Benefits of Dash Cams: 5 Reasons to Buy Dash Cams for Your Fleet

If your business runs a fleet of vehicles, you have probably thought about outfitting those vehicles with fleet dash cameras. These systems have become smaller, easier to use, and more affordable to the point where dash cams are providing a great return on investment and should be considered standard equipment. Modern wireless communication has also drastically improved their utility.

Fleet Dash Cameras: Top 5 Reasons to Buy

 

  • Get Your Story Straight in an Accident
    The most obvious reason to have a dash cam is to explain what happened in an accident. Traumatic memories are hard to keep straight, and besides that anyone in an accident wants to believe they were not at fault. Fleet dash cameras can be connected directly to a telematics system that contains defined rules for events that you want to capture. That means the camera and its software system can often automatically send you a link to footage of an accident right after it happens.

 

 

  • Oversee Your Driver’s Behavior
    The reality is that no driver is perfect. Telematics can inform you when a driver shows poor behavior by speeding or braking suddenly, but that data alone is sometimes not enough to explain the driver’s decision. For example, a driver may speed up to go around an erratic driver or may brake suddenly to avoid a collision. The best way to find out what happened is to review footage from a dash cam. A dashcam also helps drivers improve by allowing fleet managers to review their sometimes not so good driving habits and correct them. Without feedback, drivers can get stuck in these habits, and this applies to any type of situation where someone is trying to improve a skill.

 

 

  • Fight Fraudulent Claims
    There are criminals that target commercial vehicles for accident scams. The criminals assume that commercial vehicles are well insured, and they may slam on their brakes in front of a commercial vehicle or speed into a left turn to cause a collision and then claim severe injuries. These scams often include staged witnesses that can be hard to overcome. Dash cam video is the best way to fight back.

 

 

  • Make Decisions With Same View as Driver
    A driver may occasionally need to make a tough decision with guidance from a fleet manager. Perhaps the weather is becoming nearly too bad to drive or a detour looks troubling. It can be hard for a driver to explain the situation to someone that is not there. With a live-streaming dash cam, a fleet manager and driver can look at the same thing and decide what needs to be done.

 

 

  • It Gives You a Chance to Listen In
    Most dash cams also include a microphone that will allow a fleet manager to hear what their driver hears. This can help you realize a driver is spending too much time on the phone, or it may reveal that a driver was distracted before an accident by loud music or a conversation.

 

ZenduCAM Can Help!

ZenduCAM will capture instant footage during an accident that you can use to either exonerate yourself from fault or to train your drivers on accident avoidance without ever having to remove the camera from the vehicle. Wireless connectivity capability via wifi or cellular network allows you to access data anytime, anywhere.

 

Contact us for more information.

Paperwork Got You Down? Join the Paperless Revolution

Are you struggling to manage and keep track of all your invoices, bills of lading and other paper forms? Not only can this be annoying, but wasting labor hours handling endless paperwork can also be extremely costly.

Which is why so many people are transitioning most (if not all) of their paperwork into a digital format, to decrease the cost and time of filing paperwork. Plus, there’s an added bonus of getting forms and work orders emailed straight to you and the customer if needed, for a much easier workflow.

 

The ELD Mandate Makes this the Perfect Time to Switch

 

Because of the upcoming ELD Mandate, you have to switch from paper logs to electronic logs. Why not switch it all?

Our ELD solution, Geotab Drive, has multiple different optional integrations available – including an end-to-end solution for effective route planning and optimization for trucking and service based industries. The integration also includes an easy to use web-based platform for building forms, work orders, and route plans for drivers.

 

Eliminate Paperwork & Lower Overall Operational Costs

 

Through our route optimization engine you are able to optimize pick-up, delivery, P&D, and service based work orders across multiple drivers, time windows, and skills using the most cost-effective truck/standard route.

Drivers and dispatchers are able to easily manage communication of messages and work order statuses through instant mobile app notifications. Drivers can quickly and easily complete forms and send signatures or picture captures back to dispatchers for proof or service confirmation.

Let us help you eliminate costly paperwork and reduce planning time, miles driven, and overall operational costs. We will work directly with you to increase efficiency, route compliance and customer service with powerful dashboard reports and alerts.

 

Contact a fleet consultant today for more information.

