As Mack Trucks plans the launch of a new flagship highway tractor in its 125th year in business, it’s also upping its connectivity game.
While the new truck will remain under wraps until April 8, Mack did pull back the curtains on new connectivity offerings during a virtual press conference Feb. 24. But first Mack Trucks North America president Jonathan Randall set the stage for what is a special year for the truck maker.
Randall noted Mack has a long history of innovation going back to the ’20s and ’30s, including the use of aluminum powertrain components, engine-mounted oil and air filters, engine-mounted charge air coolers, and the vertical integration of the engine, transmission, axles and suspensions.
But today, he added, customers are demanding as much or more from connectivity and the services built around the vehicle as from the truck itself.
“Years ago, it was about the iron,” he said, recalling his days selling trucks to customers who wanted to hear about horsepower, torque, gradeability and, of course, how they could make the truck turn heads at the truck stop. “That’s still important…but this other stuff is, in my mind, equally important.”
The other stuff he’s referring to is connectivity and how it can support uptime.
200,000 connected trucks
Nicole Portello, senior vice-president and chief digital officer with Mack, noted the truck maker isn’t new to connectivity. It currently has some 200,000 connected trucks in the field, with 73,000 subscribed to Mack’s integrated uptime bundle.
About two years ago, Mack began sharing the data it was pulling from those trucks with dealers to enable better spec’ing decisions. It has since decided to offer the info direct to customers through its Mack Connect portal.
Customers can log into the portal and analyze performance data, update parameters, and ensure software is updated promptly when updates are available.
This wasn’t good enough, Portello said. Previously, customers only had access to “agent-guided” updates, meaning they had to call the Uptime Center for assistance on completing any software or parameter updates.
“The number one thing we heard is, this gets complicated,” Portello said of customer feedback, especially from fleets managing a large number of VINs.
AutoSend software updates
Fleets wanted a more smartphone-like experience with automatic update installations that could be completed without involvement of the Uptime Center. To that end, Mack is rolling out AutoSend, which, similar to an iPhone, will alert the fleet when a software update is available and then install it without agent involvement.
Mack gave customers the opportunity to opt-out in the fourth quarter. Few did, Portello said, and beginning at the end of the first quarter they’ll begin receiving software updates as they become available. This is important, she added, because trucks running the latest software updates typically experience 22% less unplanned downtime than those running older versions.
Self-Serve parameter updates
Additionally, Mack is rolling out Self-Serve Parameter Updates beginning in Q2. Since 2023, they’ve been able to update parameters through the Mack Connect portal, but again requiring agent assistance.
Fleets have been using the capability to set road speed limits, create seasonal profiles, etc. Soon they’ll be able to update those parameters over the air on their own.
“By automating and simplifying the software update process, we’re helping customers maximize their return on investment and better serve their own customers, while reducing the administrative burden of fleet management,” Randall said.
“The future of fleet management lies in connected vehicle technology, and these new features represent a significant step forward in that evolution,” added Portello. “With AutoSend and Self-Service Parameter Updates, we’re giving customers unprecedented control over their vehicles’ performance while ensuring they have immediate access to critical software improvements. This is about delivering technology that works as hard as our customers do.”
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