For fleets to function seamlessly and efficiently, telematics solutions should be used. And that’s exactly what the State of Utah did when they found that they were struggling to follow specific state and federal guidelines that depict how equipment and vehicles should be used.
The Needs of the State of Utah Police Fleet
Overall fleet reporting
Measuring vehicle utilization
Tracking on-duty and off-duty vehicle use
Monitoring driving behaviour
Ensuring drivers are running code and following policy
Maintaining accurate historical data
The Solution: Geotab IOX Integrations
The State of Utah utilized Geotab’s IOX integrations to address all of these concerns. Specifically they utilized Driver ID with NFC technology (IOX-NFCREADER), light monitoring and siren usage (IOX-AUXM), and seat belt tracking.
If you’re interested to learn more about the State of Utah’s primary challenges, the solutions they used, or the results they saw, check out Geotabs case study here: The State of Utah
When a business adopts a new technology or tries a new strategy, sometimes the change can provoke frustration. This is because some employees may struggle to see the value in the change or employees may prefer to complete work the way they’ve always known. However, it’s important to remember that new technology is critical for businesses that are looking to grow as it drives new levels of success. So with this being said, managers must do everything they can to ensure a smooth transition of adopting new technology. When discussing the adoption of IoT solutions, managers must do what they can to limit common IoT frustrations among their teams.
Common IoT Frustrations & Possible Solutions
Having New Quantities of Data
When new IoT solutions are deployed, businesses can struggle and become frustrated about what to do with the vast quantities of data that they now have. This frustration is amplified when there is no guidance or direction as teams can become overwhelmed or unsure of their work. So whenever a business implements a new technology, it is always recommended for management to take advantage of the training and support available. Regardless of if managers feel as though their team can do so without it, having additional guidance about how to use the tool can help ensure that employees are not only using it properly but using it to its fullest potential.
Service Interruptions and Outages
When it comes to the service of your IoT solutions, there are concerns that there will be a lack of service with the technology. This comes from the fear that with any new computerized tool, there could be periods where it just doesn’t work. While this is a common IoT frustration that many could encounter for various reasons, it’s critical for businesses to do what they can to keep this frustration at a minimum. This includes managers or decision-makers to do their due diligence and research the company they’re about to work with. This will ensure that businesses are working with a service provider who is known to have uninterrupted service, generally fast log times and quick customer service response times.
Lack of Acceptance
One final frustration that many companies face is the frustration of team members not being open to adopting new tools. As many teams prefer to stick to routines, sometimes it can make implementing new technology difficult. And when teams are reluctant to take on new ways of working, it can make it that much harder for management to run departments or for organizations to grow. So management should always be encouraging and transparent about what the technology can do for employees and the company as a whole. Often, this can help encourage acceptance.
For example, at first, the implementation of new digital form solutions like ZenduForms may not be widely accepted by employees as it can appear to be more of a hassle to learn. However, after the right training is completed and employees are shown how it can help them and the company, it is likely that it will be more widely accepted. Interested to learn more about how ZenduForms could benefit your business? Contact our sales team to learn more today!
Every business will feel growing pains at some point, especially when new tools are continuously introduced. However, it’s important to anticipate such frustrations related to the new tools and for managers to do what they can to limit them. Not only does this require management to ensure that the proper training is completed when a new IoT tool is introduced and to be enthusiastic for the growth it could allow, but to do their due diligence while researching the success of the service provider. Keeping these three IoT frustrations and solutions in mind will not only make the transition to innovation easier, but will help ensure success rather than failure.
There are numerous benefits that businesses notice once they implement tech-focused initiatives that either reduce the use of paper or allow them to go paperless entirely. In addition to being environmentally beneficial, businesses often find that a paperless office can drastically improve their processes. Specifically, businesses have highlighted that paperless telematics solutions have helped to increase data reliability in addition to ensuring efficiency and accurate reporting.
Greater Numerical Reliability
As one can imagine, technology allows for improved documentation and record-keeping since there is a reduced chance of human error. This is true with telematics solutions once they are adopted. As telematics solutions are typically designed to automate data gathering, precise specifications can be predetermined and replicated on an ongoing basis. Meaning, the same information will always be accurately gathered without the use of physical paper. When a business is able to go paperless by using a telematics solution, they no longer have to worry about human error that could affect the accuracy of data.
