Mack Trucks is adding Allison Transmission into its GuardDog Connect telematics solution, the company announced Monday at the Technology and Maintenance Council Annual Meeting and Transportation Technology Exhibition in Nashville.
A number of Allison transmission models can be spec'd on Mack MD, Mack LR and Granite, including the 2500, 3000, and 4500.
Mack Trucks on Monday announced an industry-first partnership with Allison Transmission, which includes action plans for Mack Trucks Integrated Uptime service.
Currently, 130 Mack Trucks dealers are Allison Transmission service certified with "coverage pretty well spread," said Chris Rounds, Allison's manager of global strategic marketing and digitization.
“Both companies have developed a seamless vehicle analytics collaboration to make Mack GuardDog Connect applicable for Allison transmission data," said Marty Foulks, Mack's connected vehicle product manager, adding Mack piloted the program with upwards of 10 fleets covering 600 trucks, all of whom responded favorably to the streamlined process.
Providing transmission insights directly through Mack’s integrated telematics solution, Foulks said ensures customers are directed to an Allison Authorized service provider who can offer the necessary service and support.
Rounds said the integrated service gives fleet managers insights on how to prioritize service.
Service made easier
Mack GuardDog Connect is a proactive diagnostic and repair planning solution that monitors a truck’s critical fault codes, which could lead to unplanned downtime.
Previously, customers would receive service alerts about their Allison transmission separately and work with an Allison Authorized service provider directly to determine the severity and the next steps. Now, Mack OneCall agents at the Mack Uptime Center offer support to customers experiencing planned and unplanned service events, including scheduling service and repairs. Mack works behind the scenes with Allison to collect instructions for how to handle yellow or red fault codes. This allows the customer to get one communication rather than receiving instructions from multiple sources.
The Allison integration is part of the Integrated Uptime subscription service, so there is no additional charge. Fleets with an existing Mack Integrated Uptime subscription and equipped with Allison transmissions will automatically be enrolled in the service and begin receiving the notifications, Foulks said.
Another step in customer service
Mack Trucks, celebrating 125 years this year, rolled out last month automated software deployment through AutoSend and Self-Service Parameter Updates so customers can keep their fleets fully optimized through Mack Over The Air.
Mack’s new automated software deployment strategy, AutoSend, will become standard for customers with trucks equipped with Driver-Display Activation – Mack’s in-cab digital interface that enables drivers to review and install software updates directly from their truck’s dashboard display. Available through Mack’s Integrated Uptime subscription service, AutoSend as part of the Mack Over The Air (OTA) service at no additional charge.
Driver Display Activation capability is standard on most Mack-powered trucks constructed after Nov. 30, 2020. This proactive approach allows updates to be completed in 30 minutes or less, ensuring fleets maintain optimal performance with minimal disruption to operations.
Mack also is introducing Self-Service Parameter Updates through its Mack Connect customer portal – the company’s comprehensive fleet management and uptime solutions platform – in the second quarter of this year. Fleet managers can create and deploy custom parameter profiles directly from Mack Connect. This feature enables customers to manage critical vehicle settings such as road speed limits and idle shutdown parameters without assistance from Mack’s Uptime Center – the company’s state-of-the-art command center that provides around-the-clock vehicle monitoring and support services.
