“There’s an app for that” has become a common catchphrase that pretty much sums up today’s reliance on and easy access to technology. And the fleet industry has definitely become a beneficiary of this technological boom.
Aside from the convenience of these customized technology solutions, which help make the fleet manager’s job easier, is the added safety that goes along with many of today’s digital products.
Among these is a powerful tool that every fleet has at its disposal to pinpoint the riskiest drivers in the fleet and take action before a crash or a fatality occurs: continuous driver monitoring. In addition to lightening workloads and increasing efficiency, the valuable, timely information provided by this service promotes a safer environment and conditions not only for the fleet, but also for the rest of the public they share the road with.
More of What You Want, Less of What You Don’t
The challenge many fleet managers usually have with technology — particularly telematics — is that while these systems capture valuable data, it can be overwhelming to sift through all of it.
One way to avoid getting overloaded with too much data is to make sure that you’re collecting the data you actually need. Determine what’s important for your operation and use key performance indicators to manage the fleet.
If safety is the main priority, monitor those activities that are both directly and indirectly tied to the safety of drivers and the vehicles they operate.
First and foremost, get to know the individuals being entrusted with the company’s costly assets. Thanks to technology, fleet managers can monitor their drivers’ risk profiles in a number of ways, including their motor vehicle records (MVR) and Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA).
Because continuous MVR services are web-based, it makes monitoring drivers’ risk profiles related to their licenses almost effortless by comparison to the once-yearly MVR check — often paper reports — of the entire fleet regardless of the driver’s violation status. Instead, when using a continuous MVR service, fleet managers typically receive as-they-occur alerts about violations, suspensions, or revocations. Some services also alert fleet managers about non-moving violation-related suspensions, such as unpaid child support or unpaid parking tickets.
While some may consider these automated, continuous services a bit too invasive, even verging on a “Big Brother”-level of surveillance, as the fleet manager it is your responsibility to demonstrate that you have taken all the appropriate measures to protect not only the drivers and vehicles of the company, but also its reputation and bottom line. Download the white paper: Liability: Why ‘Good Enough’ Isn’t Enough
If the last time you ran a background and MVR check on a driver (as well as the condition and safety of his or her vehicle) was nearly a year ago, you leave the fleet open to liability. However, demonstrating that the fleet and the company is ensuring that its drivers are safe, will help defend against any question of negligent entrustment.
Continuous MVR monitoring services are often customizable to the needs of the fleet. For instance, some providers allow a fleet to manage user and system preferences, create customized monitoring schedules, import and manage driver rosters, and access the service via a desktop, laptop, tablet, or mobile app. The mobile app can send push notifications to fleet managers and other designated company leadership about changes in driver status as the information becomes available.
SuperVision Mobile App
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Let the Data Act as Your Eyes and Ears
While it would be pretty challenging — not to mention a little boring — to physically follow every one of your drivers and their vehicles around every second of every workday, it’s actually no longer an impossible task. Telematics and continuous MVR monitoring can do that job for you.
From tracking how long your drivers are taking to get to a job site to how much time they spend there to how fast they were going on the way there and the way back to how do they compare to their peers when it comes to safe driving — the ability to track all of these behaviors and much more is yours for the taking.
The question is, do you want to take it —or do you want to continue taking on the extra work and risk associated with waiting 12 months to find out how your drivers are performing? Or, you could always wait to check after an incident takes place and let it be a “hindsight is 20/20” type of lesson — with all of the personal, legal, and economic consequences that it may entail.
The State of Driver Monitoring
Learn how continuous MVR monitoring can help increase efficiency in your operation and keep your operation up-to-date and well-protected.