MOTOR FleetCross Repair Information is a pay-only platform that contains repair information on commercial trucks. We are often asked how it compares to our Diesel Repair, so we put together this review of MOTOR FLeetCross Repair Information so that potential users can have a more in-depth look at their platform.
MOTOR FleetCross Truck Repair Business Model
MOTOR FleetCross Repair Information is only available with either a monthly or annual subscription. Currently, it costs $1,150 per year, or you can purchase it for $106 per month. This does not include labor time guides, which bumps the price up to $158/month or $1,708 per year once included.
Our Diesel Repair platform operates on a freemium model, which means users can sign up for free. Free users are allowed unlimited lookups on quick repair information for fault codes, plus 2 downloads per month of wiring diagrams, labor time guides, technical documents, and other information. Plans start at $49.99 per month for Standard, which gives you detailed step-by-step directions for fault codes. The Professional plan is $249.99 per month which gives you unlimited access to information.
Accessing MOTOR FleetCross Repair Information
The MOTOR FleetCross Repair Information is only available on a PC, and you must download a special program onto your PC. This program was built over a decade ago and hasn’t received much attention since then. It is not accessible via Macs, Android, or Apple devices.
Diesel Repair was built with today’s modern technology. This means the platform is responsive, so you can use any of today’s supported browsers, which includes Microsoft Edge, Firefox, and Google Chrome. Since it has a responsive interface, that means it scales properly for all devices including laptops, desktops, and mobile devices. Diesel Repair also has a native Android app as well.
Diesel Repair user Interface Built on Modern Technology
Coverage – Overview
At the heart of any repair platform is the coverage the vendor provides. While we will drill into the details of that, it is important to first look at the global coverage.
The most glaring issue with MOTOR FleetCross Repair Information is that there is zero coverage for International Trucks and Engines. This is due to a legal issue from several years ago. MOTOR was illegally scanning OEM documents and placing them on the platform without permission. Part of the settlement with Navistar was that all product information had to be removed, from both the online platform and their physical books.
Another item that is noticeably missing is a VIN decoder. This is an important tool, as users often aren’t 100% certain of the correct year, engine configuration, or even vehicle model. Even more so, you want to be able to enter a VIN or Year/Make/Model and then quickly find your information.
Diesel Repair has both of those components. Besides having complete coverage for North American models, you’ll find an integrated VIN decoder. This tool allows you to easily enter a VIN then “one-click/tap” to instantly view fault codes, technical documents, and other information.
Once a VIN is entered, users can one-click or one-tap to VIN-specific repair information on Diesel Repair.
The other large issue we have with MOTOR FleetCross Repair Information is that it is not easy to locate your information. For example, we selected a 2019 Freightliner M2 with a DD5 engine. It then populates Relevant Vehicle Systems, but they are improper. It lists Air Bags for a Dodge RAM 4500 & 5500, as shown in this image:
Selecting a vehicle configuration appears to not actually filter down to relevant information.
It just isn’t this one field; it is virtually everything. More examples of repair information based on the selection on a 2019 Freightliner M2:
- AC In-Vehicle Service information shows for a Bering Truck.
- Drive Axle & Transmission repair information shows over 30 selections, most of which are impossible to have been installed on a 2019 Freightliner M2 truck. The list includes Aisin Transmission, Clark Transmission, Meritor/ZF Transmissions (Discontinued decades ago), Renault Transmission (European), and many more.
- Emissions section shows Fiat, John Deere, Revcon, Deutz Diesel, and many more that are never installed on this truck.
- Available wiring diagrams show Bering and Scania, neither of which this truck is.
Viewing Technical Service Bulletins (TSBs) shows 31 different ones but none of them apply. They are showing ones related to DT12 transmissions mainly, and most of those are before this truck was even manufactured. The DT12 also isn’t installed on the M2, as it is only available for the Cascadia.
MOTOR FleetCross Repair Information showing TSBs that don’t apply to this vehicle.
In general, the platform appears to not filter or do much when you make an actual selection.
