PACCAR builds a fleet app platform into Kenworth, Peterbilt

PACCAR will install a touchscreen and fleet app platform called PACCAR Connect in new Kenworth and Peterbilt Class 8 trucks starting in early 2027. The company revealed the system at the American Trucking Associations’ Management Conference & Exhibition in Charlotte, North Carolina on Monday. PACCAR Connect is covered by a factory warranty and aims to reduce the need for multiple aftermarket devices.

It connects customers to the Virtual Vehicle app marketplace from Platform Science. PACCAR invested as a minority shareholder in Platform Science in March 2023. This connected-truck initiative is part of PACCAR’s investment strategy, alongside powertrains and manufacturing expansion. PACCAR Connect is not the first truckmaker to utilize Platform Science's system; Daimler Truck North America and Navistar have also done so.

Virtual Vehicle, the connected-truck platform, was initially developed with these manufacturers. Daimler was the first to integrate factory-installed telematics into Platform Science’s system in May 2020. PACCAR Connect will replace the existing remote diagnostics subscriptions provided by Kenworth’s TruckTech+ and Peterbilt’s SmartLINQ.

The new portal will provide fleet managers with vehicle health, remote diagnostics, mileage, location, warranty status, and idle time in a single back-office tool. Fleets can activate third-party apps through the portal, allowing them to implement their own workflows and technology directly into the truck. Drivers will benefit from high-definition touchscreens, with Peterbilt’s offering a 13-inch portrait screen in the first quarter of 2027 and Kenworth using a 15-inch center display.

The touchscreen supports voice commands in English, Spanish, and French and accepts up to eight camera inputs, automatically switching views when the truck reverses or a turn signal is engaged. It also pairs two phones over Bluetooth and supports Apple CarPlay. Preloaded apps, such as a digital operator’s manual, driver tutorials, vehicle health information, and a dealer locator, do not require additional subscription fees.

Although PACCAR and Platform Science announced their collaboration in January 2023, the specific deployment timeline remains unclear. The European version of PACCAR Connect was initially supplied as standard on all new DAF trucks starting in April 2024. However, the North American release does not provide pricing information or list which aftermarket devices will be replaced.