One example of this is within the trucking and logistics sector which used to require drivers to manually fill out paper logbooks of their driving activity. Doing so wouldn’t only leave their records open to human error as previously discussed, but some drivers have in the past been known to falsify records to allow them to complete more deliveries. As a result, telematics solutions such as electronic logging devices (ELDs) have been introduced in regulations. Ultimately allowing drivers and fleets to go paperless which as a result, combats false records and incorrect data entry.
Limiting Wastefulness
When businesses switch to using an innovative telematics solution, typically, the environmental benefits are not stressed as much. However, since the impact that businesses have upon the environment continues to remain a popular topic, it’s important to highlight that going paperless by using telematics solutions can help reduce wastefulness. Specifically, employees are able to forgo using paper entirely as all of their work and information is recorded electronically.
This benefit is noticed within any office environment as teams no longer have to record data physically on paper documents to then input the information in a database. Telematics solutions are able to pull the information automatically and electronically, to then display it on any computer or smartphone device. Allowing employees to no longer have to use wasteful amounts of paper to be able to share or show information.
Praising Cloud Storage
Telematics solutions are also praised for the technology’s cloud connectivity. As mentioned previously, telematics solutions automatically pull and organize data that is relevant to a company. However, this goes one step further to reducing the use of paper as this information can be pulled and stored electronically. No longer are businesses required to keep physical paper copies of documents or reports, rather they use devices to view and analyze the information.
An example of this is how a small contracting business must keep tedious records of all of their contracting jobs. Ensuring that any customer or invoice inquiries can be completed or reviewed with accuracy and ease. This can include reassurance of accurate billing or arrival times, documentation of parts used or work completed and even the individual who attended and their notes on-site. Without a telematics solution, all of this information would be hard to review as it would likely be kept physically on paper in offices. Limiting who can have physical access to it.
How Your Business Can Go Paperless and Enter The Digital Era
If your business would like to go paperless by incorporating a tech-focused approach, contact us today! We have a number of resources and solutions available that allow for all of these benefits to be seen and more! Whether you’re looking to incorporate intelligent dispatching through ZenduWork, create digital forms with ZenduForms, or complete web-based maintenance management with ZenduMaintenance, we’re confident that we have a solution as unique as your business!
When it comes to moving a business forward, many look to implement new tools and strategies to accommodate changing processes and requirements. Recently, the focus for organizations is to streamline processes to not only ensure accuracy and employees responsibilities, but to boost finances. Within the commercial contracting field, telematics can accomplish this and more, specifically with the implementation of new and powerful management systems.
What Are Management Systems
A management system is a telematics solution that is used by numerous business owners and managers to grow their business and achieve their long term goals. Not only can these systems work to increase workflow, but these systems also allow for expandability while keeping costs low or reducing them even further. Although the features of management systems can vary, typically solutions can be adjusted to allow for custom mapping or GPS features, dispatching, maintenance, visibility and tracking. The focus is usually streamlining and automating data collection, complying to rules and regulations, as well as streamlining processes. Even though management systems can be applied to nearly any industry in one way or another, one industry that is seeing great potential from using it is commercial contracting or construction.
Why Commercial Contracting Businesses Are Seeing Success
Increased Visibility
Management systems are praised for visibility. When speaking about commercial contracting businesses, visibility from solutions allows managers to better supervise their teams, resulting in greater management of the overall business.
For example, since management systems offer live vehicle tracking and equipment tracking integrations, the location of employees and available equipment are always known. So when a call comes in, a dispatching manager can properly dispatch the closest worker who has the right training. Or, managers can dispatch the employee who has the proper tools and equipment, ensuring that they are maximizing their teams efforts by sending someone who can complete the job.
Less Downtime
In addition to live gps fleet tracking, these systems are able to conduct maintenance monitoring for connected vehicles so companies face less downtime and gain larger profits. Not only is this apparent in regards to deploying efforts (as the system will ensure that the right employee with the right skills or equipment will arrive), but in regards to asset quality. This concept speaks to the monitoring of tools, equipment and even the vehicles themselves to ensure they are in peak working performance. As management systems gather specific data that is applied to predetermined algorithms, it is possible to learn when to schedule maintenance.
For example, sensors and diagnostic devices can be installed to monitor vehicle performance. Prompting managers to determine when maintenance should be scheduled. This allows teams to stay productive as sudden breakdowns that cause vehicle downtime happen less often.
