ZF Friedrichshafen AG’s OnGuardMAX, the company’s automatic emergency braking-based driver assistance system for commercial vehicles, was voted number one in the Safety category of ETM Publishing’s 2026 “Best of New Transportation” reader poll. Readers of the German trade publications eurotransport.de, trans aktuell and FERNFAHRER — a voting pool ZF notes spans manufacturers, fleet operators and professional drivers — ranked the company first in the “Safety – Innovative Concepts” category. The award recognized OnGuardMAX, which voters credited with a high level of innovation and the potential to improve safety in road freight transport.
Highlights
- ZF took the top ranking in the “Safety – Innovative Concepts” category of the 2026 ETM Publishing reader poll
- If the driver does not respond to a collision warning, OnGuardMAX automatically initiates full emergency braking
- The system detects moving and stationary obstacles, pedestrians and cyclists in the vehicle’s path and along its sides
- ZF’s next safety focus is integrated braking and safety systems across the full tractor-trailer combination
Emergency Braking at the Core
According to ZF, OnGuardMAX warns the driver of potential collisions with moving or stationary obstacles, pedestrians and cyclists ahead of the vehicle and along its sides. If the driver does not respond, the system initiates full emergency braking automatically.
Beyond its braking function, the system bundles adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability for congested traffic and a lane-keeping function for highway driving. ZF reports the package supports automated driving up to Level 2 and is designed to enable higher levels of automation, letting truck makers exceed current safety requirements rather than merely meet them. The latest version of OnGuardMAX is already in series production with several vehicle manufacturers.
Drivers Among the Voters
Martin Mayer, Product Segment Leader for ADAS systems in ZF’s Commercial Vehicle Solutions division, accepted the award at a ceremony in Stuttgart on June 11, 2026.
“The strong endorsement from readers, reflected in the number-one ranking we received for safety innovation, is a great source of pride for us,” Mayer said. “The voters include not only manufacturers and fleet operators but, importantly, professional drivers. Their vote confirms that we are setting the right priorities in our product development.”
How Will ZF Extend Safety to the Full Vehicle Combination?
Mayer said the company’s next development push centers on truck-trailer systems integration, extending safety functions beyond the tractor alone.
“Going forward, we will continue to apply our system expertise to make the logistics industry even more efficient, comfortable and safer,” he said. “A central element of our work will focus on the interaction between tractor and trailer, along with the continued development of integrated safety systems for the entire vehicle combination.”
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