Key Takeaways
- Stephen Roy argues that modern trucking is defined by software, data, and connected systems, not just steel and engines.
- Sustainability now encompasses battery‑electric, hydrogen, renewable fuels, recycled materials, and continual ICE efficiency gains.
- Mack and Volvo are moving from six to 27 electronic control units, enabling software‑defined trucks with over‑the‑air updates.
- Connected telematics have cut unplanned downtime by ~25% and reduced average repair times by 30%, with a 96% “fixed right the first time” rate.
- Volvo Group’s $2 billion truck‑development spend and $1 billion U.S. manufacturing investment aim to achieve 100 % safe, fossil‑free, and more productive operations.
- Purpose‑built autonomous trucks (e.g., Volvo VNL Autonomous) and off‑road connectivity tools are expanding the technology ecosystem beyond the highway.
- The Coretura joint venture seeks an open, standardized software platform to accelerate innovation while preserving OEM competition.
Introduction and Context
Stephen Roy, president of Mack Trucks and chairman of Volvo Group North America, opened his ACT Expo mainstage keynote by acknowledging the turbulence facing OEMs and fleets—market volatility, economic headwinds, and evolving regulations. Yet he framed this uncertainty as a pivotal moment of opportunity, reminding the audience that the trucking industry has repeatedly reinvented itself throughout history. By recognizing past transformations, Roy set the stage for a discussion on how today’s advances in software, data, and sustainability are reshaping the sector’s future.
Redefining Trucking as Intelligence on Wheels
Roy challenged the lingering stereotype of trucks as “old, dirty, slow, a necessary evil.” He asserted that contemporary trucking is an advanced industrial ecosystem where intelligence resides on wheels. Citing Volvo Group and Mack facilities in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, and North Carolina, he highlighted the prevalence of robotics, advanced manufacturing, digital quality systems, and a highly skilled workforce. The evolution from purely mechanical machines to electronically controlled powertrains, from paper logbooks to connected telematics, and now toward alternative fuels and autonomous systems underscores that leadership now hinges on technology platforms and end‑to‑end customer solutions.
Technology Platforms and Software‑Defined Trucks
A central theme of Roy’s address was the shift from hardware‑centric designs to software‑defined vehicles. He noted that new Mack and Volvo platforms have increased electronic control units from six to 27, providing greater intelligence, flexibility, and adaptability. This architecture enables functions to be shaped increasingly by software and real‑world data rather than fixed hardware alone. Roy described these vehicles as the first step toward truly software‑defined trucks, where updates, feature enhancements, and diagnostics can be delivered remotely, fundamentally altering how trucks are maintained and upgraded throughout their lifecycle.
Sustainability Beyond Battery‑Electric
While acknowledging the importance of battery‑electric vehicles (BEVs), Roy stressed that they represent only one piece of a broader sustainability puzzle. He cited North American deployments of the Volvo VNR Electric, Mack LR Electric, and Mack medium‑duty electric models, with customers logging nearly 30 million miles on the VNR Electric alone. Globally, Volvo Construction Equipment’s electric lineup, Volvo Penta projects, and over 5,000 electric Volvo buses illustrate the breadth of electrification efforts. However, Roy emphasized that sustainability also includes hydrogen, renewable diesel, natural gas where appropriate, recycled materials, remanufacturing, parts reclamation, battery circularity, and ongoing improvements in internal combustion engine efficiency.
Economic Upside of Sustainable Practices
Roy urged fleets to view sustainability not merely as a compliance burden but as a driver of profitability. Lower fuel consumption, fewer accidents, higher vehicle uptime, reduced waste, and improved driver retention all contribute to a stronger bottom line. He illustrated the potential impact: if every new truck sold in the U.S. and Canada this year achieved an 11 % fuel‑economy gain—thanks to advanced aerodynamics and optimized powertrains—the collective effect would equal putting nearly 28,000 electric trucks on the road. This quantitative framing reinforced his call to treat sustainability as a competitive advantage rather than a regulatory checkbox.
