9 Benefits of Remote Diagnostics

Owners of today’s trucks and the dealers who service them no longer have to wait for a vehicle to fail to get insight into its health. They can now rely on remote diagnostics, a real-time monitoring system that shares fault codes and other vehicle data like location, mileage and more with Fleet Managers and, if authorized, the dealer. The information can be sent via text, email or a web-based platform. Every major truck OEM now offers remote diagnostic solutions to fleets, and there are also brand-agnostic platforms for fleets that operate trucks from more than one manufacturer. 
 
Heavy truck remote diagnostics systems were voted the most important technology for organizations in a 2023 Noregon fleet survey. One reason for this importance, according to Geotab is because 10% of a fleet’s vehicles have a serious fault at any given time. Knowing which specific vehicles are experiencing problems allows fleet managers to make informed decisions about asset deployment.
 
There are a variety of benefits to being able to diagnose a vehicle remotely.
 
1. Reduce Downtime: Downtime costs fleets money. Remote diagnostics can spot developing problems so the repair can be made before a breakdown occurs. Often, these repairs can be done when the vehicle isn’t scheduled to be in service or during another planned maintenance event. Geotab has seen some fleets reduce their downtime by 30% with remote diagnostics.
 
2. Understand the Severity of the Problem: Not all fault codes require immediate action. Most remote diagnostic solutions have a guide for fault code urgency. Some use a color-coded system of green, yellow and red. Green alerts mean the truck is fine and there are no issues. Yellow alerts usually mean the driver can complete their delivery, and the repair can be scheduled at the fleet’s convenience. A red alert means the problem is severe, and the fleet must take immediate action before an on-road breakdown occurs.
 
3. Avoid On-Road Breakdowns and Tows: Because remote diagnostic systems assign severity levels to problems, Fleet Managers can get vehicles in imminent danger of failing off the road before a breakdown occurs, avoiding roadside repair or tow costs.
 
4. More Accurate Diagnosis: Rather than relying on drivers to tell them what’s wrong with the vehicle, Fleet Managers get real-time status updates on how a vehicle is performing and specific, fault-code-based information on what’s occurring.
 
5. Faster Turnaround Time: Since remote diagnostic systems provide a great deal of information on the nature of the problem, the dealer can be prepared for the repair before the truck even arrives on the lot. They’ll be able to locate the necessary parts and assign the job to the Technician best suited for the type of repair in advance. In a Fleet Owner article, Magnus Gustafson, vice president of Connected Services at Volvo Trucks North America, said this pre-diagnosis speeds up repair turnaround time by 20% to 22%. 
 
6. Provide Connection to Nearby Dealership Repair Facilities: A remote diagnostic system can inform the fleet where the nearest dealer with the expertise to complete the needed repair is located. 
 
7. Comprehensive Monitoring of Vehicle Health: Remote diagnostic systems constantly monitor the condition of various vehicle parts, including the engine, transmission, brakes and other ECUs. Fault codes from the controller of these components allow fleets and dealers to evaluate the health of each vehicle at any time. Aggregated fault codes can show repair trends, which the dealer can then address.
 
8. Enable Proactive Maintenance: Knowing a vehicle's actual condition rather than relying on pre-set maintenance schedules means vehicles will be brought in for service at more appropriate intervals, which can save time by avoiding unnecessary service events. 
 
9. Increase Driver Comfort: Drivers are more comfortable knowing that their vehicle’s health is being constantly monitored and that it’s less likely to experience an on-road breakdown.
 
Dealers should encourage fleet customers to utilize the benefits of remote diagnostics and real-time vehicle health insights that’ll help them make informed repair decisions when issues arise.