Most people are probably familiar with the in-cab video from large trucks that play and replay on social media and other sources. TruckingInfo.com notes that although truck drivers have expressed an unwillingness to spend their workdays on video, the training and safety benefits have been invaluable.
The focus of the systems is safety, but not all of them work the same or provide the same data. Some safety features are similar to those in passenger vehicles, providing lane departure warnings and other alerts. The purpose of others is to provide information regarding driver performance.
Many systems only begin recording when an incident occurs. A hard brake or a swerve triggers the recording, and the camera collects data for several seconds. This information transfers to professionals who analyze the details of the event gathered from in-cab and forward-facing video, sensors and other devices. Using algorithms, they are able to provide risk predictions and develop an action plan to improve safety for the driver as well as the entire fleet.
According to FleetOwner.com, one study indicated that the use of video could decrease fatal truck and bus accidents by 20%. The average cost of a fatal trucking accident is $11 million.
With so much incentive to improve safety, video systems are proliferating. Companies and their drivers share the responsibility of identifying infractions and addressing them through training. Trucking companies can go even further to improve the culture of safety by employing coaches who develop positive relationships with drivers from their first day of orientation.
By keeping safety in the forefront, drivers are less likely to become complacent and develop bad habits.
