Bridgestone Monitors Tires at 300+ Pilot Locations

About a year ago, Bridgestone Americas Inc. and Pilot Travel Centers LLC surpassed their initial goal of installing Bridgestone tire monitoring technology at 200 Pilot and Flying J locations. The technology is now in place at more than 300 travel centers.

Since the July 2022 launch, commercial fleets have reported both efficiencies and savings thanks to the real-time tire data.

Watsontown Trucking Co. manages a fleet of more than 475 tractors, 1,200 van trailers, 90 open-top vans, 75 flatbed trailers, and 5 Volvo VNR Electric Trucks. The company says it has recorded these benefits from utilizing the technology around the country:

• 867 labor hours saved on pre-trip and safety lane inspections;
• a 10% reduction in emergency roadside incidents, which have eliminated nearly 1,300 annual breakdown hours; and
• operational and maintenance savings estimated at $126,000.

“We are excited to see the ongoing success of this partnership with Pilot Company,” says Josh Holland, vice president of dealer development and commercial mobility solutions deployment for Bridgestone. “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.”

With routers installed in the fuel canopies of select Pilot and Flying J travel centers, they link to Bridgestone Fleet Care’s tire monitoring service and transmit real-time tire data in two minutes or less from trucks and buses to fleet managers. The goal is to proactively address specific tire issues and mitigate unplanned maintenance, which then reduces downtown and improves safety. Fleets can access things such as tire inflation pressure and temperature to monitor tire health.

“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. “Fleet Care allows for new fleet and business efficiencies and helps keep the roads and highways safe for both professional drivers and passenger vehicles.”