There is zero margin of error when it comes to school bus fleet health and safety. The synergy between Zonar and Cummins has proven to be a game-changer for Hardin County School District’s (HCS) fleet operations.
HCS, covering an expansive 528-square miles south of Louisville, Kentucky, faced operational challenges when buses threw fault codes during routes. Without clear details or severity insights, buses were often put out-of-service, leading to resource wastage and impacting overall uptime.
In 2020, Transportation Director Chris Corder recognized the need for a reliable solution to diagnose engine problems promptly. The Zonar and Cummins partnership emerged as the answer, providing near-instant fault code diagnosis, severity assessment, and expert-recommended action plans.
Before implementing Cummins diagnostic insights, HCS relied on internal fault code systems that provided unclear and incomplete information. Legacy dashboard lights were too vague, leading to a guessing game about the severity of issues. This resulted in unnecessary bus out-of-service instances, wasted time, and inefficient resource allocation.
The Cummins advanced diagnostics system seamlessly integrates with Zonar precision telematics technology. Zonar’s Vehicle Four Telematics Control Unit (V4 TCU) is utilized to tap into the Cummins engine control module (ECM). This integration enables the continuous gathering of detailed data from the engine, forming the basis for real-time monitoring and diagnostics.
The Zonar V4 TCU, connected to the Cummins ECM, ensures a continual stream of data from the engine. This data includes information about the engine’s performance, status, and any fault alerts that may arise during school bus operations. The real-time nature of this data gathering is crucial for prompt diagnosis and intervention.
Cummins Connected Diagnostics utilizes the detailed data gathered by the Zonar telematics technology to wirelessly and continually monitor the engine system for fault alerts. This monitoring is not limited to when the bus is stationary but extends to situations when the bus is actively deployed on its route. It allows for a proactive approach to identifying and addressing potential issues.
The advanced diagnostics system prioritizes fault codes based on their severity and potential impact on the engine’s performance. This prioritization ensures that fleet managers and mechanics can focus on addressing critical issues promptly, preventing them from escalating into more severe problems.
Beyond identifying fault codes, the system goes a step further by determining the probable cause of each fault. This level of analysis provides valuable insights into the root causes of engine-related issues, enabling more informed decision-making when it comes to repairs and maintenance.
The diagnostic information, including prioritized fault codes and their probable causes, is reported in real-time to fleet management. This reporting mechanism ensures that key stakeholders have immediate access to the health status of each school bus in the fleet, allowing for quick decision-making and intervention.
As part of the Cummins and Zonar partnership for school bus fleet health and safety, the diagnostics system provides expert-recommended action plans. These actionable insights guide fleet managers and mechanics on the most effective steps to address identified issues, enhancing the overall efficiency of maintenance operations.
Within the first six months, Cummins diagnostics and expert analysis saved three bus engines. The ability to access relevant data in seconds empowers Corder’s team to make informed decisions rapidly, enhancing overall fleet health and preventing progressive engine failure.
Condensed and prioritized reports enable quicker recognition and addressing of critical issues. Mechanics can make data-driven decisions in seconds, leading to less wasted time, budget, and fleet resources, ultimately translating into greater vehicle availability and uptime.
With Cummins advanced diagnostics, fewer buses are rendered out-of-service unnecessarily. Real-time Zonar GPS tracking allows the team to locate buses, direct them to service stations, and send mechanics directly to their locations, streamlining the repair process.
With more insight into Cummins engine faults, HCS now informs parents about potential delays due to breakdowns, providing real-time updates on the bus’s location and the district’s handling of the issue, offering peace of mind to parents.
Corder emphasizes the exceptional support provided by Zonar Customer Success, highlighting the availability of knowledgeable support staff for technical issues. Regular check-ins from Zonar representatives ensure that HCS’s needs are consistently met.
With the successful integration of Cummins Connected Diagnostics, precision GPS tracking, and unparalleled support from Zonar, HCS looks forward to a continued partnership, confident in the efficiency and reliability of their current telematics solution.
The Zonar and Cummins partnership has empowered HCS to revolutionize its fleet operations. The expert diagnostics and real-time insights have not only saved engines but have streamlined processes, enhanced communication, and positioned HCS as a leader in leveraging telematics for fleet excellence.
As other providers approached Hardin, Corder’s unwavering response is a testament to the success achieved: “We’re not looking at new providers because we are very happy with what we’ve got.”
