Peterbilt chooses Microsoft Surface for industry supplies

Paccar Inc., the maker of Peterbilt and Kenworth trucks, has become the latest company to sign up to use Microsoft's Surface computers. The tabletop machines won't be in the trucks themselves, at least not that the company is saying. Instead, they're expected to be used by Paccar customers to order parts at the company's dealerships.

No announcement has been made by the companies, but my colleague Bill Virgin tells me that a Microsoft Surface machine with a specialized parts-ordering application was on display Tuesday in the hallway outside Paccar's annual meeting in Bellevue. Customers would log in by laying down an account card that would be recognized by the computer. They could then view videos and virtual brochures about the parts before dragging icons into a shopping cart to place an order.

Paccar joins AT&T and other companies using or planning to use the Microsoft technology. Paccar confirmed the general plan but wasn't able to immediately talk about the roll-out schedule or other details. I'll update this post when more information is available.