 

Delivery Fleet Management Made Easier

Delivery Fleet Management

Keeping track of your delivery fleet can be an incredible challenge. Delivery fleets are often quite large and spread out throughout multiple cities dealing with traffic and the constant struggle of arriving at drop off locations on time. There are countless delays that could pop up, and fleet managers need good metrics to be as efficient as possible. We offer a suite of solutions and add-ons so you can better tackle these challenges and get ahead of your competition!

Geotab G07 – A Versatile Core

The core of our delivery fleet management solution is our G07 GPS tracking device. This device fits in the palm of your hand and plugs in seamlessly to almost all vehicles. No special tools are needed, so the G07 can easily move from one vehicle to another, if necessary. The device collects data from its GPS technology, g-force monitoring, and engine signals. The GO7 device comes equipped with an IOX port to allow you to expand the solution with optional add-ins, to take delivery fleet management one step further.

Our fleet management software collects data from all active GO7 devices in your fleet, and presents that data to fleet managers through a user-friendly interface. The GO7 device and its software allows fleet managers to increase productivity and reduce downtime through the following:

  • Reduce fuel consumption by monitoring use and fill-ups
  • Track travel time and time spent at delivery locations
  • Optimize routes and ensure on-time delivery
  • Track high-priority packages for delivery assurance
  • Set geofences for alerts when a driver arrives/leaves a delivery location (also customizable)
  • Improve driver safety with driver coaching features
  • Minimize vehicle downtime with accurate engine data

A Plethora of Add Ons

Fuel Cards

If your drivers are responsible for fuelling up themselves, you may want to take a look at our fuel card add-on. Our fuel cards allow you to easily capture data on refuelling locations, time spent, amount of fuel purchased, and cost. This data is then combined with the engine data pulled from our GO7 devices, to allow fleet managers to easily track cost per mile. For delivery drivers, fuel card data can also assist with good choices about their refuelling location. Comparing refuelling costs to miles driven can also help uncover any signs of trouble, such as a serious engine problem or even employee theft.

HOS / DVIR Compliance

In today’s world, one thing you can always count on is government regulations; our compliance add-ins make it so much easier, and cheaper, to follow these always changing rules and regulations. Track hours of service (HOS) for each driver and receive automatic alerts that warn managers and drivers when their available time is running out. For driver vehicle inspection reports (DVIR), the system gives drivers a simple checklist to run through at the beginning of each shift. Equipment issues can also be flagged for the maintenance crew.

In-Vehicle Incident Recording Cameras

Some fleet managers want to keep an even closer eye on their drivers, and ZenduCAM is the perfect tool for that. ZenduCAM combines the GO7 device with SmartWitness cameras that provide forward-facing and driver-facing views. Fleet managers can view these camera streams in real time, but more importantly, the cameras record footage for pre-programmed events. This can include harsh braking, speeding, collisions, or lane departures. Delivery fleet managers can also use the cameras to see how much time drivers are spending sitting in the cab between stops.

Public Map Share

Some delivery companies will want their customers to know the live location of the delivery vehicle transporting their goods; public map share makes this easy. It allows companies to give their customers a simple link that they can click on to see the location and estimated arrival of their driver. This lets customers know when to expect a package they need to sign for, or when to let a furniture-delivery driver in the door. These links can be time limited or made to expire once a delivery is complete, so customers’ access can be appropriately limited.

 

Learn More About Our Delivery And Courier Vehicle Tracking GPS Solutions.

 

Short Haul HOS Compliance & The ELD Mandate

If you’re running a short haul fleet you may be confused about how the Hours of Service rules and ELD Mandate affect you; let us try to clear things up.

Exemption from ELDs
If your drivers meet the short haul definition set by the FMCSA then you are not required to maintain RODS and therefore not required to log hours with an ELD.

Short Haul Driver Definition by the FMCSA
Short-haul drivers who are not subject to the 30-minute rest break provision of the new hours-of-service rules must:

  • Not exceed 11 hours of driving
  • Start/finish at the same location within 12 hours
  • Have minimum time off between shifts of 10 hours
  • Operate within, and not exceed, 100 mile radius of starting/ending location

Worried You Do Not Qualify For Exemption?
Your drivers are required to maintain a Record of Duty Status (RODS) if they are travelling outside of the 100 mile radius of their “home base” or exceeding the allotted 11 hours of driving time. Meaning that when the ELD mandate goes into effect – your drivers WILL be required to log their hours on an electronic logging device.

