LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems has announced it is in discussions with several telecommunications firms on creating a solution that transmits realtime data collected by Bendix’s ABS-based stability systems for fleets in incident response scenarios, proactive driver training, and other proactive fleet management needs.

The company made the announcement today at the Mid-America Trucking Show (MATS) in Louisville, Ky.

Bendix collects and stores numerous data points — such as speed, diagnostic issues, and stability system interventions — on the electronic control unit (ECU) of its ABS-6 Advanced with ESP stability system. Through telematics, or wireless telecommunications systems on-board the vehicle, data can be instantaneously fed to fleet managers for a variety of purposes.

“Fleet managers are looking for insight and input regarding their drivers and vehicles in the field. By giving these managers access to real-time data related to their vehicles’ braking and stability systems, they can get an enhanced picture for emergency response needs, driver training, diagnostic issues, and what was happening at the time of a collision or other incident,” said Kevin Romanchok, director of electronics for Bendix. “Braking systems data can then be combined with data from other vehicle systems and technologies, such as engine monitoring and navigational systems, to give fleets unprecedented amounts of valuable, timely information to help them more efficiently manage their operations.”

The current capabilities of the robust Bendix ABS-6 system enable the company’s diagnostics software when the vehicle is in for service. But that data can be easily made available for immediate transmission for carriers via telematics, giving fleets an instantaneous view of a situation and enabling rapid response.

By collecting this information and reviewing it over time, fleet managers can more easily identify trends, needs and priorities regarding safety, driver training and vehicle maintenance, Bendix says.

“It’s an evolving process among fleets and other industry partners,” Romanchok continued. “While in addition to the technology, there are other considerations, such as driver privacy issues and how fleets should use the data which must be discussed and evaluated, there is little question the direction the industry is going and the value of the information that can be made available to fleets.”