The Safety Advantage (Part 4 of 4)

How State of the Art Technology Makes Fleets Safer

In the last post of our series on Fleet Safety, we’re focusing on the role of technology. The emergence and rapid adoption of fleet technology has been a catalyst for dramatic improvements in safety industry wide. Fleets of all sizes and levels of expertise are becoming more efficient as they grow in their understanding and adoption of technology and its data-driven insights. Technology is making our roads safer, and for those businesses who adopt it, supporting profitability. Read on to find out more about how technology can support your fleet safety initiatives.

Keeping a lid on insurance costs

Did you know that technology can help lower insurance costs? Some insurance companies are now giving preferential pricing to dedicated fleet providers who implement telematics and other safety protocols. As a result, shippers who work with dedicated fleet providers typically enjoy more competitive pricing and can lower their overall insurance costs by outsourcing. One study found that combining telematics with training initiatives translated into lower insurance premiums for one in four fleets.

Introduction to Fleet Technology

Today’s safest fleets rely on technology to anticipate risks, protect drivers, and improve performance. From onboard cameras and collision-mitigation systems to telematics and predictive analytics, these tools deliver real-time insights that help fleets operate smarter, safer, and more efficiently.

Onboard cameras

These have a variety of uses on trucks. Forward-facing cameras (FFCs) are being used in leading-edge fleets today as training tools to correct unsafe habits and to coach safe driving skills. In the event of crashes or traffic violations, recorded videos can provide indispensable evidence in defense against potential false claims. FFCs have tremendous potential for helping fleets to mitigate risks and reduce accidents by supporting better driving. All trucks in the TA Dedicated fleet have them.

There are also driver-facing cameras (DFCs), which offer unique advantages in coaching and training because drivers’ actions and behaviors can be directly observed. In particular, distracted driving can be monitored and corrected. DFCs have a growing number of features and abilities, but are almost universally disliked by truckers. Many drivers express concerns over privacy and fear of retaliation. Despite this, DFCs offer another form of protection against litigation, and insurance companies are taking them into consideration when calculating rates.

Integrating technology into vehicles

Collision Mitigation Systems. Designed to prevent or reduce the severity of collisions. These systems utilize advanced sensors and software to continuously monitor the vehicle’s surroundings and warn drivers when a hazard is detected. In some cases, systems will take preemptive actions to avoid or minimize the impact. Forward collision warning (FCW) and automatic emergency braking (AEB) are two of the many types of collision mitigation systems. These are both effective countermeasures for crashes in which large trucks rear-end other vehicles. Large truck safety is expected to improve as new trucks are increasingly equipped with these systems.

Active Speed Intervention (ASI). ASI ensure drivers remain within safe limits by automatically preventing excessive speed. ASI has the added benefit of improving fuel economy, a key factor in achieving sustainability goals and maintaining cost-effectiveness. Fleets offering ASI represent a strategic move towards safer, more efficient, and environmentally friendly operations.

Electronic Stability Control systems (ESC). This technology is designed to automatically detect and mitigate circumstances that could lead to vehicle instability like skidding or rollovers. By monitoring various parameters, including speed, steering wheel position, and lateral acceleration, ESC systems apply corrective measures. These measures may include adjusting engine power or applying brakes to specific wheels which assists in preventing loss of control. Real-world data affirm that ESC is highly effective in reducing crashes. This technology complements ASI by ensuring that, even at regulated speeds, the vehicle remains stable under varying driving conditions.

Using telematics to monitor and manage in real time

Telematics in commercial fleets refers to the use of technology to monitor and manage vehicles and assets through GPS and onboard diagnostics. It enables fleet managers to track vehicle location, monitor performance, optimize routes, and improve safety and efficiency. This management software integrates vast quantities of data to offer drivers and fleets insights into safety, efficiency and compliance.

Telematics systems gather data from onboard sensors, GPS, electronic logging devices (ELDs), and onboard cameras. The information is used to provide real-time insights to fleets and drivers, especially regarding safety. Fleets can receive alerts regarding mechanical risks as well as driver behaviors like speeding, hard braking, or fatigue. Telematics can be used to provide drivers with critical alerts, corrections or assistance. Safety-enhancing tools include:

• GPS tracking to integrate with weather or traffic in real-time
• Parts and systems sensors to detect failures and maintenance needs
• Compliance monitoring of hours of service (HOS)
• Speed and brake oversight to identify unsafe driving behaviors
• Onboard monitoring to identify behaviors like driver distraction
• Predictive functionality from integration with AI that can help mitigate risks

Harnessing AI and machine learning to make fleets safer

Data collected from telematics, onboard cameras, systems sensors, ELDs, and environmental factors, is being analyzed and synthesized by systems leveraging AI and machine learning to see mechanical, human and environmental risks before they become safety incidents. While the application of predictive technology in transportation is still in an experimental phase, these technologies are being piloted in key areas:

• Scheduling maintenance and repairs based on historical and usage data
• Identifying dangerous driver behaviors that can be corrected
• Suggesting safe route options when severe weather is forecasted
• Alerting driver and dispatcher to drowsiness indicators
• Flagging patterns of dangerous driving for coaching

Choosing a partner dedicated to your safety

As this series has shown, safety must be top of mind for every fleet today. Standards demanded by employees, customers and communities are too important to be anywhere but on the leading edge. That makes continuous training and all the benefits of technology a given for fleets.

There’s no doubt that mastering the three keys to creating a safety culture can be challenging: driver behavior & training, fleet equipment maintenance, and state-of-the-art fleet safety technology. That is a prime motivator for outsourcing to a dedicated fleet provider like TA Dedicated today. A dedicated partner that provides advanced turnkey programs for safety will ultimately transfer your shipping risks from your organization to their operation.

Programs proven and tested over a wide range of customers, investments in top technology, and committed safety personnel, put a leading edge safety culture within reach for private fleets who are overwhelmed by today’s demands.

Does your dedicated fleet provider check all the boxes?

Here’s a handy checklist to use when looking for the right dedicated fleet partner who has a focus on safety and performance. Does the prospective partner have:

• A company-wide mission to achieve excellent safety performance results
• Experts in government regulations and compliance on staff
• Committed safety leadership involved in industry associations
• A focus on driver well-being and safety grounded in ethics and human concern
• Relevant certifications for safety personnel and drivers
• Safety-driven standard operating procedures (SOPs)
• Expertise offering ongoing, tailored training in safety and service
• Robust technology offerings including fleetwide telematics
• A track record representing brands and safeguarding their reputations
• Demonstrated performance in On-Time, In-Full (OTIF) and customer satisfaction

Partner with TA Dedicated for safer, smarter fleet performance.

At TA Dedicated, safety isn’t a program — it’s a promise. From driver training to technology integration, our teams help fleets reduce risk, improve uptime, and protect their most valuable assets: their people. Download our white paper: The Safety Advantage: Policies and Practices Driving Leading-Edge Fleets.

Learn how TA Dedicated can help you build a safety-first fleet. Contact us today at 651-686-2500 to start a conversation.