These technologies were included in the Spring 2025 issue of Women Driving Change. Read the full issue here: https://womendrivingchangemagazine.ca. If you have a new-to-market (released within the past 12 months) product that Canadian drivers, fleets, and / or training facilities should see, please email editor@matrixgroupinc.net. We may feature YOUR tools and technologies in a future issue. If you’re an advertiser with us, ask your sales representative how to be included in a future article.
The trucking industry in Canada is undergoing a transformative shift, with new innovations driving increased efficiency, safety, and sustainability. As we move into 2025 and beyond, cutting-edge tools and technologies are empowering truck drivers, fleet operators, and heavy-duty mechanics to stay ahead of the curve.
Here are 10 tools that are not only enhancing the driving experience, but also paving the way for a more modern, streamlined future in Canadian transportation.
- Smarter Fleet Management Solutions
Lynxfield offers innovative tools designed to enhance efficiency and safety in the trucking industry. With its seamless platform for real-time image and video sharing, as well as unlimited storage for historical images, Lynxfield makes it easy for fleets to access the information they need, when they need it. This empowers managers to make smarter decisions, whether they’re overseeing daily operations or reviewing past performance.
Lynxfield’s AI leverages millions of datasets to deliver accurate, real-time assessments of road conditions, keeping drivers safe and informed in all seasons. Updates on road watch temperature and plow sensor data are provided every 10 seconds, ensuring timely insights that can make a real difference during challenging weather.
Fleet Tracking by Lynxfield is a comprehensive solution combining software and hardware to optimize operations. With real-time visibility into vehicle locations, status, and performance, managers can improve communication with drivers, reduce costs, and make informed decisions.
- Driving Fleet Efficiency
ISAAC Instruments has launched ISAAC Analytics, a new feature within its platform designed to help trucking fleets make smarter, data-driven decisions. Backed by business intelligence, the tool provides insights into operation-al costs, fuel efficiency, asset utilization, and safety statistics. With user-friendly dashboards and ISAAC’s 360° Insights, fleets can quickly identify trends and take action.
The system tracks key metrics like ISAAC coach scores, miles-per-gallon, asset utilization, and critical events such as hard braking, engine idling, and hours-of-service violations. Users can access two years of data, allowing for detailed analysis of year-over-year and monthly trends, and customize categories by terminal, driver, or fleet manager.
During a pilot program involving 12 fleet clients, over 8,500 trucks and 11,000 drivers tested the platform, covering 1 billion miles. Insights from the pro-gram revealed 1.2 million critical events and helped fleets benchmark performance across 21 million driving hours.
“The biggest benefit I see from this platform is the consolidation of the rich data ISAAC has,” Matthew Campbell, Manager of Transformational Excellence and Analytics with truckload carrier Challenger Motor Freight, said in a news release. “ISAAC analytics transforms and cleanses all of the data points and puts it into a one-stop shop. That alone is super powerful.”
- Innovative Drowsiness Detection
Samsara Inc. has introduced its new Drowsiness Detection feature, now avail-able globally. This innovative tool uses Samsara’s advanced AI models, trained on billions of minutes of video data, to detect signs of driver fatigue. The tool aims to address the dangers of fatigue: Samsara mentions data from the Nation-al Safety Council that states drivers are three times more likely to be in a crash if they are fatigued, as well as research from the Foundation for Traffic Safety that says more than 17% of all fatal crashes involve a drowsy driver.
When drowsiness is identified, real-time in-cab audio alerts are triggered, and fleet managers receive instant notifications via text or email to address fatigue-related risks. Managers can also access aggregated reports within the Samsara platform to identify trends and coach drivers, ultimately enhancing road safety.
Drowsiness Detection monitors behaviours such as head nodding, slouching, prolonged eye closure, yawning, and rubbing eyes. Samsara’s technology is built on a massive dataset of 220 billion miles of driving, ensuring high accuracy.
Early adopters have seen significant results. One large oilfield services company in the United States reported seeing a decrease in how often drivers fell asleep during shifts after implementing the tool, compared to previous frequent incidents.
