Improve Delivery Fleet Safety with Driver Scorecards

Delivery driver behavior is one of the most important aspects a fleet manager has to deal with. If drivers are negligent behind the wheel, the results could be costly. Transported products could be damaged. Vehicles could wear down at a rate faster than expected. Worst of all, if a driver isn’t doing what they’re supposed to, an accident could occur, and people could get seriously hurt.

To make sure none of those errors occur, delivery fleet managers used to have to trust that their drivers were being responsible or babysit them in the passenger seat for the duration of the journey. They had to influence driver behavior with their presence.

Now, the technology exists to produce what’s called a driver safety scorecard that does that job for the managers, allowing them to devote more of their time and energy elsewhere.

What is a Driver Safety Scorecard?

A driver safety scorecard is a report that tracks some of the most significant factors that contribute to driver behavior. Each of the elements is given a quantitative number produced through a GPS tracking system that fleet managers can use to assess the productivity of their drivers and whether or not additional training is necessary.

For example, the scorecard may indicate the average speed a vehicle drives at during its route or how hard the driver chooses to brake or accelerate at any moment. Fleet managers receive a bevy of statistical information that allows them to continue ensuring their drivers are as responsible and time-efficient as they need to be.

What are the safety benefits of a Driver Safety Scorecard?

A driver safety scorecard can make the roads safer for everyone by ensuring drivers know of the behind-the-wheel behaviors that need to be changed.

Speeding is one of the most dangerous things anyone can do behind the wheel of a vehicle. It was a factor in 26% of all traffic fatalities in 2019. Even if one is lucky enough to avoid that kind of collision, an increase in speed can add unnecessary wear and tear to a vehicle or result in a hefty speeding ticket.

Without the proper technology, there’d be no way for fleet managers to know whether the drivers are making their safety and the safety of others a priority by obeying local speed limits. With a driver safety scorecard providing data, managers can better supervise their drivers and hold them accountable for their recklessness. They have substantial numbers they can take to drivers to make sure they slow down when on the road, thus creating a safer driving environment for every vehicle around them.

What other factors make up delivery driver behavior?

The influence of driver behavior spans dozens of factors, which GPS tracking technology now offers easy access to, providing answers to the questions fleet managers might want to know. Are drivers getting the most out of their fuel usage? According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, subtle changes to driving behavior can improve fuel economy by up to 33 percent.

Are drivers going against standard protocols for vehicles of a specific size and putting their vehicles in reverse? Are they buckled into their seatbelts while driving? These elements and so many others are potential liabilities fleet managers would like to minimize as much as possible. With the right GPS tracking technology in place, managers can know which aspects of their driver’s behavior have the most risk and act to reduce it accordingly.

How do you install GPS tracking technology? 

Before you can install the GPS tracking technology that produces a driver safety scorecard, you first have to determine how expansive they want their scorecard report to be.

A more standard report offers the data pertaining to a driver’s speed and acceleration and braking habits. Receiving that data requires only a simple device that can easily plug into a vehicle’s OBD(On-Board Diagnostics) that then transmits the information to a server that the managers can access for further analysis.

But advances in GPS tracking technology offer even greater insight into driver behavior. Fleet managers can install a driver-facing camera that uses artificial intelligence to assess the facial language of their drivers. 

If a driver is showing signs of fatigue, the camera will pick up on it. Fleet managers can take this data and see if there’s a more significant trend behind it. Maybe the information will indicate that drivers repeatedly show increased fatigue levels at specific points in their journey. 

A driver-facing camera can also make note of other notable driver behaviors, including cellphone use, eating while driving, and plenty of other examples of distracted driving that can cause all types of damage. 

Are there any disadvantages to driver scorecards?

Driver scorecards benefit a delivery company’s bottom line by lowering the potential negative outcomes that can come from poor driver behavior. 

It’s also important for fleet managers to keep an eye on the morale of their drivers soon after the technology is put into place. Most drivers probably don’t enjoy having every aspect of their driving being monitored at all times. Some would argue the assessments are too invasive and create distrust between the drivers and their bosses, which could ultimately come back to hurt driver productivity and efficiency. 

Does GPS tracking technology actually make roads safer?

Trucking company Bison Transport implemented additional driver safety measures that included tracking technology and driver-facing cameras and reported the following data:

• 67% reduction in fatigued driving
• 40% reduction in distracted driving
• 97% reduction in cell phone use

The numbers will vary depending on the company, but the underlying conclusion should be clear. When drivers are held accountable for their behaviors on the road, those behaviors tend to improve, and everyone on the road is better off because of it.

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.

Sources:

1.  https://injuryfacts.nsc.org/motor-vehicle/motor-vehicle-safety-issues/speeding/
2. https://www.seattletrucklaw.com/blog/why-truck-companies-dont-want-driver-facing-cameras/