Michelin Connected Fleet is a leading provider of GPS fleet tracking, ELD compliance, driver safety, and fleet management solutions, part of Michelin’s Global Services and Solutions business line and trusted by thousands of commercial fleets across North America. Many of those fleets run on NexTraq-branded hardware: the VT-series vehicle trackers, dashcams, asset trackers, and ELD devices that Michelin has deployed at scale across industries ranging from construction and utilities to transportation, government, and field services. That hardware continues to be installed, serviced, and expanded across active fleets today.
Orbital Installation Technologies is an experienced Michelin Connected Fleet installation team with an in-house team of technicians trained across the NexTraq hardware lineup, ready to deploy across fleets of any size, vehicle type, and operational environment. Whether you’re standing up a new Michelin Connected Fleet program or adding devices to an existing NexTraq deployment, Orbital handles the hardware, so your investment performs the way it’s designed to from the first vehicle tracked.
What Professional Michelin Connected Fleet Installation Enables
Michelin Connected Fleet is built on the premise that every vehicle and asset in a fleet should be visible, measurable, and manageable in real time. The location data, driver behavior metrics, engine diagnostics, ELD records, and safety alerts that make that possible all depend on hardware that’s correctly installed, properly wired, and fully validated before the vehicle goes back to work. A device that’s loosely mounted, inadequately powered, or incorrectly connected doesn’t just produce unreliable data. It creates gaps in the operational and compliance picture that your fleet managers, dispatchers, and safety teams depend on. Professional installation by Orbital protects the integrity of the whole program:
- Real-time GPS vehicle and asset location tracking via the NexTraq View platform, accessible on desktop, smartphone, and tablet
- Driver behavior monitoring, including harsh braking, aggressive cornering, rapid acceleration, and speeding, with in-cab buzzer alerts and Driver Safety Scorecards
- HD dashcam video capture of incidents before, during, and after an event, with real-time alerts and downloadable footage linked to GPS location data
- ELD compliance via hardwired Elogs tablets or the NexTraq ELD app, with automated Hours of Service tracking, DVIR inspections, and ECM-integrated odometer and movement data
- Engine diagnostics and fault code reporting, including DTC codes integrated with fleet maintenance platforms
- Asset tracking for trailers, forklifts, off-road equipment, and other mobile assets via battery-powered or hardwired GPS trackers
- Temperature sensor monitoring with threshold alerts for cold chain and temperature-sensitive cargo applications
- Geofencing and mapping powered by Google Maps, with real-time entry, exit, and unauthorized movement alerts
- MobileBlock phone-locking technology to prevent distracted driving, deployed via an in-vehicle pod paired with the driver’s device
- Power take-off monitoring, fuel management reporting, and integration with fuel card providers
- Full fleet visibility and dispatch management through NexTraq View, with customizable dashboards, routing, job scheduling, and driver communication tools
Hardware installed correctly produces the accurate, timestamped fleet data that the Michelin Connected Fleet platform is built to deliver. Hardware installed incorrectly produces data gaps, missed compliance events, and safety records that can’t be relied on when it matters most.
Installation of the NexTraq Hardware Lineup
Orbital’s technicians are trained across the NexTraq device family that underpins Michelin Connected Fleet deployments. Each device has distinct installation requirements that have to be handled correctly for the platform to function as designed.
VT-3030 (Light-Duty Vehicle Tracker)
The VT-3030 is NexTraq’s compact, versatile GPS tracking device for light-duty vehicles. It delivers real-time location tracking and feeds directly into the NexTraq View platform, giving fleet managers continuous visibility into vehicle locations, activities, and statuses. Its compact form factor makes it suitable for a wide range of light-duty applications across service, utility, and field operations fleets.
The VT-3030 can be installed via OBD-II port or hardwired, depending on fleet requirements. Professional hardwired installation eliminates the reliability and tamper-resistance vulnerabilities of port-mounted devices, protects the connection in high-vibration environments, and supports covert deployment when fleet policy requires it. A device that’s been pulled from the OBD port, intentionally or through vibration, goes dark on the platform without warning.
VT-2630 (Driver Behavior and Vehicle Performance Tracker)
The VT-2630 extends the core GPS tracking capability of the VT-3030 with integrated driver behavior monitoring, measuring harsh braking, aggressive cornering, rapid acceleration, and other performance events via an onboard accelerometer. It feeds driver behavior data directly into NexTraq’s Driver Safety Scorecards, supporting fleet safety programs built on measurable, coachable data rather than incident reports after the fact.