The ELD rule compliance deadline is December 18th, 2017.
Still unsure whether or not you’re required to use ELDs? Speak with one of our fleet consultants.

Sources:
NATSO: FMCSA Clarifies Definition of Short Haul Driver
FMCSA: Hours of Service: Electronic Logging Devices

Affordable Hours of Service Plans for an Easier Switch to E-Logs

This year, the majority of trucking fleets will be focused on making the transition from paper logs to electronic logs (ELDs) if they haven’t already. While the Phased-In Compliance doesn’t start until this December, it’s important for carriers to do research and decision-making now so they can have ELDs implemented in time for the new rule. By the end of this year, motor carriers and drivers subject to the rule must use AOBRDs (Automatic On Board Recording Devices) or ELDs. So, for many carriers, updating their Hours of Service plan will be at the top of their to-do list.

The number of fleet compliance solutions out on the market can definitely make picking one a daunting task. How do you know which one is better? The choice is now easier with our affordable Hours of Service (HOS) plan.

 

GoFleet Announces New HOS Plan for Hours of Service

 

We are now offering Hours of Service features to customers on a new fleet management software feature plan, called the HOS plan. Previously, HOS compliance with Geotab Drive or Garmin HOS was part of the ProPlus plan.

Our telematics-based compliance solution provides all the management features you need for a reasonable fee.

Let’s take a closer look at what’s included.

With the HOS plan, carriers can get the Geotab Drive and Garmin HOS compliance tools. Geotab Drive is a mobile app that can be used on a driver’s smartphone or tablet (Android or iOS). IFTA miles recording and device tampering detection are also included.

The HOS plan provides other features such as instant GPS tracking using patented curve based algorithms, basic driver coaching, vehicle maintenance reminders, and driver ID with NFC. Since our software is an open platform, customization is available and users have access to the free software development kit and APIs.

View the feature list below:

hours of service plan for fleet management

Part of the HOS Plan from GoFleet, offering key compliance features at an affordable cost.

 

Survey Finds Small Fleets Are Slower to Get On Board with ELDs

 

Fleet Owner magazine’s Kevin Jones reports that small fleets (less than 250 trucks) have been delaying the move to electronic logging. Only 33% of small fleets had rolled out ELDs as of September 2016. Compare that figure with the 81% ELD implementation rate for large fleets and you can definitely see the difference. The results are based on a survey of more than 400 carriers.

Reasons given for the delay include concerns over driver acceptance and the ELD lawsuit. However, the latest development on the legal front is that the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit denied a petition from the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association for a rehearing of the lawsuit. Last year, the court found that the ELD rule did not violate the Fourth Amendment.

 

ELDs Improve Fleet Productivity and Efficiency

 

Some fleets may believe making the switch to ELDs will be costly. However, our HOS plan shows that electronic logs are not out of reach. Contrary to perception, ELDs can improve and support fleet productivity and efficiency. ELDs provide many benefits for fleets well beyond Hours of Service. Geofencing, fuel usage monitoring, and invoice scanning are just some of these extras. As a greater number of trucking fleets make the switch, the advantage of electronic logging and telematics will soon be common knowledge.

 

Original Article: https://www.geotab.com/blog/hours-of-service-plan/
Written By: Vik Sridhar, Solutions Engineer & HOS Expert at Geotab

 

Protect Your Lone Workers with Lone Defender

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics found in a study that security guards suffered fatal workplace injuries at more than twice that of workers in general. These risks were especially prevalent at night. These guards were stationed in department stores, shopping centers, office buildings, transportation terminals, museums and more. Their injuries came from retaliation by belligerent customers, robberies, and senseless attacks. Usually they are on their own with nobody readily available to back them up. It can be a tough job, and employers should give their guards all the tools they need to succeed and stay safe.

Lone Defender is a device every security guard or other lone worker should be using to ensure they are protected. It gives workers the peace of mind knowing that they can instantly request backup. Lone Defender can even make emergency calls itself when it senses distress. Employers using Lone Defender know that their workers are properly equipped, and they can also track their status through a dashboard to make sure the job site is fully protected.

