Fleet management video cameras or dashcams may be essential for protecting your fleet, but how can you get your drivers to accept it?

It’s easy to find driver comments online about dash cams. Some experienced drivers take pride in their safety records and feel the dash cam is an intrusion or a cause for stress. A few drivers mention how video can prove that the car driver is often at fault in an accident with fleet trucks. This video evidence can exonerate the professional fleet truck driver and reduce expensive insurance claims How can we answer driver questions and make it easier for them to see the value of dashcams in their fleet vehicles?.

The freight logistics news source, FreightWaves, published a survey that found about 30% of fleets still resist dash cam technology. Driver or fleet manager concerns can be a barrier even though truckers and carriers that adopt dash cams report lower legal fees, lawsuit risks and insurance claims.

“Among the resistant 30%, reasons to avoid dash cams range from protecting driver privacy to the fear of driver turnover. Experienced operators, who like smaller fleets’ promise of work/life balance and autonomy, resist in-cab technologies because they take pride in their long record of safe driving. Trends show that as fleets decrease in size, they’re more likely not to adopt dash cams.”  https://www.freightwaves.com/news/smaller-fleets-resist-dash-cams-despite-their-exoneration-of-drivers

The driver objections to driver facing cameras are usually that it invades the privacy of over the road truck drivers who sleep in their cabs. Naturally, married driver teams don’t want anyone listening to them at night through the dash cam, even if they have a privacy curtain. It’s not surprising that drivers want their privacy when they’re off duty.

How to Handle Common Driver Questions About Video Fleet Management

We’re aware of these driver concerns and questions. If drivers have their questions and concerns treated honestly, it helps them to see the safety benefits of forward facing and driver facing cameras. Some of the driver questions come from not knowing how the video will be used. Here are a few common driver questions:

• Drivers believe that they are watched continuously by the in-cab video. Is this true or false for GPS Trackit solutions?

Drivers aren’t necessarily being watched continuously. No one in the home office can watch all drivers, all the time. Employers really have no reason to waste time watching or pulling down a ton of video unless an incident occurs. Yes, the camera is continuously recording to the SD memory card while the ignition is on. Video is always recording, but it is not sent back to the home office unless an accident or an abrupt driving maneuver triggers an alert.

• How many seconds and minutes of video are available before and after an accident occurs?

Some drivers understand that the dashcam video is continuous and stored in memory, and only downloaded in case of an incident. Video can be live-streamed, or clips can be requested for the specific date & time provided the video is on the SD Card (loop recorded) from the Cloud. Event-related video is auto-uploaded to the Cloud. The number of seconds or minutes of video recorded before and after an accident or incident is configurable.

• OTR drivers worry that they may be monitored even while sleeping in their cab.

Husband and wife teams object to the thought of their nighttime activities being monitored through audio or video even with a privacy curtain. This comment seems to occur often online.

GPS Trackit fleet cameras will have the mic set to “off” by default. The obvious solution if this is a blocker for employees and employers to implement video is to use road only cameras. This eliminates any concerns about the view of the driver. You still get most safety benefits because fault assignment for an accident can be shown through the road view.

Remember that fleet management cameras are set up to create alerts based on dangerous driving behaviors, such as speeding or hard braking. A short video clip is automatically generated when an alert is created, perhaps 30 seconds before and 30 seconds after the moment of the event.  If drivers never create an alert, through an accident or through aggressive driving, the home office may never need to see a video of an individual driver.

4 Reasons Your Drivers Benefit from Video Telematics and Dashboard Cameras

Dash Cams Increase Driver Safety

If your drivers transport people in limousines or buses, you can’t predict who is riding with your driver. For delivery or fleet drivers, having a professional attitude with customers is crucial. Video cameras can protect drivers from violence and monitor how drivers treat passengers.

Video Telematics Can Reduce Liability and Expensive Lawsuits

The nature of road accidents fosters confusion and uncertainty regarding the exact circumstances of the incident. When witnesses offer different accounts how can accident authorities determine who is at fault? With road video that shows the exact position of vehicles at the time of an accident and your driver’s actions prior to the collision, you have convincing evidence to exonerate your drivers. Video evidence is protection for both fleet drivers and the business.

Video Cameras Have Positive Impact on Driving Behavior

Video monitoring encourages proper driving behavior and helps fleet managers assess who may need coaching to promote safe driving practices. Video footage of driving incidents and accidents can be used as a teaching tool. When drivers have developed risky driving habits, they may not be aware of the risks involved. Video provides undeniable proof to teach drivers when their habits become so ingrained that they are not aware of them.

A Camera Policy Can Help Drivers Feel Comfortable with Video cameras

For Over the Road or long-haul truckers, the vehicle cab is both a work environment and a sanctuary where they live and rest on the road. Companies should make clear rules about who can view and access videos before installing the cameras. Some video fleet management technology allows cameras to switch off when the vehicle is off. With clear rules of use in place, you can be assured that your privacy and comfort are a priority for your employer’s business.

 

If you’d like to learn more about how GPS Trackit can help to improve safety, increase productivity and reduce costs for your business, speak with one of our
knowledgeable Fleet Advisors at 866-320-5810 or get a quick Custom Quote.