NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Beginning in April, all new Volvo and Mack trucks will have a QR code attached to the edge of the driver’s side door.

But what does that box of squiggly lines do for the customer? During a demonstration at the Technology and Maintenance Council meetings here this week, Volvo officials demonstrated to Truck News how a simple QR code can help reduce downtime and expedite repairs.

The QR code installed on the door will correspond with that truck’s unique VIN number. Service centres or maintenance managers can use any QR reader to scan the code, using a smartphone or tablet. That will then provide the truck’s service history via Volvo’s web-based ASIST service management portal.

The truck owner can then enter any work the vehicle requires so that it’s easily accessed by the company’s in-house maintenance department or a Volvo dealership, eliminating the need for verbal and written communications. Each time the QR code is scanned, pertinent information such as the vehicle’s year, model, serial number and most recent odometer reading is updated.

The benefit for fleets, explained Conal Deedy, product marketing manager, electronics and communications with Volvo, is that they can communicate more effectively with service providers. For example, a customer could drop a truck at a service location overnight and in the morning, the dealer could scan the QR code to find out instantly what work needs to be done.

One of the most proactive users of the QR codes is Saia, which has more than 12,000 assets entered into the system. The company is so impressed, it now attaches its own QR codes to trailers, forklifts, and even buildings, so that it can use the same system to track maintenance on each one of its assets.

One of the advantages of using QR codes is improved consistency of service across the North American dealer network. Deedy said fleets using the QR codes benefit from knowing that “at any dealership in the Volvo network, you get the same experience. If you’re out of your home area, you know what to expect. They’re going to be using the latest tools to expedite the check-in and repair process.”

The QR codes work with Volvo’s ASIST service platform, which is currently used by 800 fleets with about half a million assets.

“They are drastically reducing their days out of service,” said Steve Hayes, regional manager, east region, with Decisiv, which helped build the ASIST platform.