A combination of dashcams and telematics can record a range of information in all your company vehicles. These are relatively new technologies that are reasonably priced, easy to install, and capable of helping you keep your drivers safer.
Why exactly should you use these technologies in all your company vehicles and how do you get started?
The Basics of Dashcams and Telematics
Dashcams and telematics are two different technologies that work together to help your organization stay safer – and potentially save a lot of money.
A dashcam is a camera that rests on or near the windshield of the vehicle and constantly records, often with overlapping recording or cloud storage for the videos. This way, you’ll have a way to constantly monitor where the vehicle is going and what it’s doing. In many cases, business owners install dashcams at the front and rear of the vehicle, giving a full picture of the surroundings at all times.
If a vehicle gets into an accident, you can go back and review the footage to determine how the accident happened and whether the driver was at fault. This can also help protect against vandalism and theft.
Telematics are a set of systems installed in a vehicle that can gather various points of data about the vehicle while it’s in motion. For example, these systems can gather and store GPS data so that you always know the exact position of the vehicle. These systems can also use onboard diagnostics (OBD) to explain what’s happening with the vehicle, such as registering that the brakes have been applied.
By using both of these technologies together, you can fully understand what’s going on with each vehicle in your fleet, complete with context for positions and movements.
The Benefits of Dashcams and Telematics
Why are these technologies so beneficial for construction companies?
· Driver and rider safety. Telematics and dashcams are shown to keep drivers and their passengers safer. Part of this is due to the accountability factor. When drivers know that they’re being recorded, they’re much more likely to obey the law and exercise caution in complicated situations. Even if this effect is only minor, and your drivers are generally safe anyway, this can still be a significant move in the direction of greater safety.
· Incentivizing and encouraging productivity. Dashcams and telematics also incentivize and encourage productivity. When people know that they’re being recorded, they’re much more likely to engage in productive, focused behaviors.
· Cost savings. Some business owners intentionally install dashcams and telematics in the interest of cost savings. Sometimes, insurance companies are willing to lend you a discount on your policies if you have these systems installed in your fleet vehicles. Even if they don’t, you should save money on auto claim costs and premium increases by preventing accidents.
· Issue detection and fleet management. Many of these onboard systems provide potential issue detection. For example, you may notice that the vehicle is behaving strangely or that the fuel efficiency has declined. This can help you evaluate vehicles that may be in need of repair or replacement.
· Compliance and reporting. Dashcams and telematics can also assist with compliance and reporting. If there’s ever an accident or incident involving these vehicles, you’ll have a complete set of data to present.
· Root cause analysis and diagnostics. Similarly, these technologies allow you to conduct thorough root cause analyses whenever you need them. If a vehicle is involved in an accident, you’ll know exactly what happened before, during, and after that accident.
· Environmental sustainability. As an added bonus, telematics can help you maximize your environmental sustainability by tracking and improving fuel efficiency in your vehicles.
Are There Downsides?
So are there any downsides to dashcams and telematics?
The short answer is yes, but most of the downsides are minimal and outclassed by the benefits.
· Costs. Realistically, both dashcams and telematics are cheap. There are some costs involved, but you can upgrade your entire fleet for a few thousand dollars – and these technologies will likely pay for themselves in the long run.
· Integration and training. It also takes some effort to install these systems and train your leaders on how to use them. Still, this is a relatively minor downside in the grand scheme of things.
· Driver attitudes. You may also have issues with driver attitudes in some cases. Some people don’t like the idea of being recorded or tracked, and they may push back against the idea. Remind these employees that recording is merely for greater safety and accountability – and is not an intrusion of their privacy.
For the most part, dashcams and telematics are well worth the investment. Installing these systems in your vehicles can help make your entire organization safer, more productive, and more cost efficient.
