NASHVILLE, Tenn. (June 29, 2023) – Bridgestone Americas (Bridgestone) and Pilot Company (Pilot) today announced they have created a service network for commercial fleets to use Bridgestone’s advanced tire monitoring technology at more than 300 Pilot and Flying J travel centers, exceeding initial goals set for the partnership one year ago. Pilot’s extensive network of travel centers coupled with Bridgestone Fleet Care mobility solutions allows the two companies to provide more convenient, frequent and accessible fleet tire intelligence to as many customers as possible.
Following its July 2022 launch, commercial fleets leveraging the network have reported significant business efficiencies and savings as a result of its real-time, data-driven insights. Watsontown Trucking Company, which owns and operates a fleet of more than 475 tractors, 1,200 van trailers, 90 open-top vans, 75 flatbed trailers, and 5 Volvo VNR Electric Trucks, has begun to leverage the network and has achieved benefits that include the following:
- 867 annual labor hours saved on pre-trip and safety lane inspections.
- An emergency roadside incident rate reduction of 10%, eliminating nearly 1,300 annual breakdown hours.
- Operational and maintenance savings totaling an estimated $126,000.
“We are excited to see the ongoing success of this partnership with Pilot Company,” said Josh Holland, Vice President, Dealer Development and Mobility Solutions Deployment (Commercial), Bridgestone Americas. “Through our expanded Bridgestone Fleet Care service network at Pilot and Flying J travel centers, fleets across the United States are beginning to experience the benefits of a connected network of tire-monitoring services that are supported by our Bridgestone Commercial Dealer Network (BCDN).”
Each router installed in the fuel canopies of select Pilot and Flying J travel centers is linked to Bridgestone Fleet Care’s tire monitoring service and transmits real-time tire data in two minutes or less from trucks and buses to fleet managers. Bridgestone Fleet Care’s technology combines durable hardware with a software application to allow fleet operators to proactively address specific tire issues and mitigate unplanned maintenance, helping to reduce downtime and improve driver safety. Fleets using this solution have access to critical data such as tire inflation pressure and temperature, enabling them to continually monitor the health of each tire throughout its lifecycle.
“In one year, we’ve surpassed our initial goal and are now able to offer this technology at over 300 of our travel centers, helping maximize coverage throughout the country to Fleet Care customers,” said David Hughes, Senior Vice President of Sales at Pilot Company. “Fleet Care allows for new fleet and business efficiencies and helps keep the roads and highways safe for both professional drivers and passenger vehicles.”
The use of the Bridgestone advanced tire monitoring system at Pilot and Flying J travel centers enables both companies to expand their service offerings and support the growing need for evolving technology solutions that make it easier and faster to maintain vehicles. This program adds to Pilot Company’s bundle of fleet solutions, which provide trucking companies with financial, maintenance and fuel packages.
The tire monitoring and service network in collaboration with Pilot Company aligns with the Bridgestone E8 Commitment, consisting of eight Bridgestone-like values starting with the letter “E” that Bridgestone has committed to creating together with employees, society, partners and customers to help realize a more sustainable society. It specifically aligns with “Efficiency,” “Extension,” and “Ease.”
For more information on Bridgestone commercial solutions, visit bridgsetoneamericas.com. For more information on Pilot Company’s nationwide network of travel centers, visit pilotflyingj.com.
