June 2020 - 35

DIAGNOSTICS
AUTOMOTIVE INTELLIGENCE
uptime. A fleet could avoid a shop visit if an
update can be performed remotely. From our
analysis, we've seen ECU software updates that
improve everything from fuel economy to reducing instances of broken fan belt tensioners."
Noregon's remote diagnostic solution,
TripVision Uptime, allows technicians to adjust
parameters over the air. For vehicles already
in the bay for planned maintenance, Noregon's
in-shop diagnostic and repair tool, JPRO
Professional, offers the same capabilities. An individual fleet can decide which functionality makes
the most sense for its particular circumstance.
Regardless of which way a fleet goes, there's a
good chance that some serious downtime and
money can be saved.
"We spoke to a fleet that spent $10,000 to send
mobile technicians to disable idle shutdown on 40
trucks during the polar vortex in 2018," Bolt says.
"Using TripVision Uptime, this function can be
performed remotely in a matter of minutes, at no
additional cost to the fleet's monthly subscription."
"We've had other customers comment on how
often their trucks' road and cruise speeds are
modified without their approval, leading to safety and liability concerns, as well as an increase
in fuel consumption," Bolt continues. "With
TripVision Uptime, the fleet can receive a text
or email alert when a truck's values are modified,
and simply log into the portal to revert to their
intended limits."

Choosing the right
aftermarket solution

While programmable parameters present an
opportunity for fleets to better manage their
trucks, Autel's Freeman says one challenge can
be finding an aftermarket tool that will do everything the fleet desires.
When it comes to programmable parameters,
most fleets want to adjust road speed and cruise
speed. Thus, most aftermarket tools that say they
can handle programmable parameters focus solely on these two items. But as Freeman reminds, a
fleet may need more than that.

Fleets need to ask the right questions when
shopping around - and avoid being too broad.
For example, a fleet might ask a potential vendor
if their diagnostic tool offers bidirectional control.
"Every aftermarket tool on the market has bidirectional control of some sort, even if it's just a
single control," Freeman says. "The problem is
that many of the tools are not current, or they
have coverage gaps in terms of models or model
years. Sometimes an aftermarket tool doesn't
cover certain controls at all; they can only do
road speed and cruise speed."
Freeman advises fleets to ask potential vendors
about the specific bidirectional controls they
provide. In fact, a good vendor will actually ask the
fleet what it wants to accomplish, and then determine which solution best aligns with those needs.
"That is the difference between selling a product and providing a solution," Freeman says.
When it comes to bidirectional controls and
programmable parameters, the right aftermarket
solution can help fleets customize their trucks to
their specific needs, helping drive productivity,
uptime, safety, and profitability.

ENHANCED
SOFTWARE

NEW BI-DIRECTIONAL
CONTROLS

MORE THAN 1,000 NEW DIAGNOSTIC UPDATES
OVER 20 MAKES / 80+ MODELS

"You need to be
able to change
the programming
in the ECM so the
ECM knows what
it is seeing on
the back end."
Chris Freeman, director of
sales/training HD at Autel

»Two parameters fleets often adjust are
maximum road speed and cruise speed.
Photo courtesy of Noregon

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June 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of June 2020