Hardwired installation of the VT-2630 is critical to the reliability of the behavior data it produces. A device that’s intermittently powered or subject to movement introduces noise into the accelerometer readings on which the Driver Safety Scorecard is built. Consistent, clean data starts with a device that’s correctly wired and securely mounted.
VT-3640 (Heavy-Duty Vehicle Tracker with ECU Integration)
The VT-3640 is NexTraq’s heavy-duty vehicle tracking device, built with an integrated ECU interface for direct access to engine data on Class 6-8 trucks and other heavy vehicles. It delivers GPS location tracking, driver behavior monitoring, and J-Bus connectivity for engine fault codes, odometer data, and vehicle diagnostics, feeding all of it into the NexTraq View platform for maintenance scheduling, compliance reporting, and driver coaching.
Installation of the VT-3640 involves hardwired power integration and a J-Bus connection to the vehicle’s ECM, which requires proper adapter selection and verification of the connection before the vehicle is cleared. An ECU integration that’s incorrectly wired or intermittently connected produces incomplete diagnostic data and missed fault code alerts, which is the opposite of what a maintenance program needs.
NexTraq Dashcam
The NexTraq Dashcam is a high-definition vehicle incident camera system configured with 4G LTE connectivity, delivering wide-angle HD video coverage of the moments before, during, and after a vehicle event. It sends real-time incident alerts with downloadable footage and GPS location to fleet managers, providing the video evidence needed to resolve disputed claims, address negligent driving, counter insurance fraud, and defend against staged accident allegations. Dual-facing configurations add an inward-facing camera for additional driver accountability.
Dashcam installation requires secure windshield mounting at the correct angle for an unobstructed road-facing field of view, proper hardwired power connection for continuous operation, and confirmed integration with the NexTraq platform before the vehicle returns to service. A camera that’s loosely mounted shifts over time. A camera that’s powered through an unsecured connection loses footage at the moments it’s needed most.
NexTraq ELD (Elogs Tablet)
NexTraq’s FMCSA-certified ELD solution is available as a hardwired in-cab tablet for fleets that need a dedicated, rugged HOS compliance device integrated directly into the cab. It records Hours of Service, automates duty status changes, supports DVIR inspections, and pulls movement, speed, location, and odometer data directly from the ECM. The hardwired tablet solution was specifically chosen by NexTraq over wireless alternatives for its reliability, security, and connectivity consistency in commercial fleet environments.
Elogs tablet installation involves secure cab mounting, hardwired power, and ECM data connection, and full platform validation before the driver takes the vehicle out. A tablet that’s not correctly mounted or wired to the ECM introduces HOS compliance risk the moment the vehicle leaves the yard.
NexTraq Asset Trackers
NexTraq’s asset tracker lineup covers trailers, forklifts, off-road equipment, generators, and other non-powered or intermittently powered mobile assets. Battery-powered trackers provide flexible deployment for assets without a consistent power source. Hardwired configurations deliver continuous tracking for powered assets. Both integrate with NexTraq View for unified visibility across the full asset base alongside vehicle tracking data.
Asset tracker installation involves selecting a mounting position for GPS signal quality, determining a battery or hardwired power configuration, and confirming the platform before the asset is deployed. A tracker mounted in a location with poor sky view results in degraded location accuracy, defeating the purpose of tracking the asset in the first place.
MobileBlock Pod
MobileBlock is NexTraq’s distracted driving prevention system, using an in-vehicle Bluetooth pod paired with a mobile application on the driver’s device to lock the phone’s screen while the vehicle is in motion, blocking calls, texts, email, and web browsing. It operates across iOS and Android devices and does not require the driver to use a company-issued phone.
MobileBlock pod installation requires secure mounting in the vehicle at the correct position for reliable Bluetooth pairing with the driver’s device. A pod that’s incorrectly positioned, loosely mounted, or out of pairing range fails silently. The driver’s phone goes unlocked, and the distracted driving risk that the system was installed to prevent remains.
Why Installation Quality Matters for Fleet Telematics
NexTraq hardware is installed in vehicles that operate across some of the most demanding conditions in commercial fleet service: service vans running multiple stops a day in city traffic, heavy-duty trucks covering long-haul routes, utility vehicles working in construction and outdoor environments, and government fleet assets operating year-round across variable conditions. That operating reality puts constant stress on hardware that wasn’t designed to withstand it.