Boosted Safety
Lastly, depending on the nature of your commercial contracting business, you may find that your team is frequently dispatched to rural job sites alone. With management systems, managers are able to integrate a number of safety solutions to better protect their lone workers. One to highlight is the Man Down System which offers remote location management. This is through the increased communication from a device that can sense when a worker is injured or falls, resulting in a triggered motion sensor and thus, transmitting a notification requesting the assistance of management and EMS services.
Regardless of what your focus is for 2020, a management system is a tool that countless contracting businesses are seeing benefits from. Not only are managers and owners noticing that they are able to have more visibility on their team, but they can find ways to integrate maintenance and safety features.
If you’re interested in learning more about the management features that are available, or what integrations could best fit your unique business needs, contact us today! We’ll be happy to speak with you to learn exactly what you may want to invest in so you can see success in the new year!
From our family to yours, we want to take a moment to wish you a safe and happy holiday! 2019 was a great year, and now that the year is done, we’re excited to say that 2020 will be even better! Since we have a number of innovative and exciting projects coming down the pipeline, here is our reminder to keep an eye out for us!
What To Watch For:
We have a new partnership that we’re excited to announce! While we can’t tell you the name of the information technology and services giant who we’ll be working with quite yet, we can confirm that it will allow us to expand our offerings!
We are also planning to setup some new content programs that will go into motion in the first quarter of 2020. So if you’d like to stay updated on industry news or anything telematics related, follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube!
Keep an eye out for ongoing product updates and changes! Since the telematics sector is constantly changing, we’re anticipating that in 2020 we’ll not only continue to offer the great hardware and software solutions that we have now, but we’ll do what we can to better our inventory.
Like always, if you have any questions about our solutions, or how our offerings can help your business grow, contact us today!
Interested to stay in-touch and up-to-date in the new year? Make sure you subscribe to our newsletter (scroll down and fill out your email) and follow us on social!
The transportation sector seems to have become an ever changing industry as regulations and the technology required continues to advance. With this being said, while there are many who embrace these changes by staying up to date with telematics and regulations, some still choose to wait before they implement any changes. When it comes to using an electronic logging device (ELD) or an automatic onboarding recording device (AOBRD), individuals within the industry no longer have a choice about switching. Instead, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and the Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators (CCMTA) are now strictly enforcing the new regulations and technologies.
Said regulations focus on favouring electronic logging devices while phasing out automatic onboarding recording devices. This change means that drivers and fleet managers will need to check which device they use and possibly update it if it does not meet the new guidelines. To be specific, if an AOBRD was installed prior to December 18, 2017, the vehicle will have until June 21, 2021, to switch to an ELD. However, if the vehicle was not using AOBRDs previous to December 2017, the must switch to ELDs must be made by December 16, 2019.
Benefits Of Switching From An AOBRD To An ELD
Regardless of when you installed a recording device, if it’s not an ELD, you will need to update your device at some point in the future. With this being said, why not install an electronic logging device sooner rather than later? By doing so, we’re confident that you’ll be able to see noticeable benefits such as reduced stress, better management and cost savings.
Reduced Stress
When fleets transition from AOBRDs to ELDs well before their transition deadline, managers and drivers can expect to feel less stress. This is specific to individuals not having to worry about the possibility of not being compliant with new regulations and facing consequences that not only halt work, but can cost them thousands.
The consequences of not complying are:
Expensive fines,
Drivers being placed OOS (Out-Of-Service),
Additional paperwork,
And even lowered CSA scores.
As well, it’s worth highlighting that new ELDs often come with innovative solutions to make management easier. Meaning, managers and owners can better organize their fleet to boost productivity and reduce administrative tasks as reports can be automated.
Better Management
As previously mentioned, ELDs provide fleet managers with better management possibilities. Specifically, managers can better organize their fleets to essentially increase productivity and boost efficiency. This is due to the mass amounts of data that electronic logging devices collect in comparison to automatic onboarding recording devices. For example, when a fleet uses ELDs, drivers could be notified of maintenance checks that are predicted by forecasts, provided best transportation routes based on road conditions, and even have two-way communication with their managers while on the road.
Cost Savings
Transitioning your fleet from automatic onboarding recording devices to electronic logging devices can bring numerous financial benefits as well. While the upfront cost of this new technology may seem daunting for some, in the long term, fleet managers can save money. Not only are drivers automatically eliminating the possibility of being fined as they are compliant, but fleet managers can better organize or manage their fleets (as briefly mentioned) to maximize profits. So again, drivers will take the fastest routes, better maintain their vehicles to reduce repair downtime, and even automate automotive reporting duties.
