Daimler Truck North America to integrate Lytx tech on select Freightliner and Western Star models

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Updated Oct 26, 2022

Technology Shorts

Technology news and briefs for the week of Oct. 23, 2022: 

Lytx, Daimler Truck North America collab on OEM integration

Tech company Lytx Inc. has announced a first-ever OEM integration with Daimler Truck North America (DTNA).

Lytx will collaborate with DTNA to launch a new vehicle telematics gateway and camera solution that can be ordered directly from the factory on select Freightliner and Western Star models.

The solution will leverage Lytx DriveCam components, which will be integrated in the vehicle during the production of those models.

“Combining our business strategy of offering customer-first solutions with the configuration options within the Lytx Vision Platform, we are grateful for the opportunity to work with the team at Daimler Truck North America to deliver our customizable safety solutions in an innovative new way,” said Lytx Chairman and CEO Brandon Nixon.

The solution, powered by the Lytx Vision Platform, provides Lytx support with its expertise in video, big data, and artificial intelligence solutions to OEM partners and clients in building custom solutions.

Customers can begin placing orders later this fall, with the first Lytx-equipped trucks to be built in early 2023 for the Freightliner Cascadia and Western Star X-Series line of 47X, 49X and 57X models.

Predictive maintenance platform offers new capabilities

Industrial intelligence software-as-a-service provider Uptake has developed multiple new capabilities in its predictive maintenance platform Uptake Fleet.

Leading the additions is an expanded work-order analytics capability that enables users to move beyond time and odometer-based measurements.

The tool uses up to 10 years of existing internal work order data to provide component-level survival curves that indicate where a truck's assets are in the equipment lifecycle, as well as aggregate and individual unit component analytics. It also filters by data fields so users can assess both enterprise-level and vehicle-specific performance.

The new configuration allows users to set survival curve thresholds for specific vehicle components. When these thresholds are crossed, Uptake Fleet will create an alert that influences the truck’s risk score and flags the potential for component failure, which enables users to plan more accurately for replacements and prepare stock accordingly.

Support for several popular sensor analytics endpoints via the addition of new Application Programming Interface (API) and Electrical System Rating (ESR) connectors is also included.

Through its enhanced support, Uptake Fleet now ingests and analyzes a wider range of fault data that users can leverage to dramatically expand their level and quality of insights to increase vehicle uptime, minimize maintenance disruptions and improve fleet productivity.

The new sensor analytics capabilities support outputs from the Geotab ESR module, giving users of the Geotab tracking platform a new way to generate electrical systems insights that can prevent roadside failures. Using Geotab’s ESR “score,” Uptake Fleet can establish performance thresholds for insights on the health of alternators, batteries and other critical system components.

Geotab integrates with Phillips Connect, Irdeto

IoT devices provider Geotab has two new integrations.

The company has integrated with Phillips Connect to offer the latter’s StealthNet and SolarNet asset tracking and management solutions through the Geotab Marketplace Order Now program. Cybersecurity company Irdeto has also integrated with Geotab to use its open application programming interfaces to provide end customers with a turnkey solution for keyless vehicle operation.

Phillips Connect’s technology available through the Geotab Marketplace Order Now program helps users procure solutions quickly and conveniently, allowing them to make informed decisions that can help mitigate risk, improve productivity and create cost efficiency.

The integration allows users to track assets diligently to manage theft or loss, automate yard checks and help identify maintenance issues before costly repairs are needed.

Geotab launched the Order Now program in 2021, allowing users access to marketplace solutions directly within its fleet management platform MyGeotab.

Using the Geotab GO9, Keystone by Irdeto will interface directly with MyGeotab, enabling total vehicle management, from key distribution to vehicle analytics and providing increased security, profitability and flexibility for customers.

Keystone by Irdeto is a secure, permission-based vehicle digital key solution that uses Bluetooth Low Energy technology to enable proximity-based vehicle access using a smartphone. It allows the fleet manager to control who, when and how drivers and support functions can access and drive vehicles in its fleet. Leveraging proximity wireless technologies, Keystone by Irdeto can detect an authorized driver approaching and start preconditioning the vehicle even before the driver reaches it, increasing driver and fleet efficiency.

Another benefit of the integration will be the possibility to retrofit and convert existing bladed key fleet vehicles to keyless operations. The solution works on any vehicle with a bladed key.

Insurance app makes onboarding independent contractors easier

Risk management and insurance brokerage firm TrueNorth Companies LC has made enrolling independent contractors in insurance coverage easier for motor carriers.

Independent contractors can now enroll in and manage coverage for TrueNorth’s Independent Advantage program via the TNTruck app, which uses electronic signatures to make the enrollment process paperless. They can also print certificates directly from the app and allows them to integrate and synchronize data in real time between the firm, contractors, the insurance company and TrueNorth.

“This latest update to TNTruck is a game-changer for motor carriers as their efforts around onboarding and driver retention continue to evolve,” said TrueNorth President Trent Tillman.

The TNTruck app launched in 2019 as a way for independent contractors not driving for a motor carrier to get fast and easy quotes for trucking insurance, manage drivers and units and access certificates and account information. Now, independent contractors driving for a motor carrier get access to the benefits of a fully integrated platform.

EROAD partners with transportation legal company on dashcam offer

Legal company TVC Pro-Driver has partnered with global transportation technology services company EROAD to help fleets maximize safety, performance and compliance via dashboard cameras and fleet telematics.

Through this partnership TVC, which offers legal protection services and commercial benefits to trucking professionals, now offers customers access to the dual-facing EROAD Clarity Dashcam and its GPS tracking and fleet management platform.

“Video proof quickly removes many unknowns in the event of a collision,” said Jim Angel, vice president video telematics at EROAD. “With the addition of video telematics, fleet managers are further empowered to protect their drivers as well as their assets leading to safer roads and cost savings. We are excited to partner with TVC Pro-Driver to help fleets mitigate risk with fleet video.”

These are some of the benefits TVC’s customers gain from this partnership: protect drivers and their business from wrongful lawsuits; save on insurance and repair costs; use video footage as a high-impact coaching tool to improve driver performance; and reduce accidents and the time required to investigate them.