Bridgestone To Install IntelliTire Monitoring at 200 Pilot Truck Stops

This summer Bridgestone Americas Inc. will begin testing its tire monitoring technology at 200 Pilot and Flying J locations around the U.S., installing IntelliTire routers in fuel canopies to transmit tire data to truck and bus fleet managers.

The companies are calling this summer an "initial trial phase."

“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,” says Chris Ripani, president of Bridgestone's commercial tire group. “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.”

The companies say the partnership will help both Bridgestone and Pilot and Flying J to expand their service offerings and the growing need for technology that makes maintaining vehicles easier and faster.

Pilot says it adds to its bundle of fleet solutions, which covers full-service financial, maintenance and fuel packages. 

“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,” says 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.”  

Bridgestone's IntelliTire transmits real-time tire data in two minutes or less from trucks and buses to fleet managers. With a combination of hardware and software, IntelliTire allows fleet operators to proactively address specific tire issues and mitigate unplanned maintenance, reducing downtime and improving driver safety. Fleets using the technology will have access to data such as tire inflation pressure and temperature, enabling them to continually monitor the health of each tire throughout its lifecycle.

With this data, fleets can also utilize the Bridgestone service event management application, REACH, to make preventative maintenance, roadside assistance and other vehicle service requests simpler and more efficient by connecting drivers, fleet dispatch, service centers, and technicians under one digital platform. (REACH requires a subscription.)

Pilot has more than 750 Pilot and Flying J travel center locations in 44 states, plus five Canadian provinces. The business serves more than 70,000 fleet customers with its fuel, credit and other services. The company also partners with the largest commercial tire dealership in the U.S. — Southern Tire Mart — for truck maintenance and tire service at locations branded as Southern Tire Mart at Pilot Flying J.