Volvo Trucks is expanding Remote Diagnostics to include Volvo-powered Volvo VHD and VAH vocational models, making it a standard feature across Volvo's entire North American product line. The remote communication platform has been a standard feature on all Volvo-powered VNM and VNL models since mid-2012. Remote Diagnostics helps maximize vehicle uptime by providing proactive diagnostic and repair planning assistance with detailed analysis of critical diagnostic trouble codes.
"The expansion of Remote Diagnostics as a standard feature on all Volvo vehicles reflects our committment to maximizing vehicle uptime for our customers," said Göran Nyberg, president, Volvo Trucks North American Sales & Marketing. "Remote Diagnostics has been very well received by our customers and is proven to increase the amount of time vehicles spend on the road and delivering freight."
Remote Diagnostics has demonstrated a marked improvement in repair accuracy and efficiency, reducing the average diagnostic time at a service location by 71 percent and lowering the average time of repair by 25 percent. In addition to providing proactive diagnostic and repair planning assistance, the service helps improve parts availability and provides technicians at the repairing dealer with easy-to-read repair instructions before the truck arrives for service.
"Remote Diagnostics gives me instant and accurate information on our fleet while our trucks are running, and provides me with the information I need to make educated decisions when there is an issue with a truck out on the road," said Nash Stamenkovic, Metro West garage foreman, Purolator Courier Ltd., Etobicoke, Canada. "That has been a huge time-saver for us."
Prior to launching the connected vehicle service in May 2012, Volvo field-tested Remote Diagnostics with motor carriers in the U.S. and Canada, drawing on the feedback from 15 unique customers operating more than 1,300 Volvo VNs with the service. Since then, more than 8,500 trucks have been built with the proactive diagnostics capabilities.
Global growth company Frost & Sullivan presented Remote Diagnostics with the 2012 North American Customer Value Enhancement Award in Commercial Vehicle Repair and Maintenance. The aftermarket service was also awarded the 2012 Volvo Group Internal Quality Award for improving the quality of vehicle ownership through active use of connected vehicle data. The annual award spotlights Volvo Group's focus on quality as a core value.
