Fleet safety technology has come a long way in the last 20 years. Today, incredible systems are revolutionizing the transportation and logistics industries. From helping long-haul truck drivers avoid accidents to keeping them alert and awake, here are six of our favorites.
Forward-Facing Collision Systems
Sensors and alert systems warn drivers about traffic up ahead, giving drivers more time to react. Some are even able to apply braking systems or speed controls to slow the fleet vehicle to a rate of speed that might help prevent injuries or accidents altogether.
Alerts For Commercial Drivers
Another piece of useful fleet technology are driver alerts that sense when a driver may be sluggish or slow to respond. For logistics companies that move a lot of freight, this technology can help company drivers realize when it’s too dangerous to continue driving. This enables the driver to slow down, take stock, and safely plan their routes moving forward.
Rear-View Cameras
Rear-view cameras greatly benefit all motorists. Staff fleet drivers are no exception. Installing these cameras on rigs or heavy-duty trucks can reduce the number of private property accidents that so commonly result from backing out with low visibility.
Just how common are accidents that occur in reverse? According to the Texas Division of Workers’ Compensation, they account for about 25 percent of all accidents. How many companies can benefit from reducing one-quarter of your accidents?
Speed Governor and Speed Control
Speed governors can also reduce the likelihood of accidents that occur over the speed limit. These are devices that regulate speed, reducing the number of speeding tickets your drivers accrue, lower insurance rates, and minimize wear and tear on commercial vehicles. As speeding, causes about 26 percent of traffic fatalities, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), this technology is essential to any commercial fleet.
Between on-board governors and rear-view cameras, you could reduce your fleet’s accidents by as much as 51 percent! Those are traceable impacts that can quickly pay for the cost of the technology.
Adaptive Cruise Control
Another way to help achieve accident reduction is to use adaptive cruise control technology with each fleet vehicle. This will not only help your heavy-duty truck drivers maintain a steady speed, but it will also help them keep a safe distance from cars ahead of them. Ordinary cruise control is great too, but it only helps drivers improve their gas mileage and go easier on the brakes and tires.
There are additional cost-savings to be had here, and most vehicles are already equipped with standard cruise control. But adaptive cruise control goes a bit further. It doesn’t just set the speed where the driver first engaged it. It uses advanced technology to adjust the speed without the aid of the driver to keep a safer distance from forward-facing traffic.
It’s a bit like the Forward-Collision Mitigation systems we mentioned earlier in that regard, but it engages when a potential collision is imminent.
Electronic Stability Controls
Electronic Stability Controls are useful to drivers in several ways. Take this scenario as an example. Your driver is on a long haul with a truck that needs maintenance.
It’s gone longer than it should have without the proper attention. As a result, maybe the tires are balding, thus making the rig more susceptible to skidding and loss of control.
ESC can find balance with how the tires are used. It’s able to automatically apply brakes before it’s too late. It can even monitor and adjust the engine power until the rig’s stability is re-established.
What to Remember When Implementing Fleet Safety Tech
The six fleet safety technologies above can put your team of commercial drivers on the road to safety. But before you start implementing these tools, it’s important to get a few things under control.
Understand Your Fleet Safety Technology
Make sure that everyone from the cab to the boardroom understands how this fleet technology works. Otherwise, some safety features may go unused, and you might not enjoy the full benefits.
Learn Efficiency Benchmarks
Establish some benchmarks using current accident data prior to switching to the new technology. Without these benchmarks in place, you can still save money. You just won’t know how much!
Plan Around Replacement Schedules
Every fleet vehicle has a life cycle. Price that into your current replacement schedules, so you’ll be able to know the true cost of the technology and how to measure the impact of any newly implemented systems.
Employing Fleet Safety Technology Is Great for the Safety and Stability of Your Business
Fleet safety technology is still relatively new, and it will only continue to advance. That said, some things will never change, and that’s the importance of properly maintaining your fleet for the maximum financial benefit.
For that, you need to partner with fleet service providers that understand these new technologies as well as the mechanical engineering that keeps you running. J&A Fleet is a top provider serving Morris, Wilmington, Joliet, Shorewood, Gardner, and nearby cities in Illinois. We’re also proud to serve Tampa, St. Petersburg, Sarasota, and beyond in the state of Florida. Wherever your company’s commercial fleet operates, we’re here to help you better plan the safety and performance of your vehicles. Contact us today!