Mack Trucks Greensboro, North Carolina, announced Mack Over The Air (OTA), a program designed to update truck software without disrupting its customers’ schedules, will be available on refuse vehicles including the Mack 2018 Granite, TerraPro and LR models equipped with Mack 2017 GHG engines.Mack made the announcement during WasteExpo 2017 at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans on May 9.
“Mack refuse customers can plan for software updates and schedule them when it’s most convenient,” says David Pardue, vice president of connected vehicles and uptime services for Mack Trucks. “Refuse applications demand real-time service and support because they have to be up and running and on time. Mack OTA is the next step in our uptime journey.”
Mack OTA will be available on 2018 Mack LR models equipped with a Mack engine with the availability of GuardDog Connect beginning in the third quarter of 2017. Mack OTA for the TerraPro and Granite models is also planned for later in 2017.
Software updates for powertrain components and for vehicle parameters like road speed limits are available through Mack OTA.
Mack OTA capitalizes on fully integrated Mack GuardDog Connect telematics hardware to deliver the software updates directly to customers with minimal interruption to their operations.
GuardDog Connect comes standard on every Mack model equipped with a Mack engine and is designed to enable real time diagnosis of issues and schedule repairs and confirmation that needed parts are in stock and ready to install.
Mack’s uptime functions are based at the Mack Uptime Center, a 123,000 square-foot facility that houses personnel from every customer support function.