178793522 | Milkos | Dreamstime
Dreamstime Xxl 178793522 5f3583a172fce

Wireless data and the future of Right to Repair

Aug. 18, 2020
Access to telematics data and remote diagnostics data has driven a ballot initiative to revise the original Massachusetts state law.

The only constant in life is change. The same can be said about technology. Case in point, this November, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts plans to include an amendment to the original Right to Repair (R2R) law passed in 2012.

The proposed revision on the state’s ballot intends to address the changing landscape of vehicle technologies as it relates to the data transmitted from vehicles wirelessly. Voting “yes” on the initiative would support a revision to the existing R2R state law to include a standard open-data platform to allow access to telematics data.

What’s missing?

While there is a plethora of information being transmitted directly from the vehicle to the manufacturer via wireless transmission – and subsequently available at dealer-level repair shops – how does the actual vehicle owner access that data? How does the vehicle owner allow another entity – like an independent repair shop – to access that data in order to service the vehicle? The original intent of R2R was to level the playing field between vehicle dealers and independent repair shops when it comes to servicing vehicles. Vehicle owners should have the right to access that data, or grant access to others to access that data, argue R2R supporters.

You may be thinking: isn’t that vehicle repair information already available? Technically, yes. But, there is a loophole in the current legislation as it stands regarding wireless transmission of information. Historically, vehicle data has been – and still is, at least currently – accessible through the standard diagnostic port on a vehicle (typically OBD-II for many vehicles, especially light duty; and HD OBD for some heavy duty vehicles). However, information transmitted from the vehicle remotely may provide additional insights.

According to Massachusetts Right to Repair Committee, which supports the initiative, the R2R amendment would require that Class 1 through 3 vehicles equipped with telematics functionality sold in the state of Massachusetts, beginning with the 2022 model year, need to have a standardized, secure, open-access platform across all makes and models to allow access to the vehicle data transmitted wirelessly. Advocates for the amendment suggest the remote diagnostics information transmitted from vehicles wirelessly is key to servicing the vehicle.

The provision goes on to advise vehicle owners would also have direct access to their vehicle data through a mobile-based application. Furthermore, the vehicle owner would be allowed to grant access to this information to any repair facility – dealer or independent.

How might it impact the national MOU?

If the Massachusetts state provision passes, it very well could impact the national R2R Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), which had been developed in lieu of a state-by-state ballot initiative or an attempt to pass a bill at the federal level.

While there is a separate light duty MOU and heavy duty MOU (the HD MOU is in reference to any vehicle with a GVWR over 14,000 lbs), both advise vehicle manufacturers must be voluntarily compliant to provide access to OE-level data to consumers and the aftermarket. This includes access to diagnostic and repair information at the dealer level for 2002 and newer vehicles in the case of vehicles defined by the light duty MOU, and 2010 and newer vehicles in the case of vehicles defined by the heavy duty MOU.

The heavy duty MOU has some notable differences, driven by the seemingly infinite spec’ing options when purchasing commercial trucks. That inherently changes the processes for how vehicle data and repair access would be made available since a standardized vehicle identification number (VIN) to look up specs on an entire vehicle is not available.

Plus, if you consider that third-party telematics providers are much more heavily involved in the heavy duty segment, will their voices be added to the conversation?

Overall, we may not see much of a difference in the access to vehicle service. Or, the ripple effect to see these changes first passed in the Massachusetts state law revision may take another decade. Regardless, ours is an industry that must continue to think ahead and proactively prepare for the next generation of technology on the horizon.

About the Author

Erica Schueller | Media Relations Manager | Navistar

Erica Schueller is the Media Relations Manager for Navistar.

Before joining Navistar, Schueller served as Editorial Director of the Endeavor Commercial Vehicle Group. The commercial vehicle group includes the following brands: American Trucker, Bulk Transporter, Fleet Maintenance, FleetOwner, Refrigerated Transporter, and Trailer/Body Builders brands.

An award-winning journalist, Schueller has reported and written about the vehicle maintenance and repair industry her entire career. She has received accolades for her reporting and editing in the commercial and automotive vehicle fields by the Truck Writers of North America (TWNA), the International Automotive Media Competition (IAMC), the Folio: Eddie & Ozzie Awards and the American Society of Business Publication Editors (ASBPE) Azbee Awards.

Schueller has received recognition among her publishing industry peers as a recipient of the 2014 Folio Top Women in Media Rising Stars award, acknowledging her accomplishments of digital content management and assistance with improving the print and digital products in the Vehicle Repair Group. She was also named one Women in Trucking’s 2018 Top Women in Transportation to Watch.

She is an active member of a number of industry groups, including the American Trucking Associations' (ATA) Technology & Maintenance Council (TMC),  the Auto Care Association's Young Auto Care Networking Group, GenNext, and Women in Trucking.

In December 2018, Schueller graduated at the top of her class from the Waukesha County Technical College's 10-week professional truck driving program, earning her Class A commercial driver's license (CDL).  

She has worked in the vehicle repair and maintenance industry since 2008.

Sponsored Recommendations

Are you aware of the hidden costs lurking behind ignored maintenance? This eBook reveals how neglecting upkeep can inate repair bills, induce downtime, and harm reliability. ...
Are your KPIs driving real fleet improvement? Learn how to set smarter, data-driven benchmarks, track success like top-performing fleets, and apply proven strategies to optimize...
Fullbay's fifth annual State of Heavy-Duty Repair compiles insights from almost 1,000 experts and over 3,500 shops. If you aren't leveraging these proven data points, your competition...
Quality body repairs on medium- and heavy-duty trucks depend on the use of specialized adhesives, sealers, and other allied materials. Unfortunately, many shops face challenges...