Fleet organizations and the US government have been in a constant battle to ensure better truck safety. Trucks, being the massive machines that they are, do not just raise safety concerns for the vehicles and the goods. They also affect the others on the road.
Automation and telematics have statistically reduced this risk in the last decade. Automation and fleet management software reduces the burden on fleet managers. They are sophisticated devices that allow the tracking and monitoring of the fleet in real-time.
Since technology has been introduced into fleets, it has enabled faster operations with reduced risks of theft, accidents, and mechanical damage. They are also competent in improving the overall safety of the fleet in more than one way. But when we address truck safety, what does this entail?
Need For Saftey.
Truck and goods safety are broadly broken down into these two parameters. Both of these are essential for better fleet heath as well as glitch-free operations.
- Workforce Risks.
There is a two-fold level of vulnerability to this workforce. The first is the driver of the fleet wot holds the most substantial role. Their safety will indirectly affect the functioning of the whole fleet, so ensuring better working conditions for the driver is elementary.
The second is the manager and the ground-labor. They are the people who ensure the driver can meet the deadline. Providing them with the right technology to do their work will keep the goods away from harm’s way.
- Mechanical Risks
A fully equipped truck will guarantee the safe transportation of goods, ensure no delays, and reduce the chances of theft. Tools used to maintain vehicle health are inevitably leading to enhanced goods safety.
Similarly, the warehouse and the docking points also must be well-equipped to manage load and survey the goods. This space is where the role of monitoring devices creates an edge.
Why Use Additional Equipment?
While we understand the need for safety, this raises the question of why do we need technical assistance? With the advancement of science, these equipment are cheaper and easier to install. They reduce the efforts of the staff and work as their aid.
These machines can enable a low margin for error in calculations and planning. Computers run round-the-clock without feeling fatigued, boredom, or disloyalty. They also keep a permanent record of your fleet safety for future use or running analytics.
Having better safety additions also reduces the annual cost os insurance and helps get better claims of any accidents. Lastly, it brings value to your brand. Owning state-of-the-art innovations will lead to increased leads, more business, and higher revenue.
What Equipments Are Useful?
Once you fully understand the need for these additions and their advantages, it’s easy to pick and choose the technology your fleet needs for better goods security. Here are a few of the latest ‘must-haves’:
- GPS Tracking:
GPS tracking units are used on the truck to get real-time updated on its position. They also provide useful information on the engine’s heath, keep a log of the miles traveled, and monitor fuel consumption. The better the health of your fleet, the higher the safety of the onboard goods.
The fleet’s tracking location will also produce the position of the goods to the client or consumers. This data will reassure the users about safety practices and further enhance the quality of business.
- Dash Cameras:
They are used to solve two safety concerns. Firstly, they work an eye to the fleet manager. A dual-facing dash camera will check the driver’s behavior and enforce ethical practices. It can also trigger warnings when they sense a problem with the driver’s actions.
The forward camera works as a driver-assist. These cameras watch the roads for obstacles and help mauver tight-turns. They also record all the information on a secure cloud for future access, related to safety and quality assurance.
- ELD.
The ELD or Electronic Logging Devices register the run-time of the trucks, GPS location of the fleet, work as hotspot devices, and store the Driver Vehicle Inspection Report (DVIRs). It ensures safer work conditions of the driver and maintains records for legal and taxation purposes.
They also keep a tab on the Hours of Service Compliance (HOS). HOS is the government mandate that sets an upper limit on the daily drive-time of the driver. They ensure drives are not over-worked and fatigued on the road.
- Driver Automation.
These devices fall under driver AI and are known to reduce the strain of the driver or enforce safer driving conditions. One example is a speed governance unit. These are electronic units placed in the vehicle that limit its speed or trigger warnings when they go over the designated speed limit.
Other additions are automated braking, blind-spot camera, and route-guiding devices. A lot of these devices also work in harmony with a mobile device, making it easier to operate and manage. A majority of these features, however, are pre-installed in modern-day trucks
- Personal Protection Essentials.
Once we cover surveillance and tracking, some additional essentials create a safer workspace. Tools like reflective vests for driver and labor, reflective triangle for breakdowns, fire extinguisher, tool kits, and backup tools are all must-needed entities.
While these might seem like the necessities of any fleet and rarely used, they are critical tools that must always be on board in case of any unfortunate circumstances. Drivers who operate on long-hauls will have to further elaborate on this list of essentials.
Final Thoughts,
Goods safety on board is directly related to the security of the fleet. And better protection cannot be obtained without the help of fleet management tools.
These tools also provide you with effective analytics on the working of the fleet. This data will help your organization identify problem-points and correct these flaws for longevity.
Lately, The cost of installing any of these devices is a small fraction compared to the befits they can add to your business. They are usually a single-time investment that lasts a lifetime.