Mack Trucks is making remote software updates easier with a new Lock & Leave enhancement to Mack Over-the-Air (OTA) that allows remote software updates to complete unattended after the driver parks, locks the truck, and walks away. The new capability helps customers keep trucks current with the latest software while maximizing uptime and minimizing interruptions to daily operations.

As commercial vehicles become increasingly software-defined, updates play a critical role in delivering new features, improving performance and reliability, and supporting recalls and service campaigns. Lock & Leave enables many of these updates to happen during normal downtime—at the end of a shift, during a break, or overnight—without requiring the driver to remain with the vehicle, Mack reported.

Once a driver initiates an eligible software update through Driver Display Activation, they exit the truck, lock it, and leave. The truck stays powered on only long enough to finish installing the update, then shuts itself down. When the driver returns, it is updated and ready for work. The same is true in the shop, where a technician can start updates on one truck after another without going back to each one.

Mack expects the enhancement to be available this fall, following final validation. The new feature will debut on Mack’s newest models, including the Pioneer, Anthem, Granite, and Keystone.

“Mack customers measure success by how much time their trucks spend on the road,” Jonathan Randall, Mack Trucks North America president, said in a news release. “Lock & Leave removes another barrier to remote software updates. Drivers can start the update, finish their day, and let the truck take care of the rest.”

Mack OTA already provides broad remote update capabilities, allowing software and parameter updates to be completed directly from the truck without visiting a dealership. Over the past 12 months, Mack completed more than 50,000 remote updates with a 99.99% success rate, the company said. Through AutoSend, updates are delivered proactively and can be installed during planned downtime, helping fleets stay current with minimal disruption.

Mack Over-the-Air now includes:

• Remote software and parameter updates delivered directly to the truck
• Driver Display Activation—no laptop, dongles, cables or dealer visit required
• Proactive software delivery through AutoSend
• Enterprise-scale deployment across thousands of connected vehicles
• Human-guided support from Mack connected vehicle experts
• Lock & Leave for unattended completion of remote updates