really puts the control back into the hands of the fleet so they can worry about other things.”

She went on to state that a connected truck with the latest software performs the best. “Anything we can do to make sure that the truck is connected and has the latest software added to it, we know that this optimizes fleet performance, we know that this drives fuel efficiency, it drives safety as well… They have the least unplanned downtime, as well.

“So, for those fleets, especially over the road fleets, the ones that don’t come home every night, this is peace of mind that those trucks will run,” Portello added, “and will continue to drive more uptime for those customers.”

Self service

Mack is also introducing Self-Service Parameter Updates through its Mack Connect customer portal in the second quarter of this year. This will allow fleet managers to create and deploy custom parameter profiles directly from Mack Connect.

This feature enables customers to manage critical vehicle settings such as road speed limits and idle shutdown parameters without requiring assistance from Mack’s Uptime Center.

“Instead of calling into the Uptime Center, which is what happens today, a fleet decision maker, fleet maintenance manager, will be able to go directly into Mack Connect to set those profiles,” Portello explained. “[The driver is] able to download that within minutes and then be able to have the new parameters installed on the truck. So, very easy, very seamless, quick to do, and it again puts that control back in the fleet owners’ hands.

“The future of fleet management lies in connected vehicle technology, and these new features represent a significant step forward in that evolution,” she continued. “With AutoSend and Self-Service Parameter Updates, we’re giving customers unprecedented control over their vehicles’ performance while ensuring they have immediate access to critical software improvements.”