Z-Con Brings Telematics to the Fuel Island

TCH and Zonar have developed a new system, Z-Con, which uses a series of sensors, radios and computers to identify a truck when it enters and exits a diesel fuel lane and authorize fuel pump transactions.


Z-Con will be installed at participating truckstops throughout the U.S. and Canada. Companies will have each of their trucks outfitted with a Zonar telematics device. As a vehicle approaches a Z-Con equipped fueling island, an ultrasonic sensor detects the presence of the truck, activating the radio in the fuel canopy and an infrared transmitter. Once the infrared transmitter and the receiver in the truck are aligned, an LED on the windshield indicates authorization is in progress. After the truck's VIN has been validated, the LED indicates the driver is authorized to begin fueling. The process takes only seconds to complete.

Z-Con eliminates the need for drivers to swipe a fuel card or enter data to initialize a transaction, helping to prevent inaccurate information and ensuring proper authorization and secure fueling. Z-Con also terminates fueling when the truck leaves the pump area, so only the correct truck is fueled.