- Durable Tires
Firestone has released its new Transforce HT3 and CV2 tires, designed to meet the needs of hardworking truck and van fleets. Both tires feature ENLITEN™ technology and are designed for exceptional wear life, wet-weather performance, and durability while supporting sustainable operations. “Our goal for the Firestone Transforce HT3 and CV2 tires was to create two surefooted commercial highway tires that hold up to the strenuous duties of fleet service while focusing on a quiet and long riding experience,” Jeremy Norwood, Chief Engineer, Consumer Replacement Product Engineering, said in a news release.
The Transforce HT3 is built for heavy-duty trucks. Its innovative tread compound provides excellent traction and year-round durability, while open shoulder slots and high voids enhance wet performance, even when loaded. The HT3 offers a quiet ride and is ideal for hauling and towing.
For last-mile delivery vans, the Trans-force CV2 offers a sidewall defense rib to increase durability and a lowered shoulder-slot angles improve snow traction. The CV2 is also designed for fuel efficiency and rolling resistance, making it perfect for stop-and-start delivery routes.
Both tires boast advanced tread patterns with interlocking sipes to resist irregular wear, ensuring long-lasting performance.
The Transforce HT3 and CV2 tires are available now, ready to elevate fleet performance across Canada.
- Portable Refrigeration Redefined
Thermo King Eastern Canada has introduced the Coldtainer F0760 AuO, the tallest front-loading portable refrigeration unit in its series. Designed for industries like food service, pharmaceuticals, and logistics, this innovative container delivers reliable, efficient temperature control in a mobile format. Powered by an integrated internal battery, the new Coldtainer operates autonomously for eight to 10 hours on a single charge, eliminating the need for external power. This makes it ideal for transporting perishable goods to remote locations, outdoor events, or during transit where power access is limited.
Using advanced thermal insulation with rotational moulding construction, the Coldtainer features double-walled, food-grade, UV-resistant polyethylene with seamless, rounded corners for easy HACCP-compliant cleaning. Its polyurethane foam insulation and accurate temperature control system ensure goods remain fresh and safe. A user-friendly interface allows precise temperature adjustments, meeting strict standards for sensitive items like medications.
Compatible with electric vehicles, this Coldtainer model can create multi-temperature zones in vans, allowing simultaneous transport of frozen, chilled, and ambient goods. Businesses can streamline deliveries without requiring specialized refrigerated vehicles, optimizing operations while reducing environmental impact.
- Expanding Suspension Options
Partnering with International® Trucks, Hendrickson Truck Commercial Vehicle Systems has launched an advanced variant of the PRIMAAX EX® rear air suspension system. This severe-duty suspension is engineered for demanding vocational applications such as construction, refuse, and heavy-haul.
The new offering includes a 12-inch ride height system and a 52,000-pound capacity with air disc brake clearance. These enhancements improve vehicle stability, control, and performance when carrying heavy loads. The 12-inch ride height ensures better weight distribution, making it ideal for fleets navigating Canadian regulations on vehicle dimensions and load capacities or operations needing higher ride heights, such as towing and recovery.
PRIMAAX EX minimizes driveline vibrations and reduces suspension windup and frame rise. Heavy-duty rubber bushings eliminate the need for lubrication, delivering a longer service life. The 52,000-pound air disc brake option provides repeatable stopping distances, crucial for heavy-haul operations. PRIMAAX EX is available in configurations from 23,000-pound single axles to 78,000-pound tridem setups.
- Streamlining Weigh Station Bypass and Safety Alerts
EZ LYNK ELD users can now access seamless weigh station bypass capabilities, thanks to a partnership between Drivewyze by Fleetworth and EZ LYNK. Through this integration, customers can access Drivewyze PreClear, a system that lets drivers bypass weigh stations, and Drivewyze Free, which provides essential safety notifications.
Drivewyze PreClear works directly within the EZ LYNK ELD app – no transponders are needed. The system transmits key compliance information, such as safety scores, registration, and tax data, to weigh stations. If the vehicle meets the bypass criteria, the driver receives permission to skip the stop, saving time and reducing delays. The better a fleet’s safety record, the more bypasses it earns. Drivers can access bypass opportunities at nearly 900 sites across 48 states and provinces, significantly improving productivity and efficiency.
Drivewyze Free enhances safety by delivering alerts for high-risk situations, such as rollover zones, steep grades, low bridges, and slow traffic. It also provides updates on rest area parking availability, ensuring drivers can plan better routes.
