Fleet telematics solutions are increasingly becoming about more than just monitoring the location of your fleet. With features that can monitor and report on driver safety, you are better equipped to care for your assets and your staff. Monitoring and improving the safety of your fleet translates to savings across your bottom line. Raising the bar for drivers raises the bar for your fleet. Here we will look at the key areas to monitor with your fleet management solutions that will help make an impact on trucking company safety scores.
Speed Monitoring
Using fleet tracking apps allows you to monitor your fleet for their adherence to posted speed limits. Speeding is well known for contributing to accidents and deaths on the road. It is an absolute necessity that drivers eliminate the practice of speeding. Having a telematics system that monitors this metric and can notify managers when it is occurring allows them to correct the behavior of drivers as it is happening. There is no more wondering and hoping that your drivers maintain the speed limit, you have concrete data to review and discuss.
Distracted Driving
Fleet tracking applications have also evolved to allow managers to monitor cell phone usage while the vehicle is in motion. Distracted driving has been a more prominent issue in today’s world of smartphone usage. With texting, calling, and social media constantly at your fingertips, the temptation to engage is constantly there. Monitoring for behaviors such as making and receiving calls while the vehicle is in motion gives managers insight into behaviors that could result in accidents and violations.
Driving Behaviors
Safety measures can improve your bottom line in ways you may not have even considered. Driving behaviors such as hard braking and rapid acceleration can lead to accidents and citations that affect your entire fleet. In-cab safety alerts can bring these behaviors to the attention of the driver so that real-time corrections can be made. Monitoring the response to alerts, fleet managers can observe drivers’ corrections and ensure that the safety measures are being followed.
Two-Way Dashcam
Another safety measure being integrated into fleet tracking is the two-way dashcam. These devices can monitor the behaviors and reactions of drivers in response to an accident or near miss. This is incredibly valuable information as it allows managers to discuss reactions with the drivers and provide additional training in areas that may need reinforcement. Knowing how your drivers react in certain situations, can let you provide tailored training that best benefits each driver.
Safety Scores
Gathering driver safety data all together and quantifying it with a score makes the data understandable and relevant to each driver. Scores can be tracked and trended to evaluate performance improvements. They can also be posted to spur on some friendly competition among drivers. Presenting safety scores in a positive manner helps drivers to view the information in a more positive light. Instead of feeling like “Big Brother” is watching, drivers can approach it like a game or competition that they have control over. In this way, everyone wins.
Monitoring safety scores and individual data points across the fleet can benefit your business in so many ways. Along with fewer accidents and injuries, maintaining safe driving behaviors, reduces costs. Fuel costs, insurance costs, and maintenance costs are all directly impacted by safe driving practices. Azuga is a leading provider of fleet management software solutions aimed at innovative safety management practices. They are committed to fostering a “safety first” environment for drivers. With their fleet telematics solutions focused on safety and affordability, the rewards are essential for companies and drivers alike.
