Thursday, September 13, 2012

Road Haulage Operators Receive First Remote Diagnostic Service Trucks from Volvo

New Proactive Systems can Warn Customers and Save Downtime
Shipping News Feature

CANADA – GERMANY – CHINA - The remote diagnostic service which we mentioned recently which Volvo is now to include as a standard feature on every Volvo-powered VN model highway truck has seen its first outing with the latest order from Purolator Inc., Canada’s leading integrated freight and parcel solutions provider which has received the first remote diagnostics equipped Volvo trucks as part of their recent order for 80 Volvo VNL 300 daycabs. The interconnected system of vehicle management tools provides proactive diagnostic and repair planning assistance with detailed analysis of critical diagnostic trouble codes for road haulage operators.

Volvo’s Remote Diagnostics facilitates live dealer and customer communication through Volvo Action Service (VAS), Volvo’s 24/7 support team. When a fault code appears, Remote Diagnostics alerts VAS, which then works with the customer to establish a course of action. VAS then works with the nearest dealer to ensure parts are on-hand before a truck arrives at a service location. Only a haulage operator can know the frustration of having a truck off the road because parts are not available.

Remote Diagnostics also provides service case communication and documentation among Volvo Action Service, dealers and customers through ASIST. Volvo’s web-based service management tool, ASIST, comes free of charge for two years or 250,000 miles with the purchase of all new Volvo trucks. Prior to announcing Remote Diagnostics in May, Volvo field-tested the connected vehicle service 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. Over the past two years, Purolator has added 159 Volvo daycabs to its fleet and general manager, Serge Viola, commented:

“We’re looking forward to utilizing Volvo’s Remote Diagnostics service. The ability to remotely notify dealers and technical staff that the truck is experiencing an issue, while still having that vehicle in service will greatly assist in reducing our fleet’s down time.”

This week AB Volvo has completed the transaction we announced in June whereby the company increases its shareholding in Deutz AG from 6.7% to just over 25%. In total, AB Volvo has acquired 22,117,693 shares from Same Deutz-Fahr Group for an amount of €130 million. The transaction makes AB Volvo the largest shareholder in Deutz AG. The two groups have an understanding to develop their long term relationship to develop suitable medium duty engines and with a view to establishing a joint venture to explore engine production in China.