 

A Rugged Handheld Device

 

Lone Defender has numerous capabilities; perhaps most importantly, it has GPS technology that can rapidly provide location information. This information can be sent off to first responders if an emergency is detected. Lone Defender also includes a man down feature with an accelerometer, which allows the device to detect falls. If the device senses that the holder has fallen and not gotten back up, it will send an emergency signal. The device is also durable enough to survive almost any environment. It has a very low power consumption to ensure it will make it through any shift on a charge and can easily be updated with new software versions.

The device provides a range of communication options. A quick press of a button can send a text message, but the Lone Defender can also function as a telephone. Lone Defender can easily register check-in information utilizing RFID tags staged around the work site. The device has an emergency panic button that will send an emergency signal with GPS coordinates, and it can route calls along a roll-call escalation until an emergency contact picks up the phone.

 

Real Time Data for Employers

 

Employers get an easy-to-use interface with real-time GPS information on every worker using a Lone Defender. They can make sure workers are making their rounds by ensuring that RFID scans have been made as required. These are all displayed onto a map of the area and can be paired with a pre-set amount of time between stops to make and keep a schedule. Employers can get an instant alert if patrols are not being completed, and they can easily send requests for a call if workers do not seem to be in the right location.

What is Fleet Safety & How Can it be Improved?

Fleet managers often struggle with thinking proactively about fleet safety. When an accident occurs, most fleet managers wish they could be safer; but it’s hard to define exactly what fleet safety is or how to improve it.

What is Fleet Safety?

As the New York Times recently reported, traffic deaths are actually on the rise after years of decline. The suspected culprit: distracted driving. The problem has moved from phone calls and texts to now drivers using various smartphone apps while behind the wheel. Insurance companies have called it “a serious public safety concern for the nation” and say they are trying to figure out what to do.

For fleet managers, the challenge is establishing a culture where drivers are focused on doing their job and following proper procedures. It is important for fleet managers to take an active role in driver behavior. That means investing in driver training, communicating openly about expectations, and rewarding good drivers. A strong telematics system is vital to these components for improving driver safety.

How to Improve Fleet Safety

Step one is to get good data on what your drivers are doing. We provide fleet managers with Driver ID Keys so that every time a vehicle starts up they know who is driving it and what that driver does. You can then track seat belt usage, vehicle speed, acceleration, harsh braking, and aggressive cornering for each of your drivers.

The next step is to use this data to effectively coach your drivers. Real-time driver feedback can be set-up through our spoken-word GoTalk alerts; for example, warning a driver about speeding or failing to put on a seat belt. These verbal warnings, like “you are currently driving 80 miles per hour,” can often be more useful than the traditional safety “beeps”.

We also suggest our clients set up safety-focused Driver Scorecard Reports that show drivers exactly where they need to improve. Drivers can be ranked against each other and given recognition for good performance or penalized for unsafe events. If an accident does occur, our software can provide an accident report; time, speed, and g-force data is automatically uploaded for first responders and later accident reconstruction. Having good information about what happened can drastically reduce the cost of accident claims to a fleet.

ZenduCAM Takes Safety to the Next Level

While standard GPS monitoring and real-time coaching will undoubtedly improve safety, a full camera monitoring system can take it to the next level. ZenduCAM cameras look out from the dashboard and in at your driver’s cab. These cameras can be monitored in real time from a desktop or smartphone. The cameras can also be set to record footage around certain events. This can be used to show exactly what happened in an accident, either to exonerate or retrain a driver. The ZenduCAM system can also be set to record exactly what the driver was seeing while speeding or braking suddenly.

One Step Further
Mobileye can also be integrated with GoFleet to help prevent accidents with real-time collision warnings.

Driving the Fleet Safety Movement

How to Use Telematics to Improve Risky Driving Habits

A risky driver can be a ticking time bomb for any company if not handled quickly and effectively. Let’s take a look at some best practices when using telematics to deal with a risky driver.

 

  • Identify the Problem
    Take a look at the data and identify the risky driving behaviour. Is it speeding? Is it failed seatbelt use? Is it harsh braking? All of the above? Whatever it is, you want to be sure you are aware of it before bringing it up to your drivers. This way, you can describe the problem and why it is harming not only the company but likely putting drivers in danger as well.

