Page 7 - Logistics News April 2021

Thought Leadership

Research conducted by Arrive Alive has found viscosity that can be used to help other vehicles
that driver tiredness causes more than 20 percent to operate better in those conditions. Servicing
of long-distance accidents. Helping to combat schedules can be adjusted to ensure a longer life
this are technologies like in-cab and road-facing for vehicles – and greater safety for drivers.
live monitoring camera systems, using both AI
and data interpretations, as well as alert and alarm Risk assessment
management to help fleet owners check for driver Insurers also benefit from the greater amount of
fatigue, distracted driving, speeding or o -route data provided by technology, as it provides a more
driving. accurate understanding of risk. Data can be used
Data analytics and fleet intelligence can also be to incentivise safer behaviour and to bring down
used to design work schedules that keep drivers premiums when there is measurable improvement.
fresh and performing at their best. New safety technologies include sensors that
provide lane-departure warnings, pedestrian and
Connected eets vehicle collision warnings, as well as eye- and face-
Vehicle connectivity is another factor in managing sensor technology to detect fatigue.
driver wellness. Long-distance driving is a solitary,
sometimes lonely, profession. Fortunately, Safety technology
connected vehicle technology now allows for Already, driver monitoring has shown significant
numerous services that make the driver feel more and measurable results. A recent partnership
part of society. While this technology is still in its between Netstar and Putco was able to improve
early days, it o ers great potential. passenger and driver safety by reducing accidents
Free, centralised, high-speed connectivity in the and also enhancing COVID-19 compliance through
vehicle can allow the employer to push content a network of onboard cameras.
to the vehicle – training modules, webinars, email These technology-driven safety protocols
or online meetings. Drivers parked overnight at saw Putco reduce accidents by 70 percent, and
a truck stop can video-chat with their families damage claims by 36 percent. In the 2016/17
or complete an e-learning course. Data, food or financial year, Putco reported 61 accidents, but
co ee vouchers can even be o ered as rewards by the end of December 2019, this number had
incentives. dropped to 18.
The connected driver feels they belong to Another recent threat to driver safety has
something, they’re more engaged with their loved been the rise in crime, hijackings and vehicle
ones and their business family. theft during the desperate times of the lockdown.
Vehicle tracking technology, combined with data
Scheduled maintenance analysis and crime reports, can help to respond to
With the precision monitoring of connected driver alerts almost immediately, to plan the safest
fleets, precision maintenance can also be used to possible routes and even to reroute drivers in real
improve safety. Pre-trip checklists can be digitally time in response to incoming reports.
entered using a device, with data communicated In these challenging times, the industry cannot
to headquarters in real time, to make this essential a ord to ignore the benefits of technology.
aspect of every journey as e’cient as possible. The risks on the road mean that every fleet and
A vehicle operating in an area with high dust logistics company should look to employ the best
content, for instance, can provide data on oil technology available to protect their drivers. •

April 2021 | Logistics News 5