How Automatic Onboarding Recording Devices And Electronic Logging Devices Differ
While AOBRDs do collect data, ELDs collect more information on a grander scale such as vehicle condition and driver behaviour.
ELDs are able to complete simple data transferring as they can harness wireless web, email, USB2.0 and Bluetooth capabilities.
ELDs allow for increased monitoring as they automatically record driving time once the vehicle begins moving or is idling.
Editing or history changes require annotations while using an ELD to better provide more information about the trip.
Alert notifications are made if there is a fault code or malfunction recognized by the ELD in use.
Your AOBRD To ELD Checklist
Do Your Research
You may find that certain devices will better suit your needs now and in the future as your company grows. This means finding an ELD that is third-party certified and works for any vehicle.
Remember, when it comes to ELDs, you’re making an investment in the growth of your company!
Complete The Proper Training
While installation is fairly straightforward, it’s critical to train your team properly if you would like your ELD to truly benefit your company. This includes training your office team and managers in how to use the device, as well as your drivers.
Installation
Confirm that every commercial vehicle that meets the criteria stated in the ELD mandate has the device properly installed. As well, ensure that your team has the correct software installed on their devices so they can take advantage of the solutions.
Stay Up-To-Date
Ensure you’re using your device to its fullest potential by staying on top of industry news and software updates. Sometimes users can overlook major features or updates as they’re simply not aware of how it can help them!
December 16th, 2019 is an important date for many commercial fleet organizations as it marks the day that commercial drivers are required to install and fully understand how to use ELDs within their vehicles, unless an AOBRD was in use prior to December 18, 2017. But, if an automatic onboarding recording device was in use prior to December 18, 2017, drivers will have an extended deadline of June 21, 2021, to become ELD compliant.
While there was a soft enforcement period which graced drivers with not having ELD violations affect their CSA scores, full enforcement will be in effect shortly.
What Being ELD Compliant Means
Being ELD compliant means that a commercial fleet which meets the criteria in relation to the ELD mandate must have the ELD recording device. As well, it’s worth noting that the electronic logging device must be self-certified, and in Canada, the devices must be third-party certified. Meaning, work-rest cycles will be obeyed as service compliance and fatigue management is at the core of this.
Apart from having the proper device, being ELD compliant also means that the drivers who are operating commercial motor vehicles must also know how to use the device. Specifically, how to provide authorized safety officials supporting documents or information regarding their travels.
“As an industry we are committed to improving road safety. Today’s announcement is a big step in the right direction and initiates the countdown toward the elimination of paper logbooks as a legal compliance option. The Canadian introduction of third-party certification of ELD devices will also ensure that the non-compliant operators in our sector cannot find workarounds to hours of service compliance in an electronic monitoring environment.”
As the deadline to be compliant with electronic logging devices quickly approaches, it’s critical to understand that the regulation will be strictly enforced. Among the many infractions a driver could receive, below are the four most common, and possibility the most detrimental to drivers or fleets.
Affect CSA Score
For carriers, the Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA) program helps to hold motorists accountable for their role in road safety. The program looks to monitor unsafe driving, vehicle maintenance as well as driver fitness with hopes to encourage fleets to operate in a safe manner. While there are many factors that make up your CSA score, it’s important to remember that once ELD compliance is in effect, failing to meet standards can lower your score. With severity ranging depending on the ELD infraction, fleets can’t risk it as low CSA scores can result in more roadside inspections as well as interfere with best-paying load or good business opportunities. Additionally, depending on the violation, drivers may be placed out-of-service until they are compliant.
Some violations that are known to typically be weighted more heavily in terms of severity are listed below;
No record of duty status
Using an incomplete or wrong method to record HOS (Hours Of Service)
ELD screen unable to be viewed from outside of the vehicle
Using a device that is not registered with the FMCSA (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration)
Out Of Service
If a driver is found to not have the proper ELD device for their commercial vehicle, it is possible, and likely that they will be placed out-of-service for at least 10 hours based on OOSC (Out-Of-Service criteria). While this typically occurs if a driver creates false reports or uses unauthorized ELD or ABORDs, being OOS can be detrimental. Not only are drivers unable to work for a lengthy period of time, or until they are compliant, but being out-of-service directly correlates to lost revenue as no work is completed.