 

 

  • Offer Group Training
    Instead of alienating a driver, it’s often better to start out by reviewing the overall findings with your entire team of drivers and setting targets. Present the data in a way that’s easy to understand and review what some of the consequences could be for both the company and the driver.

 

 

  • Enable In-Vehicle Driver Coaching
    In-vehicle driver coaching is a feature offered by some telematics companies that allows you to essentially train your drivers while they’re on the road. You can usually customize the rules and enable alerts for poor driving habits like speeding, harsh braking, seatbelt use, and more.

 

 

  • Monitor the Driver’s Habits
    It’s now up to your drivers, give them a little time to adjust to the new policies and monitor how their habits change. Hopefully, you will notice a decrease in the risky behaviour.

 

4.1 Consult with the Driver Directly (Optional)
If you notice after the group training and in-vehicle driver coaching you still have a high-risk driver, it’s time to address the concern with them directly. Show the driver their reports in comparison with the rest of the company, and point out specifically what they are doing wrong. Make it clear that you are looking out for both their best interest and what is best for the company. If necessary, you may also want to add a consequence, such as a write-up, if the behaviour continues to persist.

 

  • Offer Safety Incentives
    A little competition never hurt anyone, right? So why not reward employees for making significant improvements. Some solutions offer great reports, like our driver scorecard, which shows each driver’s overall score (using speeding, harsh braking, seat-belt-use, etc.) for the time period selected. What many of our customers do is post this up in their lunchroom at the end of each month for drivers to see how they compare to their colleagues. Then at the end of each quarter the driver with the best score is rewarded with a gift card or extra vacation day.

 

Driving the Fleet Safety Movement

If you still have questions on how to effectively improve the habits of a risky driver, we are more than happy to help. We’ve seen tons of different scenarios and are well versed in different ways to handle high-risk drivers. Feel free to reach out!

 

Top 5 Things to Look for in a Reefer Temperature Monitoring System

With the release of the new US Food Safety Modernization Act, there is a huge increase in demand for reefer temperature monitoring systems. But with the release of this new mandate, it’s important to ensure the system you choose, is one that will keep you in line with the FSMA.

We’ve put together the top 5 things to look for when choosing a reefer temperature monitoring system, to stay in compliance with the FSMA – and get what’s best for you and your customers.

 

  • Cold Chain Compliant
    First and foremost, before looking any further make sure the system is in compliance with the US FSMA.

 

 

  • Immediate Alerts for Out-of-Range Temperatures
    What good is it having a reefer temperature monitoring system, if you don’t get immediate alerts when the temperature is out of range? Make sure the system you choose has the capabilities to send immediate alerts whenever the temperature in your reefers goes too high or too low, so you can act on it immediately to keep your transported goods safe.

 

 

  • Temperature Recording in Small Increments
    Sometimes the smallest change in temperature can have a big impact on the goods you are transporting. It’s important to look for a system that records in less than 1 degree increments.

 

 

  • Real-Time Multiple Zone Temperature Tracking
    The temperature in the front of the reefer may not always be the same at the back of the reefer. With multiple zone monitoring, you can ensure all good inside the truck are kept at the appropriate temperature.

 

 

  • Remote & Easy Access to Up-to-Date Temperature Information
    Real-time dashboard visualization and easily accessible detailed temperature reports are a critical component to keep your receiver happy, as well as comply with the FSMA reports required.

 

*Bonus Tip: Wireless sensors usually mean easier installation. Rather than pay expensive install fees, choose a system that your technician can easily install to keep costs down.

reefer-temperature-monitoring-threshold

 

Questions? Feel free to reach out to [email protected]!

 

Fleet Management Solutions Keep You From Falling Behind

Every fleet manager should remember the old saying, “if you are standing still you are falling behind.” That is the truth when it comes to making investments in Fleet Management Services. Fleet managers get hung up on “return on investment” and fail to consider the “cost of ignoring.” In other words, it is a mistake to worry so much about the cost of new technology if that makes you forget about the costs of failing to adopt new technology when the rest of your industry is moving forward without you.

