Stewart-Haas racing team using telematics from sponsor Rush Enterprises

Updated Aug 1, 2017

Rush Enterprises is a long-time sponsor of Stewart-Haas Racing, and says it now keeps the Stewart-Haas Racing fleet of trucks up and running with innovative telematics solutions and access to the RushCare portfolio of services.

With a telematics device installed on a truck and an app on a mobile device, drivers and fleet managers can have quick, convenient access to a dashboard which includes vehicle and driver performance, electronic logs, location and overall vehicle health. Rush Truck Centers’ telematics offerings are installed on Stewart-Haas Racing’s fleet of haulers, which include eight Peterbilt Model 389 trucks in addition to five Ford F-450 trucks, the company says.

In addition to telematics, Stewart-Haas Racing is supported by the RushCare Service Connect team, which monitors and can alert Stewart-Haas Racing to any performance issues, fault codes or needed maintenance on any of their trucks, allowing them to transport the necessary parts and equipment from race to race. Just as the performance of the #14 Ford Fusion is essential to Clint Bowyer’s success in the race, the team’s haulers need to be in peak condition, traveling several thousand miles across the country each season, the company says.

“Haulers are an important part of any race team, and we are happy to support Stewart-Haas Racing with this innovative technology,” says W.M. “Rusty” Rush, chairman, CEO and president at Rush Enterprises. “Our RushCare Service Connect portfolio offers the Stewart-Haas Racing team—and all our customers—peace of mind knowing they can not only be alerted to any fault code or maintenance need, but we can schedule service at the nearest Rush Truck Center or with a mobile technician.”

To access full information about their trucks, Stewart-Haas hauler drivers access the telematics app on their smart phone or tablet, eliminating the need for an additional display in the truck’s cab. Since the app is on their mobile device, they can access the telematics dashboard whenever and wherever is most convenient. The app is compliant with the electronic logging device requirements expected later this year and makes it easy for drivers to generate logs as well as vehicle and trailer inspection reports.

Since installing telematics on their haulers a few months ago, Stewart-Haas Racing has already benefited from receiving fault code alerts on a number of minor issues and one major issue of a leaking injector, according to Gary Geissman, fleet manager at Stewart-Haas Racing. A mobile technician from Rush Truck Centers was able to repair the problem at the Stewart-Haas facilities in North Carolina.

“Knowing exactly when an issue occurs and the severity of it can allow you to prevent a larger issue down the road. Having the ability to address an issue immediately or wait for scheduled service keeps our drivers safe and allows them to better manage their trips,” he says.

Geissman explains there are other benefits, including workforce management for his staff. “With any of the haulers, we have 20-30 people waiting for the truck to return to our shop. With this technology, I can tell exactly what time the hauler will arrive, so the team can be ready.”

All Rush Truck Centers telematics customers can review vehicle inspection reports as well as driver performance reports in the telematics dashboard, so training can be offered as necessary. For additional support, Rush says customers can utilize the RushCare Service Connect team to proactively schedule service and order all-makes parts for any repairs when a fault code is received. The RushCare team can also use the system to learn the exact location of a vehicle, to provide mobile roadside assistance if needed, the company says.

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