Freightliner Ups the Ante on Connectivity and Refreshes Run Smart

Fleets running a Freightliner Cascadia with a Detroit engine can access engine performance reports over the air via the Detroit Connect portal.

Another connectivity milestone: all Freightliner and Western Star customers subscribing to the Detroit Connect suite of services have access to the portal, giving them remote diagnostic access through Detroit Connect Virtual Technician along with a variety of vehicle performance data.

The Cascadia's Detroit engine portal provides users not only with fault-event alerts, but a look into the nature of the problem and, if needed, a recommended service stop — all communicated through Virtual Technician.

"With the Detroit Connect portal, customers can customize and manage the user experience based on their specific needs," said Greg Treinen, Daimler Trucks North America Connect manager. "Every business has different ways to consume and analyze information, and we know a one-size-fits-all approach won't resonate with our customers. With the Detroit Connect portal, they can manage the way they interact with their vehicle's performance data in a way that best suits their individual priorities."

A refreshed Run Smart community

Freightliner also rebuilt its Team Run Smart website, the open online community drivers use to fine-tune their business acumen, save fuel and get answers to a variety of problems.

The community has grown to more than 48,000 members, and Freightliner saw a need to enhance the site's user experience and add content to help carriers, owner-operators and company drivers at a time when the industry is beset with a dizzying amount of regulations, health issues and other challenges — all while trying to keep operating costs down.

Freightliner solicited feedback from members and surveyed people outside the membership to make the best improvements.

"We are committed to continually improving our platform, and what better way to do so than by listening first-hand to the trucking community," said Mike McHorse, on-highway product marketing manager.

For owner-operators, the trend is worth watching: telematics that once required expensive add-on hardware are increasingly built into the truck, and free driver communities are becoming a real resource for cutting fuel and maintenance costs.