MICHELIN Connected Fleet is reshaping the driver experience on the road

Insi and MICHELIN Connected Fleet: innovation to transform the driver experience on the road

With artificial intelligence, voice commands, and a seamless digital experience, the Connected Driver project offers a new way to connect drivers, vehicles, and transport operations.

How do you make road transport safer, more efficient, and more connected using technology that's already part of drivers' daily lives?

That challenge is what led MICHELIN Connected Fleet, in partnership with Insi, to create Connected Driver: an innovation project that sets out to turn the smartphone into a support platform for truck drivers on the road.

The initiative sets out to modernize the experience of those behind the wheel, combining driver identification, connectivity, artificial intelligence, and driver-assistance features. Insi was responsible for the full development of the concept app, which showcases the solution's potential and lays the groundwork for what comes next.

The challenge: bringing more safety to the road with less complexity

In road transport, technology plays a key role in the safety and efficiency of operations. With such a wide range of drivers and carriers, there's growing opportunity to broaden the technology options available, delivering solutions that are increasingly connected and tailored to the needs of each operation.

Given this, MICHELIN Connected Fleet saw an opportunity to explore a new digital experience built around a device that's already part of drivers' daily routine: the smartphone.

By listening to drivers, carriers, risk managers, insurers, and automakers, MICHELIN Connected Fleet identified an opportunity: to tap into a device drivers already know and use every day, their own phone, to deliver a more connected experience.

"The question was: why not bring safety to where the driver already is?" says Elton Vieira, Product Manager at MICHELIN Connected Fleet.

That line of thinking gave rise to the concept of a platform designed to make safety more accessible, simplify processes, and stay with the driver throughout the entire trip.

The solution: a digital co-pilot for the driver

Connected Driver was designed to bring together, in a single app, features that support the safety and operation of road transport.

One of its key differentiators is the idea of putting the driver's identity at the center of safety. The solution includes features such as facial recognition, document validation, and a tracker connection that only activates when the driver is close to the vehicle.

This approach aims to improve traceability across operations and reduce risks tied to shared access or the misidentification of who's actually driving the truck.

The experience also includes an AI-powered voice assistant that can support interactions along the way, such as route lookups, finding rest stops, and requesting help.

Through integration with multimedia systems, the goal is to let drivers follow key trip information right on the vehicle's own screen, reducing the need to handle the phone manually.

The concept follows one guiding principle: hands on the wheel, eyes on the road.

Connected Driver marks another step forward in the evolution of MICHELIN Connected Fleet's solutions, exploring new possibilities in safety, connectivity, and efficiency to keep pace with the needs of drivers and carriers.

Technology in service of a smarter experience

To turn this vision into a concept app, Insi led the development of the digital solution, exploring technologies that make the interaction between driver, app, and vehicle simpler and more intuitive.

The features developed include voice commands, on-device information processing, and integration with the truck's multimedia system.

One of the technical challenges was ensuring the voice assistant stayed reliable in an environment like the cab, with engine noise, the radio, and conversation all competing for attention.

To tackle this, the team ran automated tests simulating real-world conditions, achieving a roughly 90% reduction in false activations of the assistant during testing.

Another key element was local data processing, designed to deliver fast responses and allow certain interactions even on stretches with limited connectivity.

"We started from a simple principle: technology needs to adapt to the driver, not the other way around," explains Rodrigo Merlim, Technology Director at MICHELIN Connected Fleet.

The concept app developed by Insi brings this approach to life, showing how different technologies can work together to support the driver's journey.

A platform designed to evolve with the transport industry

Connected Driver goes beyond the individual experience of the person behind the wheel.

For carriers and fleet managers, the solution aims to expand the possibilities for connectivity and safety, offering a complementary alternative to dedicated devices and letting each operation rely on the technology best suited to its needs.

According to Diogo Barone, Director of Products at MICHELIN Connected Fleet, the project represents an evolution of the company's portfolio, with options for different types of operations, from independent truckers to large fleets.

The vision for the future also includes expanding functionality, with real-time driving indicators, predictive risk alerts, integration with telemetry data, and access to services and partners along the route.

These capabilities are part of the product's roadmap and reinforce its ambition to become a services platform for road transport.

From concept to the next step of the journey

With the concept app developed by Insi, Connected Driver moves forward as an innovation initiative that combines transport-sector expertise, software development, and technologies focused on user experience.

The partnership will continue with the build of the official version of the solution, with development expected to begin in 2027.

More than just a new interface for drivers, Connected Driver shows how the combination of human intelligence and technology can open the way to more connected, safer, and more efficient operations.

An evolution that starts with the needs of those out on the road and uses technology to bring people, vehicles, and businesses closer together.