Penalties fines
As one can assume, violations will have penalties and fines associated with them. Depending on the severity of the violation, the fine received can be thousands of dollars, translating into wasted finances that could be used to better the fleet. On average, the North American Trucking Association found that the average fine associated with failure to comply was $2,867, with the highest recorded fine being $13,680.
Towing costs
In addition to penalties and fines, fleets can see additional expenses adding up if they are not ELD compliant. One major expense to highlight is the cost of towing non-exempt vehicles if the driver is placed out-of-service. Depending on the location of the vehicle, the tow can cost hundreds.
With the repercussions of not being ELD compliant looming over some fleets, it’s crucial for businesses to begin anticipating their transition to the new device. As discussed, overlooking such an important change can greatly impact the success of the fleet.
With the deadline for ELD compliancy quickly approaching, be sure to take advantage of our GoFleet Promotion that can save you hundreds today!
Currently the transportation sector is undergoing major changes as the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and the Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators (CCMTA) are creating regulations to better the transportation industry. The main topic of discussion is the new regulation which encourages being ELD compliant. This mandate looks to enforce the use of Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs) in commercial vehicles. While ELD systems are already enforced throughout the United States, Canada is following suit by enforcing the widespread compliance of such electronic logbooks.
With the deadline to become ELD compliant quickly approaching, it’s important for drivers and fleet managers to review whether or not they actually are compliant, and if they’re not, to begin to take the right steps to obtaining an electronic logging device.
Temporary Compliance Under The Grandfather Clause
Even though commercial fleets within the United States are already required to meet ELD compliance, Canadian fleets will soon be under similar regulation. At the moment, electronic logging devices are not mandatory for all vehicles if the vehicle was using an AOBRD (Automatic On-Board Recording Device) prior to December 18, 2017. If an AOBRD was used prior, the drivers will not be forced to implement ELDs until the mandatory start date of June 12, 2021. However, if no AOBRDs were put into use before December 18, 2017, carriers and drivers will be required to use ELDs as of December 16, 2019.
While there are additional specifications to this regulation depending on the daily use or age of the vehicle, it is always recommended that fleets perform additional research to ensure that they are compliant.
Not ELD Compliant? Under The Grandfather Clause? – What You Should Do
If you’re part of the many who are noticing that your fleet will not be compliant come December 16th, or June 2021, it’s critical that you begin to take the right steps to becoming compliant. Or in other words, look for a solutions provider. However, depending on your business, there will be different features that you should pay attention to when investing in an ELD. Specific qualities will not only allow you to stay ELD compliant, but improve your business overall.
Key Factors In Considering How to Choose an ELD Solution
Vehicle Flexibility
When researching electronic logging devices, it’s important to confirm that the device you’re investing in will work in any type of vehicle. Ensuring that an ELD can be used in nearly any commercial vehicle guarantees that your business can grow and that the device can continue to be used. Ensuring that you will be complaint in the future and that the technology is well worth the money you are spending.
Simple Installation And Use
When you’re adopting new technology, it’s critical that the tools you’re implementing are easy to use or install. Devices that are focused on user experience mean that your fleet will embrace it rather than dread it. As well, when a new tool is easy to use, you’re more likely to see positive results from it as there are no excuses to not use it.
Affordability
While researching a product, it can sometimes be hard to not be discouraged by the price. However, when it comes to ELDs, you’re investing in the future of your business. Meaning, you aren’t only spending money to better your fleet, but often, the solutions will help you save money in the long run!
Mobile-Friendly
With technology advancing, it seems as though everything can and should be synced to smartphones. With that mindset and the ability for many solutions providers to do this, it’s critical to confirm that your ELD is mobile-friendly. Ensuring that your solution has smartphone connectivity will make it simple to use and easy to implement.
Consistently Evolving
In addition to ensuring that an electronic logging device can be used on any vehicle, it’s also important to confirm that the device is agile. Purchasing an ELD that is continually evolving will guarantee that no matter how regulations or business goals change, it will be a worthwhile investment.
Leverage The Cloud
Using an ELD that is cloud-based will only benefit you as a fleet driver, owner, or manager as data can be accessed from anywhere. No longer will you need to wait for drivers to provide you with paper documents or wait until you’re provided access to files, everything can be obtained through the cloud. While remote access to data is a major advantage of using cloud-based ELDs, there are additional benefits;
Increased reliability as data is continuously backed up and stored,
More reliability as there is no pairing process required,
Better battery life as power consumption can be reduced,
Better compatibility to various platforms such as Android and iOS,
Easy document access so showing compliance is simple,
And consistent coverage regardless of cellular coverage.
