If you’re a fleet manager interested in cutting-edge efficiency and protection for your vehicles, a video telematics system is probably on your radar. The concept is simple: Use real-time driver- and road-facing video to get a complete picture of what’s happening inside and outside every vehicle in your fleet. But picking the right system can be difficult. Here, we’ll discuss video telematics basics, and answer the questions you have about installing a system in your fleet.
What is Video Telematics?
A video telematics system integrates with the GPS tracking unit in your vehicle to add video monitoring and incident analytics. For example, a basic GPS tracking unit can give you the precise location of a vehicle and its path of travel. A video telematics system like GPS Trackit’s VidFleet has a driver- and road-facing cameras that monitor driver behavior and what’s going on outside the vehicle. A fleet operator can see what his or her drivers see, and also get crucial information about what drivers are doing during incidents (or potential incidents).
-How is the vehicle being operated? (speed, braking, turning)
-Where is the driver’s attention?
-What is happening outside the vehicle?
-Does the event description match the video footage and analytics?
GPS Trackit’s VidFleet system uses industry-leading high-definition cameras, G-force sensors, and microphones in its compact, durable units—which install in minutes with no special tools. They operate anywhere you get a 4G LTE cell signal—which means virtually every paved road in the United States.
Fleet managers can set up the system to record any behaviors that fall within certain parameters—anything from a designated speed limit to a specific GPS location to a collision—and provide an alert. The video is uploaded automatically to the cloud, where it can be reviewed and stored.
What are the Benefits of Video Telematics?
The best systems use both video and predictive artificial intelligence to not only record incidents but give drivers warnings if they’re potentially distracted. GPS Trackit’s VidFleet system gives a voice warning when it detects distracted behavior, giving the driver a chance to make a correction before an incident.
This kind of predictive monitoring has many cost benefits. One study showed risky driving behavior was reduced by more than 50 percent in fleet populations that were being monitored by a camera-based system. Less-aggressive driving means lower average speed and easier acceleration and braking. Those behaviors translate into better fleet-wide fuel economy and less wear-and-tear on vehicles.
Video telematics offers a kind of real-time coaching benefit to drivers across a fleet. Because the system monitors and records potentially distracted behavior, drivers are incentivized to keep their eyes on the road. Many GPS Trackit clients use video telematics as a part of a driver scorecard program that rewards drivers with the best safety and efficiency scores.
And commercial insurers love what video telematics means for fleet risk profiles. Because the best systems do such a good job recording incident specifics, many insurers offer significant premium discounts for fleets that use video telematics. Fleet operators who use video telematics see a reduction in incident costs by more than 60 percent—and when they do have incident claims, those claims are handled much more quickly because the insurers have the information they need.
How Much Does it Cost?
The VidFleet system from GPS Trackit costs less than $1 per day per vehicle, which means you can get enterprise-grade protection for less than the cost of a cup of coffee. Most fleet operators see a positive return on their investment within 30 days in the form of fleet fuel cost reductions, cheaper insurance premiums and fewer lost vehicle days due to repair. Some insurers even offer rebates for the total installation cost of a vehicle telematic system, which means no out-of-pocket cost to you.
The systems are also easy to install, which makes the platform easy to scale for growing fleets. No special tools or technological expertise are required to install or maintain the systems, which means you’re not adding expensive maintenance tickets to your queue.
Why GPS Trackit?
By combining industry-leading high-definition cameras, cutting-edge artificial intelligence, and best-in-class customer service, GPS Trackit is the leader in video telematics. GPS Trackit’s cameras provide the crystal-clear picture you need to really see what’s happening with your fleet. GPS Trackit offers both live and recorded training seminars to help you get the most out of your video telematics system and troubleshoot any potential issues.
To find out more, schedule a customized demo from a GPS Trackit Fleet Advisor today.
