Mack Trucks users are saying that they are taking advantage of the many benefits offered by Mack Connect, Mack’s newly introduced fleet management portal that enables users to digitally access information about Mack-powered trucks in their fleet.
More than 50 users have registered for Mack Connect through their local dealers. This number is expected to significantly increase once more MY 2025 Mack-powered vehicles roll off the line at Lehigh Valley Operations (LVO). Mack Connect with integrated uptime is standard on all new Mack-powered 2025 vehicles for two years.
“Mack Connect improves customer visibility into the health and performance of their vehicles while greatly simplifying the process to access the data,” said Patrick Brown, Mack Trucks senior strategy and sustainability manager. “Customer response has been overwhelmingly positive, and Mack remains committed to simplifying data so customers can easily use it to make decisions to increase their ROI and better manage their fleet.”
Mack Connect, launched in October 2023, gathers critical aspects about trucks, services, and their specific application, translating the data into improved fuel efficiency, safety, and productivity. Mack Connect includes data about fuel efficiency, asset location, idle time, traffic information, safety performance, and vehicle speed.
Users access the status of their Mack vehicles through a 4G Telematics Gateway, factory installed at LVO. Hell Bent Xpress, based in Aberdeen, South Dakota, and Hilco Transport, based in Greensboro, North Carolina, are two companies utilizing Mack Connect.
Jamie Hagen, owner of Hell Bent Xpress, said he registered for the service in December through his dealer TranSource in Aberdeen. Hagen operates 12 Mack Anthem vehicles in his fleet and said the visibility he receives through Mack Connect into each truck is invaluable.
Mack Connect offers visibility to the Mack GuardDog Connect integrated telematics solution so companies can easily manage fault events should they occur, while also providing visibility to over-the-air updates when available. Reporting and analytics are available so users may analyze the data to determine whether adjustments need to be made to improve efficiencies.
“Every time I log in to it, I learn something new,” Hagen said. “The most compelling part to me is that I can easily see if an engine or transmission update is needed. It also shows the most fuel-efficient drivers and the least fuel-efficient drivers.”
The system will alert companies when drivers are not wearing their seatbelts and for how long. This information can help him improve employee performance.
Hell Bent Xpress operates in North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, and the Midwest.
“With Hell Bent Xpress, Jamie is obsessed with two things, efficiency and data,” said Eric Hamiel, Mack Truck sales expert at TranSource in Aberdeen. “Mack Connect puts all of his relevant data at his fingertips so he can make informed business decisions on how to minimize his cost per mile and increase his profits.”
About 50 percent of the 500-vehicle Hilco fleet are Mack trucks. Currently, more than 200 of Hilco’s Mack vehicles are using Mack Connect. Hilco registered for the service through TranSource of Greensboro, North Carolina.
“I’m a data-driven kind of person, so I like to be able to pull up the data that Mack Connect provides in real-time and present it when we have our executive meetings,” said Mike Laughead, director of maintenance for Hilco. “We are impressed with the system, and it helps managers keep tabs on operations.”
Laughead said aside from the reporting of data, he’s most impressed by the map feature, which allows users to locate and click on a vehicle and access all the data associated with that truck.
“It’s very user-friendly and easy to navigate,” Laughead said. “Since using the program, we have been able to remotely diagnose some issues on the road that have enabled us to get the driver back up and running. We have had a couple of units go down in which we were able to go into Mack Connect, see the codes and do an over-the-air software update, which got the trucks going, allowing us to deliver the load.”
“The fleet managers use it for driver reporting, efficiency tracking, and trip planning,” said James Bland, co-president of TranSource, Greensboro. “The service managers love the history and remote troubleshooting capabilities, and they use it routinely to keep up with their fleet maintenance.”
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