Choices in telematics technology show the bond of trust that exists between operators. Is driver monitoring a necessity for future fleet management?
When it comes to telematics and video monitoring, those oft-uttered four words – ‘spy in the cab’ – are some of the most controversial among members of the coach and bus industry.
CCTV and video monitoring is nearly ubiquitous in modern-day Britain, and it seems that monitoring of drivers in vehicles is inevitable, and already prevalent.
But as with most software, telematics and driver monitoring systems have managed to conjure a storm of worry about their implementation.
Chief among these concerns would appear to be change management. Questions about its implementation often ask what it means for the users involved and how it will affect their day-to-day life.
The discussion on how driver surveillance will affect members of the industry when conducting their job is already taking place. In conversations between managers, it’s to reduce the numbers of high-risk incidents, clear up claims and bring their drivers and passengers home safe.
But there is understandable resistance to the notion of being scrutinised – so what does the technology really involve, and should drivers be concerned?
Encouragement, not punishment
Occasionally, telematics and video monitoring becomes a means of reminding drivers that certain things are outside the law. But both operators and manufacturers of the technology are keen to dispel any notion that it is a ‘big brother’ style surveillance system.
Such a prejudgment is simply not true, they say, with the scope of spying on drivers already limited by how the devices are employed in vehicles.
Alfa Travel, which runs 48 coaches with Daimler Fleetboard and Lytx systems, recently revealed it had halved its rate of collisions in the 16 months since it had installed the DriveCam Event Recorder in its coaches (from 0.99 per 100,000km in 2017 to 0.53 in 2019). The operator also reported a drop in seatbelt non-compliance as a knock-on effect from its implementation.
The Lytx DriveCam Event Recorder, which uses forward- and cab-facing cameras, records a short segment of video when triggered by an incident such as a sudden swerve, or sharp braking. Lytx, whose offices are based in the USA, then reviews the footage, and flags up the incident if it feels it necessary.
Paul Bull, Operations Director of the Transport Division at Alfa Travel, says there’s been a dramatic reduction in both collisions and near misses as a result of implementing the recorder – which accounts for both close following and late braking.
He says driver monitoring software is a preventative measure – a method to review and coach the driver, rather than a means of surveillance.
“There were cynical views that we could watch the drivers at any time,” Paul adds. “But we explained that we can’t do that. There are thresholds in the system. It records a snapshot that is sent to Lytx’s central office.”
Lytx stresses that its primary purpose with telematics and video monitoring is to review a set of circumstances and instill a positive approach to driver coaching.
“When the triggers for near collisions happened, that’s when we noticed that some of the drivers were not wearing their seatbelts. We remind them that we’re concerned for their safety.”
Alfa Travel’s drivers have been accepting of the technology, Paul adds, but there were some obstacles to overcome.
“The drivers were very accepting, but they needed reassurance that it wasn’t just us spying on them. Once we reassured them, they were fine with it. They don’t want somebody telling them they’ve done something wrong. This is about their safety and the customer’s safety.
“We explained to them how the system works. We brought someone in from Lytx to show them. We can’t review the footage, so a remote system lets the driver see what they have done and the Transport Manager talks to them about it.”
The company has offered incentives to its drivers, and regardless of the obstacles, the benefits have been worthwhile, Paul says.
“We’re seeing a reduction in road collisions. While it doesn’t solve all problems, it gives the benefit of knowing we’re reducing the risk. The number of triggered incidents is reducing year on year. It helps me sleep at night.”
Lytx has helped to identify Alfa Travel’s most high-risk drivers and allowed the company to invest in better training. “I needed to do something more than coach them,” Paul says. “It was a good investment and it worked to an extent. It’s a matter of time. You’ve got to do something about this – we’d be negligent if we didn’t. And we wouldn’t know about these incidents if not for the DriveCam system.”
A diverse market of telematics
Award winning coach operator Anthony’s Travel, which operates 16 coaches, buses and minibuses, has been using telematics for several years. Managing Partner Richard Bamber, who is a finalist in the routeone Awards this year and won last year in the Operator Training category, employs the Synectics Genius telematics platform to monitor drive patterns, time-keeping, fuel economy and vehicle progress.
Richard scores his vehicles on a percentage and sets a parameter for his drivers to aim for. The telematics units pick up g-force triggers and a percentage borderline can be adjusted. That percentage can be scored from a good driver and used as a baseline.
“Drivers are driving better. It’s definitely raised the bar. We are big on technology – we were one of the first companies to fit Alcolock, CCTV, trackers and tyre management systems to our fleet. CCTV alone has gotten our drivers out of a lot of unfounded allegations over the years.”
When it comes to getting staff on board, it hasn’t been the easiest task. But Richard says communication – explaining the reasons for introducing the technology and its overall benefits – is key. Investment in telematics should benefit drivers too, and encouraging them that the technology keeps them safe has helped. Drivers now come to Richard and voluntarily advise him that footage may need saving when they know they are not at fault during an incident.
“With anything, change is not always met willingly,” Richard adds. “But our drivers like their technology.
“Once they talk to each other and it gets them out of trouble, once they see the benefits of it and the additional incentives, it’s well received.”
A range of benefits
Richard says the main benefits have been increased efficiency overall, a drop in accident rates, reduction in damage and wear-and-tear on vehicle components, improved fuel consumption, and more environmental consideration such as less idling – not to mention a reduction in complaints. The company has also seen its insurance premiums lower by 35%. It means Anthony’s Travel gets to offer incentives to its drivers.
Richard says the technology has made cash benefits possible, so drivers can reap the rewards of their own better driving.
“We always publish praise for the top drivers of the month, because everybody likes a pat on the back. It made people think about their own habits – it was good to see the drivers govern themselves. We’re lucky to have a great team and everything we have introduced has been well received.”
Perfecting the system
There haven’t been any major challenges, but Richard says so far that telematics and video monitoring has been better for buses than it has been for coaches.
“We needed different results,” he says. “For instance, the telematics systems originally didn’t show if a vehicle was idling. It’s important to find schemes and equipment that works for Anthony’s Travel and not just for any other company.”
With the firm already employing telematics and video monitoring software in all its vehicles, Richard says the broad-ranging benefits are likely to make it a necessity in the future. Alfa Travel also believes the technology will become compulsory on larger vehicles as a safety measure.
“Ultimately the world’s controlled by data now,” Richard says. “You don’t always need spanners – but you need computers. It’s fantastic equipment if used right, but not cheap to fit, so there’s no point in just ticking a box.”
It’s understandable for drivers to have concerns about monitoring equipment in their vehicles putting them under closer scrutiny, and both large and small operators may have some work to do convincing them to accept it.
But the dramatic improvements in safety and efficiency put a strong case for driver surveillance that will become harder to fight if more and more operators report the same results – and drivers should remember that the technology is working for them more than it is working against them.
