LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Volvo Trucks said it has expanded its remote diagnostics tool as a standard feature on its entire North American product line.
It said separately it has entered into agreements with technology firms Telogis and Trimble Navigation to develop future fleet management services.
The remote diagnostics tool provides repair assistance by communicating problems to Volvo’s support team, who can then work with the nearest dealer to ensure the right parts are on hand before a truck arrives.
The tool has been proven to reduce the average time of repair by 25% and reduce diagnostic time by more than 70%, Volvo said late Monday.
As the first OEM to enter a collaborative business relationship with Telogis and Trimble, Volvo said its customers will have increased flexibility as they optimize the performance of their fleets using the two firms’ platforms. Trimble owns PeopleNet Communications and ALK Technologies.
Volvo also announced that starting in April, all its new trucks will come factory-equipped with a QR code tied to a vehicle’s VIN number to provide access to a service record.
The codes will reduce the amount of time technicians must input data and check a vehicle in for service.
Volvo also announced a new plan to credit customers for repairs taking longer than 24 hours.
Customers registered with the Uptime Protection Plan will be reimbursed $100 a day for up to five days for extended repairs. The credit will be paid to a Volvo debit card that can be used at any Volvo Trucks dealership.