Expandability
It is critical that you are unlimited with the data you’re gathering from ELDs. With this said, expandability (or having unfiltered access to data) is a focus that many are unaware of until they need it! Being able to easily share data to third-party vendors or being able to use integrations through third-party solutions is a feature that needs to be highlighted as it can help make fleet management much easier!
Customer Service
When you’re using any service or buying any product, it’s important to do business with a company who aims to achieve positive customer interactions every time. If you forgo doing business with a customer-focused organization, you may run into problems in the future. With this being said, while you’re researching your next ELD, let us know. We always strive to ensure that our customers are happy not only with the solution they’re investing in, but the experience they’re having!
With the deadline to be ELD compliant quickly approaching, be sure to take advantage of our GoFleet Promotion that can save you hundreds today!
Thank you Robin Kinsey, HOS/ELD Training Specialist for the valuable insight via Geotab.
With basic telematics implemented into your fleet, you are now able to track the location, movement and speed of all of your vehicles, which helps your organization increase efficiencies, and effectively, reduce wasted time and improve costs.
So, what comes next?
Advanced Fleet Tracking
Once you have the basics in place, you can start to dive deeper into telematics technology in order to really fine tune and optimize your fleet operation.
Check out these major benefits your company can gain by implementing advanced fleet telematics solutions.
Increased Safety
By monitoring driver behaviour – things such as how fast your driver is driving and how aggressive their driving may be – you can use technology that allows you to talk to the driver and coach them through safer driving practices, thereby increasing safety for them and for your vehicle.
It has been shown that drivers who are aware that their driving habits are being monitored, are more apt to perform safer behaviour which not only increases their safety, but also reduces accidents and damage to vehicles and freight.
Increased Efficiencies
By using real time communication as an add-on to your basic telematics, and adding in some routing apps, you can manage driver routes more efficiently – if there is an accident, you would be able to re-route the driver and eliminate wasted time having them stuck in traffic with high priority loads on the vehicle.
By using some of these type of add-ons to your basic telematics, adding a few minutes more to your driver’s HOS (Hours of Service) can really increase your fleet efficiency and delivery rate.
Reduce Operating Costs
In being able to track even the smallest things, such as idling time and minimizing it, a fleet can increase savings by reducing fuel costs. Other things that can be looked at are tracking at a more granular level, such as live movements on a map, maps routing, stopping vehicles, accidents and who’s responsible, which allows for increased productivity thereby reducing costs.
Optimize Vehicle Performance
With advanced telematics, sensors can send out alerts about engine issues and other diagnostic problems. Further to that, the data can be used in a predictive manner to determine when service should happen on a vehicle and allow for advanced planning in order to ensure as much uptime for the fleet as possible and manage the expenses related to repairs.
Reduce your Carbon Footprint
It’s a hot topic these days more and more companies realize that not only is this good for business, it’s good for the planet as well. By reducing your fleet’s idling time and decreasing speeding (thereby reducing the amount of exhaust and CO2), not only are you increasing the safety of your fleet and drivers, increasing your efficiencies and reducing your costs, you are also helping to do your part in reducing emissions in the air for our future generation.
Streamline Compliance
With the Canadian ELD mandated for June 21st, 2020, it is imperative that fleets ensure they are compliant and implementing advanced telematics not only ensures this but provides many other benefits previously mentioned. In addition to the benefits, the cost of not being compliant is expensive and can be avoided with the correct telematics solutions in place.
Do you need to upgrade your telematics plan for advanced fleet tracking?
Some features are already built into your tracking device that collects the data and some solutions require you to step up to the next level of offered services and products.
In order to get the most out of your fleet telematics so that you can save your company time, money and increase efficiencies and safety, give GoFleet a call. We are here to help create a customized and fully integrated telematics solution that is specific to your needs and lets you get the most value for your money.
Advanced fleet tracking is much more than GPS services and with the telematics of the future, there are and will be so much more you can do in order to continually create the best fleet management company you can envision.
GoFleet – Connected Technology. Smarter Solutions. Discover more about GoFleet and its Telematics Services
Any logistics company or fleet manager should be concerned about improving driver safety. Some of the worst road months of the year are during winter which is fast approaching. In winter months, snow, ice, poor visibility, and freezing temperatures can make driving hazardous and dangerous. The chances of road accidents in winter increase when you add distractions and poor driving habits to adverse weather conditions.
