A Universal Diagnostic Platform for the Heavy Truck Industry - Background and Overview

The heavy truck industry, during the 1990's faces increasing numbers of electronically controlled component systems; two factors have been recognized and are being addressed by SAE and The Maintenance Council (TMC) of the ATA: (a) the on-board electronic based component modules must communicate in an efficient manner; (b) off-board diagnostic tools, most likely computerized, must be developed and offered to the industry to insure efficient maintenance of these on-board components. This paper provides the background and the current status of the effort, primarily chartered by TMC, to recommend a more standard or universal environment for diagnostic technology.