Volvo Trucks Hopes To Kickstart A Digital Revolution

When you think about innovation in the trucking space, you may imagine more fuel-efficient and powerful engines, new cab configurations, and other purely performance-based upgrades. And while you would be right to highlight those areas, it’s also important to factor in how much technology has changed the trucking industry over the last few years and will continue to do so well into the future. Volvo Trucks understands this, and that’s why the company is starting something of a digital revolution to bring more telematics, connectivity, big data, cloud services, and Internet of Things (IoT) solutions to trucks.

Data Automation

This idea of bringing more technologies to trucks doesn’t only relate to the dashboard, GPS, and other features, but rather encompasses the entire vehicle to provide relevant data to the driver as well as the company operating the truck. With the help of various sensors, trucks can now collect information on fuel consumption, braking patterns, driver alertness, average speed, and much more. You’d typically have to send that data back to a central headquarters to analyze it and get insights, but Volvo is endeavoring to reach a point where some of that analysis is done onboard so the truck will actually make helpful adjustments without the driver having to initiate the process. 

Keeping Trucks On the Road

One of the biggest goals for Volvo with this digital revolution initiative is to prevent unplanned standstills and downtime for the trucking industry. If a truck is sitting on the side of the road with a cargo hold behind it, then chances are it is being as efficient as it could be. This is where the idea of using technology for predictive maintenance comes into play. If sensors in a truck can detect small issues before they balloon into larger ones, then it could lead to fewer breakdowns and fewer unplanned stops for repairs.

You can boil this down to a basic level and think about something as seemingly inconsequential as a dead battery. The charge of your truck battery is something you don’t typically think about until it dies and you’re on the side of the road in need of a new one. With connectivity, IoT, and sensors working together, you would know how much charge is left in that battery and when would be the best time to replace it to avoid downtime. This also applies to other components, like braking systems, tyres, and more. Volvo wants to put solutions in place that will monitor a truck’s overall health and provide early warning that a potential failure may be on the horizon, so you can stay out of the repair shop and on the road.