Coverage – Remove & Replace Instructions
For this comparison, we looked at the Cummins X12, which has been one of the most popular engines over the last several years. We looked at the cylinder head instructions in MOTORS FleetCross Repair Information first, which shows us this information:
It contains 38 steps, with only 3 images present. When viewing these images, to our surprise, it appears that MOTORS took images right out of the OEM manuals, which is the exact legal situation they got into trouble with Navistar on. It even contains the Cummins logo, which we are fairly certain MOTORS doesn’t have permission for.
It is our belief that eventually other OEMs will follow in Navistar’s footsteps and pursue legal action against MOTOR.
To compare, we look at the remove & replace instructions inside Diesel Repair. Our document is a 16-page PDF with original artwork, plus contains much more detailed information. It is important to note that the abbreviated version shown through MOTORS FleetCross Repair Information is also missing critical information. For example, cap screw (Head bolt) #27 is not reusable and a new one must be purchased. Our information clearly calls that out, along with more detailed information such as torque specifications (which are missing from MOTORS FleetCross).
Sample of an X12 Cylinder Head instructions from Diesel Repair
Coverage – Fault Codes
At the heart of any repair, information is diagnostic fault codes. You need to be able to easily find the codes and search them by either OEM fault code or generic fault code. In this example, we will look at Cummins fault codes.
With MOTORS FleetCross, we run into immediate problems. First, all the fault codes, for every single Cummins engine built from 1999 through 2021, are grouped together on one page. They are also not broken down by Year, and often lumped together improperly. For example, let’s look at this page which supposedly has codes for CM2250 engines:
MOTORS has decided to lump together 5 different engines spanning years 2007 through 2016. These engines are not built the same, and the fault code troubleshooting trees are slightly different depending on the actual engines and emission years. There are components on 2014 model trucks that do not exist on 2007 model year trucks, which makes it terribly difficult to find what you are searching for and brings into question the validity of the actual troubleshooting information provided by MOTORS.
It is also not a searchable document and it only lists the OEM fault codes. If you are using a dash display or lower-level code reader, you won’t have the OEM fault codes. You will have the SPN/FMI combination. Users need to be able to search for both, since the quality of the tool they are using may show one, or both, of the formats. Essentially you can’t search and must have the original OEM fault code to find what you need after you scroll through endless pages.
We also find that MOTORS has again taken screenshots/scans of OEM information, which we believe they don’t have permission for. The documents also clearly state which engines are covered, which is right from the OEM. Note how ISX12 CM2250 isn’t called out here, but it is called out as covered in the above image. The ISX12 was built from 2013 and on, while the ISX11.9 was from 2010 through 2012. MOTORS is saying these fault trees cover the ISX12, but even the OEM information from Cummins doesn’t state that it does.
Example of MOTORS FleetCross taking screenshots out of OEM software.
Repair information from Diesel Repair has complete coverage, along with proper lookups of Year/Make/Model which can also be easily found by simply entering a VIN. You are also able to search by OEM fault or SPN, which makes it easier to find the information.
The Truck Fault Codes module in Diesel Repair allows for proper Year/Make/Model selection along with a proper search tool.
While we do provide “quick” repair information for free to all users, paid users on either plan also enjoy step-by-step directions to quickly troubleshoot the issue properly.
Example of detailed step-by-step repair information for fault codes from Diesel Repair
Beyond those issues, we find quite a few fault code tables missing from the MOTORS FleetCross Repair Information system. This is a partial list of fault codes you won’t find on their platform:
- All International Engine & Cab Controllers
- Volvo Engine Codes
- Mack Engine Codes
- Body Controller codes for all trucks
- Only 4 WABCO ABS Systems (There are over 20 systems)
- Bendix ABS Fault Codes
- Advanced Driver Assist Systems (ADAS)
- Mack & Volvo Transmissions
- Freightliner Transmissions
- … and many more.
Coverage – Wiring Diagrams
In looking through FleetCross, we find they have done the same as previously reported – Copied the OEM wiring diagrams. We again assume this is without permission, but the larger problem is that it is incomplete and inconsistent. For example, when we look at a Kenworth W900, they don’t have an option for years. With Diesel Repair, we create individual documents for each vehicle.
