SBF 70 years logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Zonar celebrates 10-year anniversary

The company's foundational offering was the Electronic Vehicle Inspection Report, and as demand for the technology grew, the company began offering other products, such as ZPass and Ground Traffic Control. Zonar attributes its growth to customer-driven product development and strong relationships with customers who are leaders in their respective markets.

October 20, 2011
2 min to read


SEATTLE — This month, Zonar Systems marked its 10th anniversary of providing customers with fleet management solutions.

Zonar's foundational offering, EVIR, is the only electronically verified vehicle inspection system available, according to the company. As the demand for EVIR increased, so did the suite of solutions offered by Zonar. Today, the company offers a wide range of products and services that include:

Ad Loading...

• V2J Telematics Platform: GPS capabilities that combine real-time delivery of vehicle condition with performance data in one simple-to-install device
• Wombat: all the power of the V2J inside a case that can handle harsh environments, including mud, dust, snow and salt
• ZPass: technology designed to monitor and report student ridership in a safe, reliable and non-intrusive way
• Ground Traffic Control: a web-based fleet management portal that provides a real-time picture of fleet operations with visibility, ease and control

"Ten years is an incredible milestone," said Chris Oliver, vice president of sales and marketing at Zonar. "Maintaining great relationships with our customers is a key to our success."

Zonar attributes its growth to customer-driven product innovations and strong relationships with customers who are leaders in their respective markets.

For example, Zonar customer First Student Inc. is the largest provider of student transportation services in North America, transporting 6 million students daily using a fleet of more than 57,000 buses.

Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA), the largest heavy-duty truck manufacturer in the U.S., worked with Zonar to develop and deploy a real-time remote diagnostic system as standard equipment on model year 2012 Freightliner vehicles equipped with Detroit Diesel engines.

Ad Loading...

DTNA's Virtual Technician, powered by Zonar, delivers vehicle diagnostics and fault codes to DTNA's service centers as they occur, making possible advanced repair scheduling and parts ordering — often before the vehicle arrives at the shop, according to the company.

Zonar also recently developed a new fuel management system called Z-Con. Developed in conjunction with TCH, Z-Con ensures secure transactions, prevents fuel theft and simplifies the fueling process by transforming trucks into fuel cards.

Using multi-factor authentication, Z-Con consistently and accurately identifies a truck and authorizes the fuel purchase by facilitating communication between the truck's ECM, the fuel pump and the purchasing network. This creates a seamless transaction process while ensuring that fuel is pumped only into the authorized vehicle, according to the company.

"Offering new and efficient ways to improve all aspects of fleet management has been and will always be our focus at Zonar," said Eric Manegold, founding partner and vice president of business development for commercial vehicles. "Ingenuity, innovation and great relationships have brought us this far — I can't wait to see what the next 10 years will bring."

More Maintenance

zonar system image
SponsoredMay 1, 2026

What Data Shows About Student Transportation in 2026

Driver shortages, safety expectations, and staffing limits define student transportation in 2026. New survey data shows how fleet leaders are responding.

Read More →
Fleet manager reviews maintenance and performance data on dual computer monitors.
MaintenanceApril 27, 2026

How School Bus Fleets are Getting Ahead of Breakdowns

Don’t let bus downtime wear you down. Here’s how bus operators are shifting from manual processes to AI-powered, data-driven maintenance systems for improved reliability and safety.

Read More →
zonar system image
SponsoredApril 20, 2026

2026 State of Student Transportation Report

Student transportation teams are being asked to do more with less, facing driver shortages, rising costs, and increasing safety expectations. This report uncovers how fleets are adapting, where technology is making the biggest impact, and why student ridership tracking is emerging as a top priority. Download the report to explore the key trends shaping 2026 and what they mean for your operation.

Read More →
Transfinder promotional graphic featuring “P.A.Y.S. – Pay As You Save” surrounded by icons of school transportation operations (bus, maps, calendar, clock, documents, and money), with tagline about saving time, money, and headaches in school transportation.
SponsoredApril 16, 2026

How Transfinder Technology P.A.Y.S. (Pays as You Save) Saving Time, Money and Headaches in School Transportation Operations

Transportation leaders say when their districts implemented Transfinder's AI enhanced logistics technology, it paid for itself in financial savings, time savings and operational headache reductions (OHR). In this white paper transportation experts share specific ways they have experienced how Transfinder P.A.Y.S. (Pay As You Save) off. Each, in their own way, said transportation technology is not simply a software purchase — it’s a strategic investment in operational efficiency, cost containment and staff satisfaction.

Read More →
Row of yellow school buses with overlay text reading “The essential guide to school bus fleet maintenance: Maximizing safety and uptime” and the Geotab logo.
SponsoredApril 1, 2026

Data-Driven School Bus Maintenance Guide

Stop reacting to engine lights and start predicting them. This guide reveals how transitioning from a "break-fix" model to a data-driven maintenance strategy can drastically reduce fleet downtime and protect your district's budget. Learn how to transform your garage operations from a cost center into a reliability powerhouse.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Buyers Guide and Directory thumbnail
SponsoredMarch 13, 2026

2026 School Bus Fleet Vendor Directory & Buyer's Guide

Searching for the right equipment, technology, or services for your school transportation program? This industry guide brings together manufacturers and suppliers across the entire school bus market, all in one place. Download it to find the partners who can help move your operation forward.

Read More →
2026 School Bus Maintenance Survey thumbnail
SponsoredMarch 13, 2026

2026 School Bus Maintenance Survey

What top challenges are school bus maintenance teams facing in 2026? Explore new trends from School Bus Fleet’s annual maintenance survey covering fleet composition and age, fuel types, used vs. new purchasing patterns, technician pay and certifications, and the impact of the driver shortage. Survey sponsor: Dayton Parts.

Read More →
School Bus Maintenance in 2026: Costs, Tech & Workforce Gaps
MaintenanceMarch 13, 2026

2026 School Bus Maintenance Survey

What top challenges are school bus maintenance teams facing in 2026? Explore new trends from School Bus Fleet’s annual maintenance survey covering fleet composition and age, fuel types, used vs. new purchasing patterns, technician pay and certifications, and the impact of the driver shortage. Survey sponsor: Dayton Parts.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
A purple and white Fleetio graphic with text reading "Fleetio Introduces AI Service Advisor."
Maintenanceby Staff and News ReportsMarch 13, 2026

Fleetio Launches AI-Powered Maintenance Service Advisor

The company’s new AI tool helps fleet managers approve repairs faster, prioritize maintenance, and reduce shop time across high-volume fleets.

Read More →