Pilot Company has announced a trial program to provide commercial fleets with real-time data on the health of their tires while drivers are fueling up.

Pilot announced the tire monitoring program taking place in partnership with tire company Bridgestone Americas Inc. on July 20.

As part of an initial trial program, Pilot says that it will install tire monitoring technology at 200 Pilot and Flying J locations this summer. The purpose of the program, according to Pilot, is to “provide more convenient, frequent, and actionable fleet tire intelligence.”

Pilot provided details on how the new tire monitoring system will operate:

“Each router currently being installed in the fuel canopies of select Pilot and Flying J travel centers is linked to the Bridgestone tire pressure monitoring solution, IntelliTire, and transmits real-time tire data in two minutes or less from trucks and buses to fleet managers. IntelliTire combines durable hardware with a software application to allow fleet operators to proactively address specific tire issues and mitigate unplanned maintenance, reducing downtime and improving driver safety. Fleets using this technology will 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.”

“With the safety of our customers in mind, we are leveraging our network of Pilot and Flying J travel centers to help deliver IntelliTire technology to the road — making it easy for fleets and drivers to maintain their trucks and minimize downtime during routine fuel stops,” said Shameek Konar, CEO of Pilot Co. “This project is part of our larger focus to add new technologies and services to make road travel better, safer and more efficient for our guests.”  

“Physical, on-the-ground touchpoints are critical elements to the success of digital, data-driven fleet solutions, and together they enable synergies to improve mobility,” said Chris Ripani, president, Commercial Tire Group, Bridgestone Americas. “With a robust footprint and strong fleet relationships, Pilot Company is the perfect partner to help us develop a connected network that is designed to allow our shared customers to minimize downtime, save on costs and improve driver safety now and in the future.”