1. Empower drivers to focus on safety, service and avoid distractions

Recent generations of vehicle technology required drivers to manage service and safety data on tablet devices and for many this represented both a burden and distraction.

However, as Monroe explained, the latest vehicle and driver technologies are passive and automated  in that they do not require active interaction from the driver, and therefore do not represent a distraction to safety. 

These passive technology solutions include:

• Telematics solutions that track key safety and service metrics such as fuel usage, driving behavior, and route compliance. This data is sent automatically by the telematics device and is always on and requires no driver interaction. 

• Camera based vehicle solutions that can automatically record safety and service events (blocked access, overfilled containers, non-presented containers and contaminated recyclables) without any need for driver intervention.

• Integrated On-Board Scale and Lift Verification solutions that automatically record weights of containers and lift events and send this data directly to the host solution with no local driver involvement 

“Sometimes drivers don’t understand that their driving behavior is bad,” explains Monroe. “It’s not about ‘Big Brother;’ it’s about allowing drivers to see this data and use that proactive counseling to improve their actions such as speeding and harsh braking or accelerating. The reality is you can’t manage what you can’t see, so it’s important to use technologies as effective tools and provide ongoing training to keep your drivers engaged, informed and safe on the job.”

3. Digitize driver paperwork to reduce burdensome form filling

Digitizing driver paperwork for daily inspections for Safety and DOT inspections is essential.

Paper and manual recording of inspections can lead to errors, gaps, and delays in communication between drivers and fleet managers. Often fleet managers may take days to review inspection forms and to act. Instead, mobile inspection apps will allow drivers to complete fast and accurate inspections that can be uploaded in real time into the fleet maintenance solution.

This digitization ensures that drivers can have more confidence in a fleet maintenance service which is responsive to any defects and issues that they flag, thus increasing both driver safety and satisfaction. 

5. Ensure driver routes are both optimized for both efficiency and safety

Advanced route optimization and planning tools allow haulers to use algorithms to embed best safety practices into the design of routes. This can take into consideration risks and hazards around traffic congestion periods (avoiding schools etc.), turns and maneuvers such as reversing and navigating cul-de-sacs. It can also implement best practices based on side of service collection and type of service (e.g., side of street, front, and rear loaders etc.).

“When implementing technologies into your operations, it’s important to ensure they are aligned with your business goals such as boosting safety performance and reducing emissions,” says Aardsma. “It’s also important to ensure they don’t conflict with your incentive programs like productivity bonuses because you could then be taking opportunities away from drivers and pushing them out the door. Your drivers should have a clear understanding of the safety benefits these changes will bring them as they can sometimes think the technologies are being put into place to act as ‘Big Brother’ and provide too much transparency.”