Redesigned Diagnostic Tool Streamlines the Technician Experience through Advanced Features and Improved User Interface
ELYRIA, Ohio – Oct. 30, 2019 – As commercial vehicles and safety technologies advance, the capability to quickly and accurately diagnose and repair issues grows increasingly important for keeping trucks on the road and operating safely. With the next generation of its diagnostic software, Bendix® ACom® PRO™, Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems provides fleets and technicians with a leap forward in troubleshooting, thanks to a fully redesigned and re-engineered diagnostic tool.
“These are far more than just incremental improvements or software updates,” said TJ Thomas, Bendix director of marketing and customer solutions – Controls. “Through our collaboration with Noregon®, we’ve crafted a much more streamlined, thorough, and user-friendly tool that’s head-and-shoulders above previous versions. ACom PRO is simply the best way to ensure safe and effective diagnostics of Bendix electronic components and systems.”
Bendix – the North American leader in the development and manufacture of active safety, air management, and braking solutions for commercial vehicles – launched the original Bendix® ACom® Diagnostics software in 2004. Fifteen years on, it’s been downloaded over 100,000 times, and gone through frequent versions, updating its features and functionality to interact with new and increasingly complex systems.
Bendix® ACom® PRO™ initially supports Bendix tractor products, including Bendix antilock braking (ABS), automatic traction control, (ATC), stability control, the family of Bendix® Wingman® advanced driver assistance systems, AutoVue® Lane Departure Warning System, BlindSpotter® side object detection system, SmarTire® Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems, air disc brake (ADB) pad wear sensing, and SafetyDirect® by Bendix CVS.
Speed, Uptime, and Safety
“When a truck is in the shop, quickly and accurately diagnosing and fixing it are paramount, and there are several key improvements we made to ACom PRO with that in mind,” Thomas explained. “For example, when connected, ACom PRO automatically detects and gathers active and inactive diagnostic troubleshooting codes (DTCs) from all Bendix electronic control units (ECUs) on the vehicle, as well as key vehicle ECUs, like the engine and transmission. This roll call shows what’s on the vehicle, eliminating the need for a technician to guess from a prepopulated list of components that might be on the vehicle.”
This comprehensive system-level approach allows the technician to get a much more complete picture of which DTCs are active and inactive to quickly judge what needs to be addressed first.
Previous ACom versions required technicians to manually launch processes to gather data from each ECU individually, then troubleshoot or generate reports for each one – a much more time-consuming procedure that could take as much as a half-hour. By comparison, ACom PRO’s more detailed vehicle-wide ECU report can be generated within about two minutes after connection. Additionally, the system runs quicker checks through streamlined bidirectional testing, and some tests that currently require two technicians can be run with just one.
A more intuitive graphical user interface, and clearer, menu-driven operation are also designed to smooth and speed the maintenance process. And through Bendix’s collaboration with Noregon, ACom PRO will utilize internet connectivity to display schematics and related information specific to a particular system fault through Noregon’s NextStep™ Fault Guidance application. Thomas estimates that each time ACom PRO is used, technicians could save 20 minutes of time compared to doing the same job with the previous version, depending on the DTC.
Backed by a more extensive call center support network, ACom PRO will be available under a per-license annual software subscription model.
“The professional men and women behind the wheel of North America’s trucks need and deserve vehicles running with the safest braking and safety systems possible, and it’s our goal to deliver technicians and fleets the latest tools to troubleshoot and quickly correct issues,” Thomas said. “Post-sales support of our product and our customers is a huge part of what we do, because making the roads safer for everyone takes all of us shaping tomorrow’s transportation, together.”
By providing that support, and delivering on safety, value, performance and efficiency, Bendix aims to lower the total cost of vehicle ownership, strengthening return on investment in technologies and equipment that increase safety for drivers and passengers everywhere.
About Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC
Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems, a member of the Knorr-Bremse Group, develops and supplies leading-edge active safety technologies, energy management solutions, and air brake charging and control systems and components under the Bendix® brand name for medium- and heavy-duty trucks, tractors, trailers, buses, and other commercial vehicles throughout North America. An industry pioneer, employing more than 3,200 people, Bendix is driven to deliver solutions for improved vehicle safety, performance, and overall operating cost. Contact us at
1-800-AIR-BRAKE (1-800-247-2725) or visit bendix.com. Stay connected and informed through Bendix expert podcasts, blog posts, videos, and other resources at knowledge-dock.com. Follow Bendix on Twitter at twitter.com/Bendix_CVS. Log on and learn from the Bendix experts at brake-school.com. And to learn more about career opportunities at Bendix, visit bendix.com/careers.