Geotab and Mercedes-Benz Connectivity Services (US) Integrated Solution

For the most up-to-date version of this document, refer to the public Partner Guide for US.

This document is also available in Spanish.

Introduction

The Geotab and Mercedes-Benz Connectivity Services (US) Integrated Solution seamlessly transmits key vehicle data points and relevant fleet indicators from Mercedes-Benz vehicles to MyGeotab, Geotab’s open and expandable fleet management platform. This document contains all the essential information that you, the Partner, need to use the Geotab and Mercedes-Benz Connectivity Services Integrated Solution.

Which vehicles are eligible for this solution?

In general, the Geotab and Mercedes-Benz Connectivity Services Integrated Solution in the United States is available for the vehicles in the following table.

Supported regions

US Mercedes-Benz vehicles are eligible for this solution.

Getting Started

Before you can use the solution, you must obtain a valid VIN, register the devices in MyAdmin, and add the devices to the MyGeotab database. To get started, follow the steps outlined in the following sections.

Step 1 — Validate VINs

Validate vehicles on the Vehicle Eligibility page:

If the OEM is providing an API to check the eligibility of their vehicles, the result will appear immediately.

If one or more VINs require a manual check, a pop-up will prompt you to begin the process by clicking Request OEM eligibility check. You will automatically receive a confirmation email, and once we have the results from the OEM, you will receive them per email. For ease of reference, the VIN eligibility results can be downloaded in a file.

After confirming which vehicles are supported and activated, proceed to the Register third-party devices on MyAdmin section to order the solution with your MyAdmin account.

! IMPORTANT: Geotab may reach out to you to provide the Customer’s proof of ownership* of the vehicles which are activated as part of this solution. This is required to fulfill audit requirements from Mercedes-Benz Connectivity Services.

* One of the following documents is acceptable as proof of ownership:

1. Picture of the vehicle ownership document, including the VIN
2. Full screenshot of the leasing and fleet management system, including the VIN

Step 2 — Register third-party devices on MyAdmin

Prior to starting with activation, please secure proof of vehicle ownership from the Customer.

One of the following documents below can serve as proof of ownership:

1. Picture of a vehicle ownership document, including the VIN
2. Full screenshot of the leasing and fleet management system, including the VIN

✱ NOTE: Geotab could ask the partner for this document as a part of Geotab’s responsibility towards the OEM to responsibly activate vehicles.

A valid telematics device serial number is required to use the Geotab and Mercedes-Benz Connectivity Services Integrated Solution with MyGeotab. Geotab has established a process on MyAdmin that allows Partners to register third-party devices and obtain a valid serial number.

To register third-party devices and obtain the serial numbers, follow these steps:

You will receive an email from MyAdmin with a CSV file containing the serial numbers. After you receive the allocated serial numbers starting with “DZ” (US), proceed to the following step to add the devices in MyGeotab.

Step 3 — Add devices in MyGeotab

You must provide the VIN and device serial number when adding devices to MyGeotab. To learn how to add your assets to MyGeotab, see Adding assets in the Product Guide.

! IMPORTANT: Be sure that you add the device to one database only, and that you only provide VINs for vehicles that you have clearance to view.

✱ NOTE: It may take up to 24 hours for the vehicle data to become available on MyGeotab after the devices are added to the database.

Using the Solution

To learn more about the built-in reports, rules and exceptions, refer to the MyGeotab Product Guide. For more information on subscription plans, please refer to Data Set - Geotab and Mercedes-Benz Connectivity Services Integrated Solution.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Billing

Will I be billed by Geotab or MBCon?

While the solution uses the Mercedes-Benz Connectivity Services (MBCon) embedded telematics device, you will be billed by Geotab.

How do I choose a Rate Plan for the device?

Use the Subscription Plan dropdown menu to select a Rate Plan when registering third-party devices on the Device Admin page in MyAdmin. For more information on subscription plans, refer to the Data Set document. To view pricing options, navigate to Billing > Rate Plans in MyAdmin.