Evolving Vehicle Architecture and Connectivity
The increase to 27 electronic control units enables a more sophisticated vehicle network that integrates sensors, actuators, and data pipelines. Roy explained that this connectivity transforms a truck into a node within an intelligent ecosystem linking drivers, service shops, OEM partners, and telematics platforms. By continuously streaming operational data, fleets can predict maintenance needs, optimize routes, and enhance safety. The architecture also supports the aggregation of data across multiple vehicles, facilitating fleet‑level insights that were impossible with isolated, mechanically focused trucks.
Over‑the‑Air Updates and Service Impact
Mack and Volvo were the first truck OEMs to offer automatic over‑the‑air (OTA) software updates, a capability Roy highlighted as a game‑changer for service efficiency. OTA updates can resolve thousands of potential issues before a truck reaches a dealer bay, dramatically reducing unplanned downtime—by roughly 25 % according to Roy. Proactive monitoring services, powered by the same connectivity, have cut average repair times by 30 % and achieved a 96 % “fixed right the first time” rate. These improvements not only keep trucks on the road longer but also lower total cost of ownership for fleets.
Volvo Group’s Vision and Capital Commitment
Roy tied the technological roadmap to Volvo Group’s overarching ambition: to be 100 % safe, 100 % fossil‑free, and 100 % more productive. Realizing these goals directs investments in safety systems, decarbonization technologies, and operational efficiency tools such as smarter routing, load consolidation, and digital load‑planning platforms. He disclosed that Volvo Group is committing more than $2 billion to new truck development—including Mack and Volvo platforms—and over $1 billion to upgrade U.S. manufacturing sites in Pennsylvania, Virginia, Maryland, and North Carolina. Roy’s rhetorical question—“how can we not afford to?”—underscored the necessity of sustained investment even amid cyclical market challenges.
Purpose‑Built Autonomous Trucks
Autonomy formed another focal point of Roy’s keynote. He argued that commercialized autonomy should begin with trucks purpose‑built for self‑driving applications rather than retrofitting conventional models after production. The Volvo VNL Autonomous, engineered with redundant safety systems and integrated with self‑driving technologies at Volvo’s New River Valley plant in Virginia, exemplifies this approach. Partnerships with Aurora (serving DHL and Uber Freight, including a new Oklahoma lane) and Waabi are progressing toward scalable autonomous freight networks. Roy noted that as autonomy matures, it will enable longer continuous runs, faster ship‑to‑shelf timelines, and more predictable operations for fleets.
Off‑Road Vocational Applications and Connected Tools
Beyond highway haulage, Roy highlighted the value of connected mapping and optimization tools for construction sites and vocational vehicles. By providing real‑time visibility of vehicle location, activity, and work sequencing, these tools enhance both safety and productivity in complex off‑road environments. He explained that such digital assistance helps coordinate multiple machines, reduce idle time, and prevent costly errors—benefits that parallel those seen in on‑highway telematics but tailored to the unique demands of vocational fleets.
Coretura Joint Venture and Open Software Foundation
Looking ahead, Roy introduced Coretura, the Volvo Group and Daimler Truck joint venture focused on building a standardized, open software‑defined vehicle platform and a common commercial‑vehicle operating system. He clarified that the venture does not aim to create a shared truck; rather, Volvo and Daimler remain fierce competitors while collaborating on a shared digital foundation. This collaboration seeks to eliminate duplication, accelerate innovation, improve safety, and support seamless OTA updates across brands. By establishing common standards, Coretura could lower development costs and speed the rollout of new features industry‑wide.
Closing Call to Action
Roy concluded with an inspiring challenge: if trucking currently captures only 1 % of what digital technology can offer, imagine the transformative potential of the next 25, 50, or 75 % adoption. He urged the industry to invest not only in hardware but also in data, software, people, common standards, and new business models. “Let’s not wait for the future of transportation,” he proclaimed, “let’s accelerate it together.” The message was clear—by embracing software‑centric, data‑driven, and broadly sustainable practices, trucking can become safer, cleaner, more efficient, and more profitable for all stakeholders.