Snap-on acquires Diesel Laptop, expanding diagnostic and repair information market
Snap-on has acquired Diesel Laptop, expanding its diagnostic and repair information capabilities in heavy-duty and equipment markets.
The $100 million cash acquisition happened on June 8, according to a press release.
Snap-on describes itself as a global innovator, manufacturer, and marketer of tools, equipment, diagnostic, repair information, and systems. Diesel Laptops specializes in diagnostic, repair information, and digital solutions for commercial trucks and off-highway vehicles for heavy-duty repair shops, fleets, and other equipment customers in mining, agriculture, and infrastructure.
The acquisition expands Snap-on’s capabilities in these growing markets, further strengthening the corporation’s library of proprietary experience-based data and product offerings that support the diagnosis and repair of complex vehicles and equipment, the release states.
Results of the first evaluation of commercial vehicles by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) were also released last week.
Four of the first nine heavy-duty pickups and cargo vans to be assessed come with a suite of features that IIHS considers essential for driver protection, according to an IIHS release. These include standard front and side airbags, advanced seatbelt technology, and effective seatbelt reminders.
Research on passenger vehicles has shown that front airbags reduce driver fatalities in frontal crashes by 29%, while side airbags reduce the risk of driver death in a side crash by 25%-52%, the release states.
Seatbelt pretensioners help to tighten the belt around the driver the instant that a crash occurs, the release adds. And IIHS says that force limiters reduce stress on the driver’s body with a controlled extension of the belt a split second later, making it less likely to cause chest injuries.
IIHS crash tests have demonstrated that the two technologies are often the difference between acceptable and excessively high chest injury metrics in passenger vehicles, the release states.
Loud and persistent seatbelt reminders are also important because commercial vehicle operators may neglect to buckle up due to making frequent stops for pickups and deliveries, even if company policies require drivers to be belted, according to the release.
It adds that an IIHS study of part-time belt users showed that persistent belt reminders increased belt use by 30%.
IIHS plans to evaluate the vehicles for attributes that can protect other road users, including automatic emergency braking and headlights.
“For decades, IIHS has helped consumers prioritize safety in their car-buying decisions,” said IIHS President David Harkey in the release. “These initial evaluations mark our first foray into commercial vehicles, which for too long have been an afterthought when it comes to regulations and safety information.”
Data shows that 6,535 people were killed in crashes involving heavy- or medium-duty trucks or light vans in 2023, the report states. It adds this accounts for 16% of all roadway fatalities in the U.S.
“Reducing that toll is a key part of the Institute’s 30×30 vision of reducing fatalities 30% by 2030,” the release states.
IIHS says that many government standards for passenger vehicles don’t apply to delivery vans, box trucks, tractor-trailers, and certain work pickups. For example, features such as airbags are not required on these vehicles.
“The performance of headlights that meet government standards varies widely, and U.S. regulators do not currently require automatic emergency braking (AEB) or other advanced driver assistance systems for commercial vehicles,” the release states. “These systems are especially important for heavy trucks and vans, whose large size makes them a greater danger to other road users. In the absence of strong regulations, information from IIHS can help commercial vehicle buyers make informed decisions.”
An initial evaluation focuses on cargo vans and Class 3 pickup trucks, the release states. Class 3 pickups have a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 10,001 to 14,000 pounds. The GVWR is the maximum weight a vehicle can carry safely, including passengers, cargo, and the vehicle’s weight.
IIHS is planning an assessment of larger Class 4-6 trucks with a GVWR of 14,001 to 26,000.
To evaluate driver protection, IIHS uses manufacturer documentation and other sources to determine whether airbags, pretensioners, and force limiters are included as standard equipment on the driver side. It notes that crash testing is not performed to evaluate their effectiveness.
The seatbelt reminders are evaluated by engineers on the institute’s test track. The evaluation is similar to the one IIHS uses to rate passenger vehicles but only considers the driver seat.
“To be considered effective, the seat belt reminder must include a visual warning light or indicator and a persistent audible tone that is loud enough to be heard easily over the background noise in the vehicle cabin,” the release states. “Both alerts must begin within 30 seconds when the driver’s belt is unfastened, and the vehicle is going 6-24 mph. At faster speeds, they must begin within two seconds. The tone and visual indicator should continue for at least 90 seconds or until the driver’s belt is fastened.”
Current federal standards require the audible signal to last 4 to 8 seconds, but stricter rules are slated to go into effect for passenger vehicles and some of their commercial counterparts in 2028.
IIHS found that two of the three pickups evaluated, the Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD and Ford 350 SuperCrew, checked all the boxes for driver protection.
The Ram 3500 comes with the necessary airbags and key seatbelt technologies but lacks an effective seatbelt reminder.
The analysis found that Chevrolet BrightDrop 400 and Ram ProMaster 2500, both cargo vans, also have all the essentials. However, the Ford Transit T250, Mercedes Sprinter 2500, Rivian Delivery 500, and the Chevrolet Express 2500 lack effective seatbelt reminders. The Express 2500 is also missing standard force limiters.
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Photo courtesy of Snap-On