One way to protect drivers and improve road safety during the worst road months is to install a fleet camera system. One such device is the ZenduCam. This unit provides real-time, live streaming with 360-degree visibility and from inside the cab. This, along with electronic logging devices can greatly improve road safety.
Of course, the Canadian ELD Mandate requires all trucks to have ELDs by June 21, 2021, and they are compulsory in the U.S.
How can technological solutions such as the ZenduCam protect your drivers and improve road safety? You will find the answers to this question in this article.
Dangers of Driving in Winter
Statistics about the impact of weather on driving are very sobering.
The Canadian government released information in 2017 reporting a rise in the number of drivers involved in fatal crashes. Compared to the previous year, an increase of 69 fatalities brought the total of road deaths up to 985.
Also, CBC reported about worrying trends in the increase of fatal transport truck crashes. Many of these accidents could have been avoided by improving driver safety and road habits. The police also reported that 354 truck drivers were fined for distracted driving and 1,615 for breaking the speed limit.
The U.S. Department of Transportation also reports worrying statistics about wintertime driving. Over the 10 years between 2007 and 2016, snow, sleet, icy roads, slush, and fog were significant factors in 15% of all fatal crashes in the U.S.
How the ZenduCam System Helps Protect Drivers
Unfortunately, distractions can often affect fleet drivers on the road. While ELDs can record data on driving habits, an in-vehicle camera system can help to identify the reasons for poor driving behavior. A camera inside the truck cab can record if drivers have been eating, texting, or, worse still, nodding off while driving.
Of course, in-vehicle cameras in themselves can’t improve driving habits. However, they are a valuable resource for fleet managers to educate, train, and improve safety for their drivers.
Installing in-cab video surveillance in commercial vehicles such as buses, taxis, trucks, and other vehicle types can also protect drivers from criminal behavior. In the event of violence against a driver, HD footage is available for the police for investigation.
Protects your liability in case of an accident
Another protection the ZenduCam fleet solution offers is to document who was responsible for an accident. Setting up 4 cameras in a vehicle records the road in front of the vehicle, what is going on behind, and the driver’s response. This type of solution gives 360-degree visibility to get a clear picture of what caused the accident.
Improve Driver and Road safety with the ZenduCam Camera Solution from GoFleet
So, in cases of conflicting reports or disputed insurance claims, the clear HD footage of the incident can help exonerate your driver. This could save your company $1,000s in cases of disputed insurance claims or even protect drivers from criminal liability.
According to a driving association in the UK, dashcams can help to quickly resolve insurance disputes and reduce the instances of fraudulent claims.
How the ZenduCam Works
How does the integrated 4-camera system help to protect your drivers during the worst road months of the year?
Here is a possible scenario to demonstrate why having HD, 360-degree footage can protect your driver and company.
Let’s say a car traveling in the opposite direction overtakes another car and is in the lane directly in front of the truck. To avoid a collision, your driver takes necessary evasive action. However, an accident still occurs. Footage from the ZenduCam clearly shows what led up to the accident. It provides evidence for the authorities as to who was to blame for the incident.
Logging your driver’s activity at the time, the speed traveling, and the actions of other drivers mean that your driver and company are protected from liability.
However, this is not just a simple dashcam that is popular with car drivers. The sophisticated ZenduCam has a 3-axis G-sensor, panic button, microphone, and GPS receiver. This fully integrates with devices such as the GO9 vehicle tracking device to provide complete fleet management solutions.
Another benefit of installing the ZenduCam in commercial vehicles is that Geotab rules can trigger event recordings. Fleet managers can set up specific rules and receive recorded footage of any violations. This can include accidents, speeding, harsh driving events, and other violations. These events are automatically uploaded to the cloud which means that important events are never deleted and are always available when needed.
One of the biggest benefits of the ZenduCam multi-camera solution is to improve road safety. Fleet managers can monitor driving habits to promote responsible driving. Also, you can integrate the Mobileye collision avoidance system with the unit to offer even more protection.
Try the ZenduCam
Installing the ZenduCam in commercial vehicles is a small investment to protect your drivers, especially during winter months. This can save your company $1,000 by helping to promote better driving habits and prevent fraudulent insurance claims.
Contact u today for a free quote or demo to see how the ZenduCam can benefit your organization.
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