Engine manufacturers ask committee to exempt heavy-duty commercial vehicles from telematics right-to-repair rules

Representatives of the Truck and Engine Manufacturers Association (EMA) and the Engine Technology Forum asked the Joint Committee to support Senate Bill 266, which would clarify that the state’s right-to-repair telematics law should not require a single open diagnostic system for custom-built heavy-duty commercial vehicles.

Patricia Hans of EMA said commercial vehicles and specialty vehicles are typically assembled from components made by multiple manufacturers and sold in business-to-business transactions, often with fleet service agreements. She and Alan Schafer of the Engine Technology Forum argued that the development of a single open diagnostic architecture across multiple component manufacturers is impractical for these vehicles and could raise safety, cybersecurity and environmental risks if service information were indiscriminately released to untrained parties.

The Engine Technology Forum also noted Massachusetts’ high share of advanced diesel school and transit buses and urged the committee to preserve a tailored approach to heavy-duty vehicle service data. The committee heard the testimony; no formal vote was taken on SB 266 during the hearing.