Technology Integration for Fleet Management

While the ability for manufacturers to get sensors has been difficult, that does not stop the march forward of many trucking operations from either upgrading existing equipment or when purchasing new equipment, to take advantage of the many safety benefits they will realize.  We are seeing this trend in our moving and storage start to take hold and for more than just the tractors.

Certainly with the FMCSA requirement for all vehicles driven by Class A Drivers to install ELDs, eliminating manual log books and tracking hours of service to reduce fatigue, this has hastened the adoption of devices with safety features built in.  The FMCSA has estimated the institution of the ELD devices will help avoid 1,844 crashes, 562 injuries and over 25 deaths annually.  The mandate cut the number of HOS violations in more than half during the first year of implementation and that has been cut in half again.

Many of the ELD providers have developed a dash-cam system that is installed in the truck windshield and then connected to the ELD’s USB port so it is up and running when the vehicle is. The other benefit is when the unfortunate incident occurs, the documentation is so much easier to retrieve and provide to claims professionals. This can serve to accelerate the claims process significantly, getting your assets back on the road more quickly.  

Many of these systems will also identify risky behaviors to allow for more immediate coaching of drivers who may have created some bad habits over time.  There are statistics that suggest that the drivers between 25 and 45 are more likely to be involved in large truck crashes, and these are the drivers that are hired with experience.  A little coaching can likely go a long way and the new technologies can help direct this added training.  

Reduced accidents will have a very positive impact on the insureds cost of operations including insurance. For additional training resources please visit:  https://moverschoiceins.com/loss-control/

Written By: Terri Moran

Terri’s career spans many years with roles in Leadership, Underwriting and Marketing. She was responsible for one of the largest Moving & Storage programs nationally, serviced by dedicated Moving & Storage brokers. In her spare time, in addition to enjoying her family, she is the Chair of the Board of Directors for the Surplus Lines Association of California.