When does billing begin?

Billing begins when the device is added to MyGeotab and starts receiving data from MBCon. The solution will be billed at the end of every month (prorated).

Managing MBCon devices

How do I identify MBCon devices in MyAdmin?

View MBCon devices in MyAdmin under Devices > Device Admin > Look up Devices.

You can see your Ford devices in MyAdmin under Devices > Device Management.

All Mercedes-Benz US device serial numbers start with “DZ”.

Can I use the ‘Swap Device’ function in MyGeotab?

GO devices can be replaced by OEM devices by using the Swap Device option in MyGeotab. The Swap Device option can only be used when moving from a GO device to an OEM device, it cannot be used to replace an OEM or third-party device with a new OEM device.

How can I replace a GO device with an OEM device?

How do I terminate a MBCon device?

Devices can be terminated in MyAdmin following the standard device termination process. Device termination disables the device, prevents data logging, and stops the billing accordingly.

To terminate devices, follow these steps:

Once complete, follow the steps below to remove the devices from the MyGeotab database:

What happens if I terminate an MBCon device in MyAdmin?

Billing stops as soon as a device is terminated. To ensure complete termination, remove the device from the MyGeotab database or click Archive asset to keep the historical data in MyGeotab.

I terminated the MBCon device, can I use the solution again for the same vehicle?

Terminated OEM serial numbers cannot be used again. To reactivate a device, repeat the steps in the Register third-party devices in MyAdmin and Add device(s) in MyGeotab section to register and add a new device.

Can I change the MBCon Device Plan or VIN after it has been registered?

The Device Plan for the same VIN can be changed under the Device Admin menu on MyAdmin.

For new VINs, repeat the steps in the Register third-party devices in MyAdmin and Add device(s) in My Geotab section to register and add a new device.

Does standard Geotab Warranty or RMA Policy apply to MBCon devices?

The Geotab Warranty and RMA Policy do not apply to MBCon devices. The hardware on the MBCon devices belongs to Mercedes-Benz, so the Mercedes-Benz policy for hardware warranty and repairs will be applicable.

Where is the solution available to order?

This solution is available for Mercedes-Benz vehicles in the US. For guidance on Mercedes-Benz vehicles in Europe please see Mercedes-Benz EU partner Guide.

Usage related FAQ

Which engine data is logged by the MBCon telematics unit? What is the frequency of logging vehicle data?

Please refer to the Mercedes-Benz Dataset document for more information on available device plans, engine data, and logging frequency.

1. Note that the available data, features and logging frequency can vary based on the selected rate plan

Can the Mercedes-Benz Connectivity (MBCon) telematics unit be used for ELD purposes?

No, the current MBCon Integrated solution can not be used for ELD.

Speed shows as 0 on the map. I don’t see any vehicle speed data?

Vehicle speed can be found under the Maintenance menu under Measurements, select Engine Road Speed.

The vehicle was speeding but did not trigger the speeding rule.

Currently the rules engine does not support engine road speed to evaluate speeding rules. You can create a custom rule for Engine Road speed when it crosses a threshold, but not compare it to speed limit data.

The vehicle is not showing infractions on Driver Behaviour or Safety Score card reports.

Please refer to the Mercedes-Benz Dataset document. We are not provided with raw acceleration data for use with the MyGeotab rules engine. The below data points provided by Mercedes-Benz can be found in the Maintenance menu under Measurements.

1. Mercedes-Benz driving score - acceleration (0-100%)
2. MBCon driving acceleration: Lateral negative outlier duration
3. MBCon driving acceleration: Lateral positive outlier duration
4. MBCon driving acceleration: Lateral regular acceleration duration
5. MBCon driving acceleration: Longitudinal negative outlier duration
6. MBCon driving acceleration: Longitudinal positive outlier duration
7. MBCon driving acceleration: Longitudinal regular acceleration duration

What are Mercedes-Benz Driving scores?

