Volvo Trucks North America is rolling out lock-and-leave software updates this week.
Drivers will be able to start a software update, lock the truck and walk away, enabling trucks to stay current in the latest software without stopping operations or visiting the dealer.
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Volvo estimates that, through over-the-air software updates, it has helped customers avoid more than 100,000 days of unplanned downtime. More than 7,500 updates were completed in August and Volvo Trucks' connected systems can dispatch up to 20,000 software updates per day.
"Technology makes our customers' operations more productive," says Peter Voorhoeve, president of Volvo Trucks North America. "As software plays a greater role in improving uptime, updating the software should be as easy and convenient as possible. Now a driver can lock and leave their truck while the update runs during a break and return to a truck that is up to date and ready to go to work."
Volvo says over-the-air updates can optimize systems including engine performance, transmission and battery management, all without requiring a service appointment. More than 220,000 connected Volvo trucks are operating in North America, the company says.
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"A connected truck keeps improving long after it leaves the dealership," says Nicole Portello, senior vice president and chief digital officer, Volvo Trucks North America. "The data coming from these trucks helps us identify where we can get ahead of a potential fault code today, while also giving our engineers insights that can help shape the next generation of Volvo trucks. For fleets, the goal is not simply more data, it is providing actionable data they can use to improve their operations."
