Penske updates driver app with roadside assistance and fleet update

Vehicle rental giant Penske Truck Leasing Co. said today it has upgraded its smartphone app for drivers to help truckers report roadside breakdowns and stay in touch with their managers and dispatchers during the delay.

The Reading, Pa.-based firm said its Penske Driver mobile app now allows users to report problems such as flat tires to Penske Truck Leasing's 24/7 Roadside Assistance team without making a call or being on hold, and to generate real-time digital updates for fleet managers until the problem is resolved.

Penske's free app is designed for the firm's full-service truck leasing, contract maintenance, and commercial truck rental customers. Other features include: logging hours-of-service (HOS) to comply with the electronic logging device (ELD) mandate; locating service, rental, and fuel locations; accessing vehicle information such as recent service history; and digitally submitting fuel receipts with a standard form and receipt photo.

Penske said it released the upgrade to benefit truck drivers ahead of the busy holiday freight season, when gift parcels are at peak seasonal demand.

"We've worked closely with our customers and their drivers to help improve and speed up their roadside assistance experience using our mobile app," Sherry Sanger, senior vice president of marketing at Penske Truck Leasing, said in a release. "This new option frees up the driver to take care of their freight loads and make other important arrangements until we help get their vehicle back on the road."