Volvo Trucks completes rollout of ‘lock and leave’ software update system

Volvo expanded its Remote Programming system in 2023 to include six programmable vehicle modules. At the time, more than 40,000 software updates had been completed through the system, according to Volvo.   

That connectivity has become a bigger part of Volvo’s newer trucks. The VNL, introduced in 2024, was built with expanded connected services that allow over-the-air software updates and remote diagnostics.

Volvo has since increased the number of trucks receiving those updates. In March, the company said the share of its connected North American trucks running the latest software had risen from 25% to more than 80% in six months. It also reported a 24% reduction in unplanned stops among trucks with the latest software. 

Volvo said more than 7,500 updates were completed in August, and its connected systems can dispatch up to 20,000 software updates per day.

The software can update systems including engine performance, transmission and battery management, according to Volvo. For fleets, the appeal is less about the update itself than avoiding the downtime associated with keeping a truck out of service. Software updates that might otherwise require a service visit can now be completed while a truck is already stopped for a break or other scheduled downtime.

That trucking distinction is particularly important, where vehicles can operate eight to 11 hours a day, according to Volvo. The company has described over-the-air updates as a way to keep trucks “current” without taking them out of operation.

The move also reflects a broader change in how truck manufacturers maintain increasingly software-dependent vehicles. Rather than treating software as something that is installed when a truck is built or serviced, manufacturers are increasingly able to update vehicle systems throughout the truck’s operating life.

Volvo’s June announcement described the unattended update capability as an extension of its existing Remote Programming system. The company said the feature was made possible by its connected 24-volt platform in North America.

Why this matters: 

For fleets, the main benefit is reducing the amount of time a truck has to be taken out of service for software updates. Drivers can start an update during a scheduled break or overnight stop and leave the truck while it installs, allowing the update to happen without adding a separate service stop to the truck’s schedule. As more truck systems rely on software, the ability to update them remotely could also reduce the need for routine trips to a dealership for software-related work.