The pre-wiring for Lytx DriveCam hardware is illustrated here, with the yellow markings, indicating where the pre-wiring is located within the vehicle cab.

Lytx pre-wire option now available for Mack Trucks Granite models

July 20, 2018

Factory installed wiring is covered by warranty and allows for easy install of the vehicle telematics’ provider's DriveCam system.

Erica Schueller

Related To: Mack Trucks, Inc.

Mack Trucks announced factory installed pre-wiring capabilities for Lytx video telematics products are now available for Granite models of vocational trucks, during a ride and drive press event at TEC Equipment in Fontana, California this week.

“With all the advancements in technology, one thing always remains constant and that is safety and providing our customers with options to perform in a safe environment,” said Jonathan Randall, VP of Sales and Marketing for Mack Trucks, during the ride and drive event.

In October of 2017, Mack Trucks and Lytx signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to begin a partnership offering video telematics solutions for Mack Trucks customers. In April of this year, Mack announced pre-wired capabilities for Lytx hardware on Mack LR and TerraPro refuse models.

Lytx video telematics products are available to assist fleets with improving driver and vehicle performance and safety. This pre-wiring option allows fleets for quicker and more cost effective installation of Lytx DriveCam products. In addition, pre-wiring during vehicle production means the wiring is covered under the factory warranty.

Without the pre-wired option available, installation of Lytx DriveCam units can take one to two hours per truck, requiring the removal of panels to run cabling and additional installation costs, according to Kristin Costas, director of product management for Lytx. A fleet of 1,000 vehicles can take between four and 12 months to complete all installations.

With the pre-wire option available now on Mack LR, TerraPro and Granite models, installation of the DriveCam device takes minutes, simply connecting the unit to the wiring and mounting it to the windshield. Any install requires power, ground and ignition connections. AN optional CAN bus connection is also available to read engine data and sensors.

Lytx safety services and new capabilities

Sensors within the Lytx DriveCam unit will trigger the capture of video just prior to and after a critical road incident occurs, such as hard braking or quick accelerations.

Fleets have the option of recording 12 or 20 seconds prior to the incident and 12 or 20 seconds after the incident, and will send the video data via a cellular connection. DriveCam hardware has the ability to record both an in-cab view as well as a road-facing view. In addition, axillary cameras can also be installed and record other areas of the vehicle. This captured video is sent to a review team at Lytx with a 24-hour turnaround time to deliver video for review by the fleet.

Having this video provides fleets with information designed to lower collision claims costs and capture critical events for driver coaching. It has proven especially useful to refuse and waste collection fleets due to the urban stop-and-go traffic for these vehicles.

Also announced at this ride and drive event, Lytx now offers video services capabilities to view a (road-view only) livestream of each truck on the road, and allow fleets to go back to any event while the truck was in operation. Lytx’s Costas explains this function can be especially useful for drivers to communicate with the fleet in order to see road events such as road traffic, if the driver is unable to make delivery or for virtual ridealongs and training so no physical trainer is needed in the vehicle.

About the Author

Erica Schueller | Media Relations Manager | Navistar

Erica Schueller is the Media Relations Manager for Navistar.

Before joining Navistar, Schueller served as Editorial Director of the Endeavor Commercial Vehicle Group. The commercial vehicle group includes the following brands: American Trucker, Bulk Transporter, Fleet Maintenance, FleetOwner, Refrigerated Transporter, and Trailer/Body Builders brands.

An award-winning journalist, Schueller has reported and written about the vehicle maintenance and repair industry her entire career. She has received accolades for her reporting and editing in the commercial and automotive vehicle fields by the Truck Writers of North America (TWNA), the International Automotive Media Competition (IAMC), the Folio: Eddie & Ozzie Awards and the American Society of Business Publication Editors (ASBPE) Azbee Awards.

Schueller has received recognition among her publishing industry peers as a recipient of the 2014 Folio Top Women in Media Rising Stars award, acknowledging her accomplishments of digital content management and assistance with improving the print and digital products in the Vehicle Repair Group. She was also named one Women in Trucking’s 2018 Top Women in Transportation to Watch.

She is an active member of a number of industry groups, including the American Trucking Associations' (ATA) Technology & Maintenance Council (TMC), the Auto Care Association's Young Auto Care Networking Group, GenNext, and Women in Trucking.

In December 2018, Schueller graduated at the top of her class from the Waukesha County Technical College's 10-week professional truck driving program, earning her Class A commercial driver's license (CDL).

She has worked in the vehicle repair and maintenance industry since 2008.