Mack unlocking telematics capability for legacy trucks

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Mack TruckMack Trucks announced Wednesday at the Work Truck Show in Indianapolis it will make available its telematics platform to about 50,000 legacy trucks not factory-equipped with GuardDog Connect.

After installing a small plug-and-play Geotab telematics device, the Mack Uptime Center can monitor the same critical vehicle codes as Mack’s GuardDog Connect hardware. When an issue is detected, Mack OneCall agents can evaluate and provide the customer’s designated contact with information through Mack ASIST, an online communications and service management portal. Repair scheduling, as well as parts and service bay availability, are also confirmed.

“Our service network has never been more extensive,”says John Walsh, Mack Trucks vice president of marketing, “never been more capable.”

Geotab manages more than 670,000 connected vehicles globally and Phillip Swaim, director of Mack’s network fixed operations says the upfit process takes about an hour and can be performed at a dealership or by the customer.

Mack’s GuardDog Connect service contact for legacy vehicles, which includes the Geotab vehicle tracking device, will be available for order through Mack dealers May 1 and is compatible with Mack trucks model years 2011 and equipped with Mack engines.

Jason Cannon has written about trucking and transportation for more than a decade and serves as Chief Editor of Commercial Carrier Journal. A Class A CDL holder, Jason is a graduate of the Porsche Sport Driving School, an honorary Duckmaster at The Peabody in Memphis, Tennessee, and a purple belt in Brazilian jiu jitsu. Reach him at [email protected]