Orbital installs NexTraq hardware with the durability those environments demand. Vehicle trackers are hardwired with properly fused power connections and secured against vibration-related movement. Dashcams are mounted at the correct angle and wired for uninterrupted power. ECU connections on heavy-duty installations are verified for clean data transmission before the vehicle is cleared. Asset trackers are positioned for reliable GPS sky view. MobileBlock pods are confirmed in pairing range before the driver takes the keys. Every installation is documented through TaskRaptor with photo-verified proof of work and a timestamped deployment record.
The location data, driver behavior records, ELD logs, and dashcam footage that a fleet depends on for operations, compliance, and liability protection are only reliable when the hardware producing them is correctly installed and consistently powered. Getting the installation right is the only way to protect the chain from hardware to data to decision.
TaskRaptor: Deployment Governance Across Every Vehicle
Michelin Connected Fleet program integrity is only as consistent as the installations behind it. One vehicle with a loosely mounted tracker, a dashcam that’s shifted off-axis, or an ELD tablet that’s not properly wired to the ECM is a gap in the program. Across a large fleet, those gaps compound. Orbital governs every installation through TaskRaptor, its proprietary deployment platform built to bring structure and accountability to fleet hardware rollouts at scale.
TaskRaptor tracks every step of the installation workflow in real time, with GPS-stamped, photo-verified proof of work for each completed vehicle. An AI-assisted QC review process, with a human in the loop, flags issues before vehicles are released, not after. All job data flows into customer back-office systems via RESTful APIs, giving fleet managers and safety administrators a complete, timestamped deployment record that holds up when needed.
A consistent process for every vehicle:
- Pre-deployment fleet assessment and hardware verification
- Vehicle-specific installation planning, including device selection, power source configuration, and ECU interface requirements
- Hardwired power integration with proper fusing and tamper-resistant cable routing
- Device mounting and positioning per platform specifications
- ECU connection and data verification for VT-3640 and ELD Elogs installations
- Platform validation through NexTraq View before the vehicle is cleared
- AI-assisted QC review with human sign-off confirming correct installation before the vehicle returns to service
- Vehicles returned to service only after full system validation, not before
Why Fleets Choose Orbital for Michelin Connected Fleet Installations
Orbital brings hands-on NexTraq hardware experience and nationwide field capability to Michelin Connected Fleet deployments of any scale. Whether you’re rolling out VT-series trackers across a light-duty service fleet, deploying dashcams and ELD tablets on heavy-duty vehicles, or standing up an asset tracking program across a mixed equipment base, Orbital brings the same structured process and quality standards to every device.
Specialized Expertise: In-house technicians with direct, hands-on experience across the NexTraq hardware lineup, including VT-3030, VT-2630, and VT-3640 vehicle tracker installations, dashcam and ELD tablet deployments, asset tracker configurations, and MobileBlock pod installations.
Nationwide Coverage: Orbital’s field teams support commercial, government, and transit fleet deployments across the country, at scale and on schedule.
Structured Deployment: TaskRaptor-governed workflows deliver consistent execution and photo-verified proof of work across every vehicle, providing the documentation that supports insurance requirements, safety grant programs, and post-incident inquiries.
Audit-Ready Deployment Records: Every Orbital installation produces a timestamped record with mounting photos, platform verification, and connection confirmation. When a disputed incident, HOS compliance question, or liability claim requires proof that the system was installed correctly and operating as intended, that record is ready.
Certified Women-Owned Business: Orbital holds WBE, WOSB, and WBENC certifications as a certified Women-Owned Small Business. For government agencies, municipal fleets, and enterprise procurement teams with supplier diversity requirements or set-aside mandates, those certifications are verified and on file, eliminating a procurement step and helping programs meet diversity spend targets without adding vendor risk.
Warranty-Backed Workmanship: Every Michelin Connected Fleet installation Orbital performs is backed by a commitment to quality and ongoing support. If something isn’t right, Orbital makes it right.
Schedule Your Michelin Connected Fleet Installation
Contact Orbital at (317) 774-3668 or through our online contact form to discuss your deployment requirements. Whether you’re deploying NexTraq VT-series trackers across a light-duty fleet, standing up dashcams and ELD tablets on heavy-duty vehicles, or expanding an existing NexTraq program with additional devices and asset trackers, Orbital will get it done right.