Why Investing in a Reliable Fleet Management System is the Right Choice

Consider some of the money you could be losing by ignoring strong fleet management solutions. First, there are safety costs. Accidents themselves often cost tens of thousands of dollars in damage not covered by insurance along with lost productivity. Of course, failing to control for safety can drive up insurance costs as well. Second, without good telematics, fleet managers will fail to effectively control fuel costs. They will have no way to correct their employees that drive too aggressively or even catch those that may be stealing fuel. Third, fleet management services are vital for efficient maintenance of vehicles. In the old days, technicians had to run around the lot to check odometers to figure out when a vehicle would need to be serviced. Now, sophisticated sensors can keep fleet managers informed in real time on the upcoming maintenance needs for specific systems on specific vehicles. This allows fleet managers to better schedule maintenance to minimize downtime. Controlling driver behavior also helps improve the lifetime of vehicle parts. Finally, good fleet management solutions can drastically improve driver efficiency by maximizing their time spent on the road and saving money that would be lost paying drivers who have unused duty time or have to wait on their vehicles to be ready to go.

Implementing Fleet Management Solutions:
Case Studies

Between Geotab (our partner) and ourselves, we have a number of success stories that illustrate how fleet management services can root out “ignored” costs. For example, Red Hawk Fire & Security adopted telematics primarily to help reduce its accident rate. Red Hawk may not ever be fully able to understand the number of accidents that it prevented with the new system, so the return on investment may be hard to quantify. The company certainly seems to have understood, that ignoring the safety problem could cost the company dearly. This lead Red Hawk to invest in a telematics system to monitor its drivers and provide corrective feedback as needed. As it turned out, accidents dropped 80% and seatbelt use was dramatically improved as well. The company also found that with better oversight its employees became more efficient in the field, and because of that Red Hawk is now able to serve more customers per day. Without the telematics monitoring that is becoming more common in the industry, the company may never have realized that its technicians could be saving time every day.

Ideal Plumbing

The productivity lost without modern fleet management services is difficult to measure, Ideal Plumbing learned. The company lets its technicians control their vehicles at all times. That gave the company little control over what employees did with their trucks after hours, and when the company adopted telematics it suddenly realized the costs it had been suffering by ignoring after-hours activity. The fleet management services allowed Ideal Plumbing to keep its trucks focused on business travel and thereby reduce fuel use and wear and tear on its vehicles. Ideal Plumbing also implemented a discrete system of sharing performance metrics with its drivers so those drivers can see their performance and have opportunities to improve. Ideal Plumbing says it has seen a huge improvement just by telling drivers how they are doing and it is now seeking to improve further with a reward system.

Crown Uniform & Linen Service

Another great example is Crown Uniform & Linen Service, a company that realized it was losing a huge amount of money from idling trucks. Crown’s drivers make 30 to 40 stops per day, and the company has always tried to reduce the amount of time spent idling. Success was often hard to find, until Crown installed telematics in partnership with an environmental group called Sustainable America. Crown found that its drivers were idling for 70 minutes per day on average, and some were idling two to five hours per day. Managers were shocked, but the problem soon began to improve after managers began receiving Geotab data pointing out problem areas and allowing them to correct drivers that were failing to shut down their engines. Crown saw its average idling time drop to just seven minutes per day. That has delivered thousands in fuel savings that Crown would never have known about without installing Geotab-based fleet management services.

Getting the Most Out of Your Telematics Data?

The key to getting the most out your telematics system is a strong partnership with your vendor and industry leading hardware and software. We offer a comprehensive telematics system with Geotab’s GPS units at our core. We get the most out of the GPS data provided by Geotab with our comprehensive fleet management solutions. We pair Geotab units with engine sensors, fuel gauges, tire pressure gauges, cameras, refrigeration units sensors, and so much more. Data is collected from all these sensors and fed back to our central reporting system where fleet managers can monitor their entire fleet in real time. Fleet managers can also set automatic alerts so they can attend to other business until GoFleet alerts them to a problem. Our system can even be installed in a tamper-resistant manner if necessary. Most importantly, we work hand-in-hand with our customers to ensure they are getting the most return on investment possible with our system.

Check out this short video that explains how quickly you can get started. You can also read more about our services and we are happy to provide a free demonstration to any fleet manager looking to save money with modern fleet management solutions. Our experienced team will highlight your pain points and show you how to root out your unnecessary costs, “ignored” or otherwise.