A vision to make smarter transport solutions has made Volvo Trucks a leader in connectivity and uptime services.

Today’s Volvo models are fully connected, delivering a clear view of performance data to our customers and the specialists in the Volvo Uptime Center 24/7.

On board every new Volvo truck is the industry’s most advanced telematics and real-time diagnostic system. Engine, transmission, and aftertreatment performance is transmitted and reviewed across our Uptime network. The fully integrated diagnostic package requires no additional hardware or software purchases. It’s this data that allows for better decisions that keeps fleets on the road.

 “Our data analysis tools help us identify emerging issues and root causes more efficiently so that we can ensure the reliability and durability of our products,” said Ryan White, manager of connected vehicle services at Volvo Group North America.

Reducing unplanned stops

The key to keep trucks rolling is having analysts that are experts in the equipment and ready to help around the clock. Our specialists in the Volvo Uptime Center can both look at the cause of a fault code as well as review the data from before and after the event. The additional information our team reviews is like watching a movie, instead of looking at a snapshot.

Nearly 50 advisors are on call at the Greensboro, NC based Uptime Center, ensuring that customers speak to an expert who can guide them step by step if an issue arises. Below: More than 430 dealer locations are available across North America, including hundreds of Volvo Trucks Certified Uptime Dealers.

 “Our experts are trained to identify issues and offer solutions, very often before any breakdown occurs,” says Ashley Murickan, Volvo Trucks product marketing manager. “When an issue is identified, large or small, our team of Volvo specialists will be with you through the entire process—monitoring the vehicle, discussing options, managing service, and even helping to schedule repairs. It means you practically have a Volvo expert riding in the cab 24/7.”

Nearly 50 advisors are on call at the Greensboro, NC based Uptime Center, ensuring that customers speak to an expert who can guide them step by step if an issue arises.

Dealers and data

A network of more than 430 dealerships is available across North America. Certified Uptime Dealerships feature dedicated bays for repairs taking less than four hours, so quick repairs don’t get caught behind longer jobs.

Information from the Volvo Uptime Center is automatically sent to the dealer so a technician can immediately use it to diagnose the truck and route it for the right repair.

The seamless integration of data, customer, and dealer is made possible through Volvo ASIST, the unique, web-based service management platform. It automatically populates truck and customer information for repair centers, while automatically notifying equipment decision makers when critical codes pop up. ASIST delivers all of the vehicle’s pertinent diagnostic data to the repair center even before the truck arrives.

Updates from the road

Better connectivity allows data to flow to the truck as well, making it possible to conduct software and parameter updates remotely. Remote programming allows drivers to update software and the industry’s largest selection of parameters during regular breaks in their route. No need for an extra day in the shop or a stop at a dealership for routine updates. When an update is available, the driver display activation will flash an icon on the instrument cluster screen. The driver can activate the update at a regular stop.

 “We’ve heard many times from customers, that taking a vehicle out of rotation to perform software and parameter updates can be a real drain on productivity. So we changed the way those updates are performed,” says Murickan.

The Remote Programming subscription is available on all Volvo trucks 2018 or newer, that are equipped with Volvo’s Remote Diagnostics hardware.

An ongoing effort

All of this work is part of Volvo Trucks’ ongoing strategy to keep customers’ trucks on the road.

 “There are nearly 700,000 Volvo trucks now connected globally and the figure is rapidly increasing, especially here in North America,” according to Murickan. “With real time monitoring now providing significant reductions in downtime, we are looking for even more ways to use connectivity to improve each customer’s productivity. It’s important that we help them keep their promise to deliver on time.”