System and method for establishing vehicle distributed power arrangement

A method comprising:

• communicating a discover message from a first vehicle;
• receiving a discover reply message at the first vehicle, the discover reply message including an identifier of a second vehicle from which the discover reply message is communicated;
• and
• communicating a configure message from the first vehicle to the second vehicle based on the identifier in the discover reply message, wherein the configure message instructs the second vehicle to transition to a remote mode of operation in which remote control of tractive and braking efforts of the second vehicle is enabled.

A method comprising:

• scanning, at a radio onboard a first vehicle, multiple channels in a frequency range to detect a discover message communicated from a second vehicle that is designated as lead vehicle in a distribute power arrangement;
• responsive to detecting the discover message in the frequency range, communicating a discover reply message from the first vehicle to the lead vehicle, the discover reply message including an identifier of the first vehicle;
• receiving a configure message at the first vehicle from the lead vehicle subsequent to communicating the discover reply message;
• and
• responsive to receiving the configure message, configuring the first vehicle in a remote mode of operation in which remote control of tractive and braking efforts of the first vehicle is enabled and non-emergency control inputs entered onboard the first vehicle are disabled.