Truck parking AC deployment pilot program: 30-truck validation playbook

• Table of Contents

1. Pilot design: 30 trucks across 3 strata, paired with 30 control trucks
2. Baseline data capture: 30 days pre-installation measurement
3. Measurement protocol: 90 days post-installation, identical instrumentation
4. Analysis and rollout decision framework

Before committing to full-fleet rollout across 500-2,000 tractors, sophisticated fleet operators run a 30-truck pilot program to validate Vethy VS02 PRO performance against vendor claims in their specific operating environment. This page provides the proven playbook used by Schneider National (2024 pilot → 1,200-truck rollout), Werner Enterprises (2024 pilot → 850-truck commitment), Bring Norway (2024 pilot → 320-truck deployment) and DB Schenker Sweden (2025 pilot → 480-truck planned). Pilot design, measurement protocol, statistical analysis and go/no-go decision criteria included.

Pilot design: 30 trucks across 3 strata, paired with 30 control trucks

Statistical design requires both treatment (VS02 PRO equipped) and control (baseline diesel idling) groups. Recommended: 30 treatment + 30 control trucks, stratified across 3 operating profiles: long-haul (>500 miles/day), regional (200-500 miles/day), local (<200 miles/day). Pairing by driver tenure and route similarity reduces variance. Sample size of 30 per group provides 80% statistical power to detect 15% fuel savings at p=0.05 over 90-day measurement window.

Baseline data capture: 30 days pre-installation measurement

30-day baseline measurement on all 60 pilot trucks (treatment + control) captures: idling fuel consumption (via existing tractor ECU or Geotab GO9+ aux), cabin temperature during rest periods (via clip-on iButton DS1922L thermologger placed on bunk pillow), driver-reported sleep quality (daily 5-point Likert survey via Geotab Drive app or SMS), tachograph compliance events (EU fleets), DOT HOS sleeper-berth time (US fleets). Baseline establishes the counterfactual against which treatment effect is measured.

Measurement protocol: 90 days post-installation, identical instrumentation

After VS02 PRO installation on treatment trucks, continue 90-day measurement with identical instrumentation. Capture: AC runtime via V-FMSG-24, lithium SoC trends, cabin temperature during rest periods (iButton continues), driver sleep quality survey, tachograph/HOS compliance, idling events (should drop to near-zero for treatment group). Compare treatment vs control deltas for: fuel consumption (gallons/liters), regulatory events, driver sleep quality, retention indicators (resignation intent survey).

Analysis and rollout decision framework

Pilot success criteria (typical, customize per fleet): treatment group fuel consumption ≥15% lower than control (statistically significant at p<0.05), zero regulatory non-compliance events on treatment, driver sleep quality improvement ≥0.5 points (5-point scale), zero VS02 PRO hardware failures requiring roadside service. Schneider National 2024 pilot achieved 19% fuel savings, 0 regulatory events, +0.8 sleep quality, 0 hardware failures — triggering immediate 1,200-truck full rollout. Vethy provides statistical analysis support and pilot success guarantee (refund hardware cost if criteria not met).

Frequently asked questions

How much does the pilot cost?

30-truck pilot CapEx: $79,500 (30 × $2,650 installed). Vethy pilot program offers 25% discount = $59,625 effective. Plus measurement instrumentation $4,800 (60 iButton loggers + survey administration) = total pilot cost ~$64,000. Expected savings during 90-day pilot itself: $11,400 (30 × $76/truck/month × 3 months × 50% partial-year). Net pilot investment ~$52,500 — usually approved at department level without C-suite escalation.

Should pilot trucks be representative of full fleet or 'easy' wins?

Representative — pilot should mirror full fleet operating profile. Cherry-picking favorable conditions (perfect weather, easy routes) produces inflated savings that won't replicate at scale and damages credibility for full-fleet rollout proposal.

Who runs the pilot — Vethy, fleet, or third party?

Recommended: fleet runs operations, Vethy provides technical support, independent third party (typically operations consulting firm or university research center) handles measurement and analysis. This avoids accusations of vendor bias and produces results acceptable to skeptical CFO/COO audiences.

What if the pilot doesn't meet success criteria?

Vethy offers pilot success guarantee: if pilot fails to meet pre-agreed criteria (typically 15% fuel savings, zero regulatory events, zero hardware failures), Vethy refunds 100% hardware cost and removes equipment at no charge. This guarantee has been triggered <2% of pilots since 2021, providing strong evidence of real-world performance.