ZF Friedrichshafen AG took the top ranking in the Safety category of the 2026 “Best of New Transportation” reader poll, with readers of German publications eurotransport.de, trans aktuell and FERNFAHRER voting the company’s OnGuardMAX driver assistance system for commercial vehicles number one. The poll, conducted by ETM Publishing, draws votes from manufacturers, fleet operators and professional drivers, and ZF describes it as a benchmark gauge of how companies and products are perceived in the commercial vehicle industry. ZF won in the category “Safety – Innovative Concepts,” where readers credited OnGuardMAX with a high level of innovation and the potential to improve road safety.
Highlights
- ZF ranked first in the “Safety – Innovative Concepts” category of ETM Publishing’s 2026 reader poll
- OnGuardMAX combines collision warning, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go, and lane keeping
- The system supports Level 2 automated driving and is designed to enable higher levels of automation
- ZF plans to center future safety work on tractor-trailer systems integration
How Does OnGuardMAX Protect Commercial Vehicles?
According to ZF, OnGuardMAX warns of potential collisions with moving or stationary obstacles, pedestrians and cyclists in the vehicle’s path as well as along its sides. If the driver does not respond, the system automatically initiates full emergency braking.
The system also includes adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go functionality for congested traffic and a lane-keeping function for highway driving. ZF reports that OnGuardMAX supports automated driving up to Level 2 and is designed to enable higher levels of automation, allowing vehicle manufacturers to meet and exceed current safety requirements. The system is already in series production with several vehicle manufacturers.
Recognition From Drivers and Fleet Operators
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.”
What Comes Next for ZF Commercial Vehicle Safety?
Mayer pointed to the combination of tractor and trailer as the next focus of the company’s safety development.
“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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