“Working with Drivewyze allows us to offer even more value to our customers,” Brad Gintz, Co-Founder and CEO of EZ LYNK, said in a news release. “Together, we’re delivering solutions that help fleet operators save time, reduce costs, and streamline their operations.”
- Powering Sustainable Fleets
Volvo Trucks is expanding its electric vehicle (EV) offerings in Canada with several new partnerships. In 2024, Mar-tin Brower, a key supply chain partner for global restaurant chains, expanded its fleet by adding 10 Volvo VNR Electric trucks to deliver goods to McDonald’s restaurants in Montreal and Toronto. This follows a successful 2022 trial in Montreal. The expansion helps McDonald’s achieve its global goal of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
“It’s exciting to see a powerhouse brand like McDonald’s working with their partners to help decarbonize the transportation of goods,” Matthew Black-man, managing director for Canada, Volvo Trucks North America, said in a news release. “It’s a testament to the performance and reliability of the Volvo VNR Electric that these global leaders are choosing to scale their trial of battery-electric vehicles where feasible.”
Additionally, Labatt Breweries made a commitment to sustainability by adding 10 Volvo VNR Electric trucks to its fleet. These trucks will transport Labatt’s products within Montreal and surrounding areas. The trucks are part of Labatt’s strategy to reach net-zero emissions by 2040.
Home Hardware Stores Limited also joined the electric transition, adding two Volvo VNR Electric trucks to their fleet for urban deliveries.
These initiatives highlight the growing adoption of zero-emission vehicles in Canada’s transportation sector, with companies like Volvo supporting fleets with the technology, training, and infrastructure needed for a sustain-able future. These collaborations show how large corporations are stepping up to reduce their environmental impact while improving operational efficiency.
- Optimizing Fleet Maintenance
DataDis is a leading provider of fleet maintenance management solutions, specializing in heavy-duty vehicles and equipment. Its flagship product, MIR-RT, is designed to help fleet managers streamline operations, reduce down-time, and boost productivity. By offering seamless integrations, MIR-RT centralizes fleet maintenance management, and optimizing tasks like work order creation, parts ordering, and warranty notifications.
MIR-RT automates routine maintenance processes, cutting down on administrative work and minimizing errors. Fleet managers can easily track maintenance costs, fuel consumption, and operational expenses, gaining valuable insights to improve efficiency and profitability. The software’s easy-to-use interface simplifies tasks for mechanics and allows fleet managers to oversee work orders, scheduling, inventory, and purchase orders in real-time.
With MIR-RT, fleet operators can reduce maintenance costs by identifying inefficiencies and optimizing resource allocation. The system provides a com-prehensive view of fleet performance, helping managers make informed decisions that drive financial success.
“Owning MIR-RT was the first step towards automation and keeping track of all the activities being carried out in the garage,” Pawanjot Kaur, Project Lead at Safex, said in a testimonial on the DataDis website. “This includes taking care of maintenances, record of all repairs, assigning work orders, updating the status of the units, and managing cores and warranties, which was offered by various features available within the software.”
- Predictive Solutions
Pitstop’s AI-powered platform is designed to reduce downtime and maintenance costs while improving efficiency. By consolidating and analyzing fleet data, Pitstop provides actionable insights that help fleet managers pre-dict potential failures and take proactive steps to maintain their vehicles. With over 500,000 connected vehicles and rapid growth, Pitstop’s platform delivers predictive analytics to enhance uptime and reduce maintenance expenses for fleets of all sizes.
The platform processes over seven billion data points to offer accurate predictions on battery, brake, tire, and engine health, as well as fuel anomalies. Pitstop’s algorithms allow managers to anticipate issues weeks in advance with over 90% accuracy, enabling them to plan maintenance visits more strategically. The soft-ware translates fault codes into easy-to-understand alerts, helping managers address critical problems before they cause significant disruptions.
“This platform allows us to make educated decisions on what needs immediate attention and what can wait for the next scheduled preventative maintenance visit,” the Director of Health, Safety, and Fleet at Cardinal said in a testimonial on Pitstop’s website. “The overall rating system allows us to quickly at a glance determine the status of our fleet and individual units.”
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