We also see that each OEM diagram is different, which means different symbols, formatting, and flow. This makes it more difficult for technicians to understand and follow the wiring diagrams.
With MOTORS, the wiring diagrams are inconsistent across OEMs.
With Diesel Repair, we’ve made it easy. Users can select a Year/Make/Model or a VIN, and find wiring diagrams that are consistent across all manufacturers. We use the same symbols, color schemes, and formatting. This improves technician efficiency. Our documents are also in PDF format, and easily printable. The FleetCross wiring diagrams are not.
Coverage – Labor Time Guides
When looking at the Labor Time Guides from MOTORS, we also find some huge gaps in coverage. For example, when we select engine and model year 2019, it only shows 3 available manufacturers:
MOTORS Repair information only contains labor times for 3 engine manufacturers for 2019.
While we did not expect to see International due to their previous legal issues, this list is missing Isuzu, HINO, Mack, Volvo, Ford, Chevrolet, Sprinter, Dodge, and many others. Even when we do select Cummins, we find that the data is incorrect. There is no such thing as a ISX 11.9L in in 2019, as the ISX11.9 was discontinued in 2012 and renamed the X12. The X12 is missing from the list as well.
Even when selecting a manufacturer, engine models are incorrect and not all are available.
We also find that the labor times are not very specific. For example, we selected a 2016 International ProStar with a N13 engine. We then looked at the steer axle brake system. You’ll notice in the image that labor times are also included for hydraulic brakes, which is impossible on this configuration. They also list one labor time.
MOTORS Labor Time Guide gives labor times for components that don’t even exist for the selected vehicle.
When we look at Diesel Repair, we find that the brake options are limited to only possible configurations, and we also show 3 labor times for each operation. It’s our belief that every situation is a bit unique, and we want our customers to have options.
Truck Labor Times module in Diesel Repair gives a range of labor times and is easier to locate the labor times.
Coverage – Recalls & Technical Service Bulletins (TSBs)
In examining recalls and TSBs with MOTORS FleetCross Repair Information we again find information missing, along with filters not actually filtering. In this example we use a 2017 Volvo VNL with a D13 engine. We’ve applied the filters, then navigated to the Diesel Engines & Turbochargers selection. We find that it is showing TSBs for D12 engines (ours is a D13), and every single TSB (56 of them!) are dated before our truck was even built. Some were released more then 10 years before our 2017 Volvo was even built.
MOTORS FleetCross Truck Repair Information again not showing proper documents for our selected vehicle.
It is obvious that MOTORS just took all the TSBs it could find, and then applies them to all models that match regardless of year. This is improper. We can validate that this data is incorrect by visiting the NHTSA (Federal Government site) and looking at 2017 Volvo VNL recalls. We find that 127 TSBs do exist, but only 9 apply to the engine. Why does MOTORS FleetCross show 56?
Screenshot from Feb 26th of NHTSA.gov showing correct TSBs for a 2017 Volvo VNL
The other glaring item missing is recalls. While TSBs are great to have for those situations found after trucks are built, recalls are safety-related items that are deemed critical. Platforms should include that information, but they are not on MOTORS FleetCross. You will however, find that information on Diesel Repair.
Summary
MOTORS FleetCross Repair Information is, at best, a slightly better version then what you can find on Google. However, you can expect the following to be true:
- Selecting your Year/Make/Model only helps minimally, if at all.
- The platform is missing too much content across all its modules.
- Information is often lacking (Like our cylinder head example) that is critical.
- The platform is only accessible on PCs that have their special software installed, which makes it more difficult to utilize properly.
- MOTORS is using, in our estimate, illegally copied OEM documents that are at high risk of being removed while you are under a contract to pay MOTORS each month.
Diesel Laptops is committed to producing tens of thousands of pages of properly organized data and content each month for its Diesel Repair platform. We invite you to try it for free, and paid users can signup without the need for monthly contracts.