SAVANNAH, GA. To give its customers more “peace of mind” about the switch to low-emission engine technology in 2007, Volvo Trucks North America will make its two-way satellite communications Volvo Link Sentry and its Volvo Action Service (VAS) 24/7 roadside assistance standard on all trucks equipped with its ’07 engines.
“Customers are definitely focused on ’07 now and are concerned about a variety of issues about these new engines, from maintenance to fuel economy,” said Scott Kress, senior vp of sales & marketing. He spoke at a weeklong event held here in Savannah that showcased a variety of Volvo models equipped with ’07 engines to 1,100 dealers, salesmen, and customers.
Kress said both Volvo Link Sentry and Volvo Action Service (VAS) 24/7 roadside assistance will be provided free for three years on Volvo trucks equipped with its own ’07 engines (D-11, D-13, or D-16), as well as ’07 engines from partners such as Cummins.
Volvo link is a proprietary system that uses a network of 30 low-orbit satellites to offer two-way communication between drivers and technicians, as well as feed fault codes and other engine data to a “virtual” technician to help solve any problems on the road.
“It combines early warning of potential trouble with VAS’ technical counsel and a round-the-clock customer support system,” said Kress. “It has the added benefit of giving us a real-time status report on how our new engines are performing. It also gives drivers the reassurance to know that help is only a phone call or satellite message away, regardless of where they are or what time it is.”
After three years, Kress noted, fleets and owner-operators can purchase longer coverage from Volvo Link and VAS.
