Driver Monitoring Systems
A truck driver is not allowed to drive for more than 11 hours on a 24-hour shift under federal regulations, but how do you enforce that rule? Also, how will you know for sure that one of your truck drivers is not getting sleepy right in the middle of their shift? Even if all fleet drivers are maintaining rules and regulations, they can still fall asleep or experience a few quick seconds of microsleep on a long shift. It’s not easy to stay awake and drive a truck for even 8 hours a day, let alone 11. These are very real problems that lead to disastrous accidents, loss of cargo, critical injuries, loss of life, and expensive lawsuits. As the fleet manager/owner you can prevent any of that from happening with a driver monitoring system (DMS). A DMS utilizes cameras, sensors, and intelligent software to:
Collect and interpret data about the driver’s wakefulness and vigilance at all times.Alert drivers that they are about to fall asleep by comparing and analyzing the collected data.Immediately wake up drivers who have fallen asleep on the wheel.Alert drivers if they are awake but not vigilant.Alert drivers if they are distracting themselves by making calls, texting, or eating/drinking while driving.Cloud-save all activities of the driver, including how long they drove, how they drove, and how they responded to DMS alerts.
The fact that their actions behind the wheel are being monitored works most of the time and keeps drivers in compliance with company and traffic regulations. If not, then the fleet manager can take disciplinary actions accordingly. In accidents where the truck driver is not in the wrong, the DMS system may provide critical information needed to establish that fact.
Online Fleet Driver Safety Training
Enroll your drivers in a behind-the-wheel fleet driver safety training program online. The contactless training program will help with:
Simultaneously training multiple drivers in your fleet.Making them understand the relationship between their actions/inactions and risk reduction.Lowering crash rates.Reducing fuel and maintenance expenses.
Thanks to digital connectivity and smart software, online fleet driver safety training programs cost less, and they can be completed faster.
Install a Digital Head-Up Display (HUD)
A digital Head-Up Display or the HUD was a feature of futuristic cars in old science-fiction novels, and racing video games have always had them. In 2022 however, seeing a digital HUD inside a real car is not even a novelty anymore! All drivers can benefit from digital HUDs, but commercial drivers stand to gain the most from them. Divided attention is a common cause of automobile accidents, but a HUD considerably lowers the possibilities. The main benefit to safety here is that drivers do not need to take their eyes off the road anymore because the system projects all necessary details and notifications about the vehicle like GPS info, speed, fuel gauge, etc. right onto the truck’s windshield. The translucent icons do not block the driver’s visibility, but they enhance it without distracting. If there are accompanying cameras, then a compatible HUD system can extend the driver’s visibility to a 360° view (front, side, and rear) on the road, while also ensuring collision-free parking. The above technologies can improve driver safety and reduce costs, which makes them a good investment for any forward-thinking company.