The below data points provided by Mercedes-Benz can be found in the Maintenance menu under Measurements.

1. Mercedes-Benz Driving Score Acceleration (0-100%) - This score represents the driver's acceleration behavior as a percentage. A lower score indicates frequent or aggressive use of the accelerator pedal (e.g., consistently flooring the gas), while a higher score suggests smoother acceleration.
2. Mercedes-Benz Driving Score Bonus range (km) - This metric reflects the bonus kilometers earned through good driving habits.
3. Mercedes-Benz Driving Score Constancy (0-100%) - This measures the driver’s ability to maintain a consistent speed, typically higher during steady highway driving. A higher percentage indicates more consistent speed maintenance.
4. 1. For example, a use case would be delivery vehicles. These types of vehicles often show a lower Driving Score Constancy due to frequent stop-and-go in delivery zones. If you want more meaningful constancy data for these vehicles, you can use our Geofencing service to exclude these delivery areas from your analysis. This allows you to focus on Driving Score Constancy outside the geofenced zones—such as on highways between delivery stops—providing a clearer view of driver behavior where consistent speed is expected.
1. Mercedes-Benz Driving Score Freewheeling (0-100%) - This represents the extent to which the driver allows the vehicle to coast (i.e., moving without acceleration or braking). A higher score indicates more frequent coasting, which can help reduce brake wear, lower maintenance costs, and minimize consumption and accidents (e.g., rolling to a red light instead of braking abruptly)

Connectivity related FAQ

Which cellular networks are available for this solution?

Mercedes-Benz makes the solution available on the T-Mobile network in the USA.

Will the solution work while roaming in North America outside the base region?

The cellular connection for Mercedes-Benz is T-Mobile in the USA. However vehicles activated with US product code must be registered and domiciled in the US.

Roaming is available for this integration, USA vehicles will report data if the vehicle crosses the border into Canada or Mexico.

Is satellite backup offered?

No, satellite services are not offered for connectivity back up with MBCon embedded telematics

What happens if the device is not connected to the mobile network?

The service can not be activated without network connectivity and therefore no data will be available. The vehicles' TCU will not store any data in the absence of a connection, meaning that the data cannot be retrieved for the duration the vehicle was out of network coverage.

What happens if the device is not connected to GPS?

Location services will not be available to the customer if the modem is not connected to GPS. No gps data can be retrieved.

How do firmware upgrades work?

Firmware upgrades are controlled by MBCon and occur over the air (OTA).

Getting help

I cannot see device data on MyGeotab. What are some initial troubleshooting steps I can perform?

As a Geotab Partner, follow these preliminary steps:

1. Check if the serial number prefix is correct (DZ). If not, terminate the device and start the process again.
2. Review the device information in MyGeotab to make sure the VIN was added.
3. Confirm with the Customer that the vehicle has been moving.

Who do I contact for support?

! IMPORTANT: Geotab is limited to supporting issues around MyGeotab and MyAdmin. Any issues that require escalation to Mercedes-Benz may require assistance from the vehicle owner.

As a Geotab Partner, if you have used all applicable troubleshooting resources, please contact Geotab Support.

✱ NOTE: Geotab is unable to support Accident Reconstruction requests for OEM devices.

How do I contact support?

If you have an issue that requires technical support, contact Geotab Support. To streamline the process, specify the category as Third Party Hardware and provide both the serial number and VIN as part of the issue description.

If Geotab Support determines that the issue is not related to a Geotab service, we will refer to support material provided by Mercedes-Benz. If required, we will escalate the issue and work with you on a resolution.

It has been determined that my device does not work. What should I do?

The factory embedded hardware is covered under the Mercedes-Benz Vehicle Warranty. If your device does not work, go to an authorized Mercedes-Benz repair center for evaluation.

Resources and Contact Information

For more information, please refer to the MyAdmin User Guide. For questions, please contact your Partner Account Manager.