Sources: Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA), Portland, Ore.
DTNA has announced an investment in Zonar Systems, Inc., whose heavy-duty truck telematic and connectivity devices support remote diagnostics and automated logging of driver hours of service and vehicle inspection results.
The companies have partnered for more than five years, starting with the launch of the Virtual Technician remote diagnostic system, one of the Zonar technologies now available for factory installation on Freightliner and Western Star models. Zonar also developed and powers DTNA’s complete telematics solution, Detroit Connect, currently deployed on 150,000-plus vehicles.
“Telematics and connectivity are revolutionizing commercial vehicle operation with enormous opportunities for OEMs,” says Daimler AG Board of Management Member Dr. Wolfgang Bernhard. “Our investment in Zonar will help us to put connected services on the road with even greater speed and variety.”
“Drivers and fleet managers will benefit from combining [our] big data analytics and rapid technology development with the depth of knowledge, precision and expertise in vehicle engineering DTNA brings,” adds Zonar CEO Brett Brinton. Zonar solutions offer unparalleled visibility into fleet operations, he contends, and encompass fuel savings, increased safety and uptime, and compliance measures.