Effective September 1, 2013

There’s an old saying about Cat® equipment: “Buy the iron; get the company.” It means that investing in a piece of equipment from us is the beginning of a relationship based on respect and strengthened by a mutual focus on your long-term success. That is just as true today as it was decades ago.

But today you get more than iron when you buy our equipment.  You get information that can help you work more safely and productively. This information is shared with Caterpillar and its partners, affiliates, subsidiaries and dealers to insure our products remain competitive and are always providing maximum value for our customers.

If you buy equipment with telematics devices such as Product Link™ or the Vital Information Management System (VIMS™), you should read this privacy statement to understand what information these devices generate and transmit—and what we do with it.

Information we collect
Telematics devices transmit information about the equipment, including their condition and operational data.

This “telematics information” may include, but is not limited to:

• Equipment model number
• Equipment serial number
• Equipment location 
• Equipment performance
• Diagnostic data
• Fuel usage
• Service meter units
• Software and hardware version numbers

For more information about what information is collected please contact your local dealer.

While Caterpillar cannot identify the owner or operator of a piece of equipment with this telematics information alone, we can make that determination when the telematics information is combined with other data as discussed below.

What we do with information
Caterpillar, its affiliates, subsidiaries and dealers use telematics information to improve our products and services. This information is also used to:

• Develop statistical studies
• Understand performance issues
• Comply with regulations and laws and protect people and property

To the extent that the telematics information is associated with a part of the Caterpillar business that is acquired by another entity, merged with another entity, restructured, sold, or otherwise transferred, Caterpillar reserves the right to use and disclose this information.

The telematics information also may be combined with other data that either Caterpillar or the applicable dealer has collected (e.g., customer order data) in order to better serve you.  The telematics information may be used in combination with such customer-identifying information to:

• Fulfill Customer Support Agreements, perform maintenance and repairs, and deliver rental equipment or parts (telematics data may be required for these services)
• Monitor and manage equipment health and efficiency
• Respond to inquiries, comments and suggestions you may have about your equipment
• Market research
• Request your evaluation of Caterpillar and/or Cat dealers
• Notify you of promotions and special offers by Caterpillar, its partners, affiliates, subsidiaries and dealers

In each case, such customer-identifying information shall only be used in accordance with applicable local laws and subject to any applicable privacy statements or agreements between you and Caterpillar or the applicable dealer.

Collection method
The telematics devices are designed to collect telematics information.  The telematics information may be transmitted automatically or manually to Caterpillar.   If you utilize a service that includes Caterpillar telematics, please refer to the privacy statement and/or terms and conditions of your specific service as other data may be collected through that service.

Safeguards
We take appropriate and reasonable steps to protect the telematics information that we process, regardless of where the systems that we use to process telematics information are located. We do this through physical, electronic and procedural safeguards that are designed to protect the confidentiality, integrity and availability of the telematics information.  Caterpillar intends to treat your telematics information respectfully and lawfully.

Sharing information
Your telematics information may be shared by Caterpillar, its partners, affiliates, subsidiaries and dealers, but we disclose information only to those with a legitimate business reason to access it.  This includes third parties who process information on behalf of Caterpillar and its partners, affiliates, subsidiaries and dealers.  Additionally, telematics information (any customer-identifying information or other personally identifiable information, which would not be telematics information, will only be shared in accordance with the agreement or privacy statement under which they were provided or collected) may be made available to subsequent owners of the equipment.

Your consent
By providing information to us, you consent to its collection and use as described in this document. Some information may be transferred to and processed in countries without laws providing the same level of data protection as your country. Nonetheless, our use and disclosure of your information is subject to this privacy statement regardless of where your information is transferred.

Your rights
You have the right to reasonable access to your personal information (including in some cases to update and delete personal information about you). To do so, you must provide satisfactory proof of identity and ownership of the equipment. (We reserve the right to be reimbursed for our costs when applicable.)  Please contact your local Cat dealer or you may inquire to Caterpillar via e-mail at ProductLink@cat.com for more information.

How you can contact us
For more information you can contact your local Cat dealer or you may inquire at:

Caterpillar Inc.
Attn:  Data Privacy Coordinator
100 N.E. Adams Street
Peoria, IL, U.S.A.

You may also contact Caterpillar’s Office of Business Practices at http://codeofconduct.cat.com/ or by calling (800) 300-7898.

Privacy statement changes
We reserve the right to amend this data privacy statement. Changes will be reflected in the online version of this document. Your continued use of a telematics device or website constitutes your acceptance of those changes.

Note: This privacy statement does not apply to telematics devices that may be provided by others or configured to send information to someone other than Caterpillar or its affiliates or subsidiaries.

 

Last revised September 1, 2013

©2013 Caterpillar All Rights Reserved.

CAT, CATERPILLAR, their respective logos, “Caterpillar Yellow,” Product Link and the “Power Edge” trade dress as well as corporate and product identity used herein, are trademarks of Caterpillar and may not be used without permission.