DTNA, Zonar Outline Expanded Telematics Partnership

YOUNTVILLE, Calif. — One month after Daimler Trucks North America announced it had taken a minority stake in Zonar Systems, executives with both companies shed light on their shared telematics strategy.

DTNA said its Detroit Connect program will include Zonar’s 2020 tablet and come with Zonar’s Ground Traffic Control software. Zonar also will assume management of Detroit’s Virtual Technician subscriptions later this year, though the branding of the onboard diagnostics system itself will not change.

“There’s a significant opportunity to gain important insights through connectivity to ultimately provide a more dynamic customer experience,” said Matt Pfaffenbach, DTNA’s director of telematics.

A factory-installed kit for the 2020 tablet is available on Freightliner Cascadia trucks with Detroit engines. That will expand to more Freightliner and Western Star models later this year.

Friedrich Baumann, DTNA’s senior vice president of aftermarket, said the enhanced partnership will allow for more rapid telematics advancements. During the event, DTNA previewed a Virtual Technician portal expected to roll out later this year.

Baumann said the closer partnership between the companies will spur growth in predictive maintenance in the coming years, allowing fleets to schedule a repair before a serious service event occurs.

That vision was shared by Zonar President Brett Brinton, who added he sees a future where all new trucks come “platform ready” in order to leverage emerging technologies.

“There is a real return [on investment] for fleets with predictive maintenance, said Mike McQuade, Zonar’s chief strategy officer.

Baumann said better understanding of data through telematics was allowing DTNA dealers to enhance service to fleets through improved stocking of inventory and better use of maintenance bays.

Joining the companies at the July 28 event here were three DTNA dealers and Ray Hufnagel, president of trucking firm Plastic Express. All of them addressed how telematics is enhancing their operations.

They said improved efficiencies — from dealers’ repair shops to fleets’ dispatch offices — could play a direct role in helping tackle the industry’s shortage of technicians and truck drivers.

Additional coverage from this event will be included in the Aug. 3 print edition of Transport Topics