THE DEFINITIVE TRUCKING SITE

April 2008

The importance of upskilling and retaining drivers cannot be overstated in the light of the current shortage of skilled drivers. However, market pressures on transport operators to meet demanding delivery schedules make it difficult for them to release drivers for training. As a result, drivers often cultivate bad driving habits that lead to accidents and increased running costs. A means to curtailing this problem lies in the use of an in-cab camera that serves as an extra set of eyes and ears for driver trainers. Paul Collings visits an operation using this technology as an on-the-job training tool. 

Last month’s issue of FleetWatch highlighted the benefits of DriveCam’s dual-lens in-cab camera from a risk mitigation/accident prevention point of view. From a skills development perspective, the camera looks set to change the way fleet managers set about getting the best from their drivers, believes Louis Swart of DriveCam. 

“Human beings are creatures of habit and often our habits are bad ones. The problem is we’re not even aware they exist until someone tells us we have them. Operators have very little idea of what each driver’s bad driving habits are, or what their good ones are for that matter,” he says. “DriveCam is a ‘surrogate driver trainer’ in that it records the bad driving habits on every trip the driver makes and then processes the worst of these ‘infringements’ through an appraisal program involving human and software analyses, delivering a comprehensive driver profile that shows exactly where the driver lacks skills and where training is needed. Employers can then replace the bad driving habits with good ones.” 

	Du Plessis Sand employs dedicated fleet controllers to monitor DriveCam clips and software reports that accurately profile every driver in the fleet.

A sharp tipper operation

Based on the Free State side of the Vaal River, Du Plessis Sand is a quintessential second generation family-run transport operation. Started by Hilgard du Plessis in the early 1980s and now managed by his sons, André and Louis, the fleet comprises 70 tipper combinations and 10 bakkies. All are equipped with a DriveCam unit.

“It’s really tough to get skilled drivers,” says André du Plessis. “We have outsourced driver training before but found that these ‘hired’ driver trainers are averse to actually getting into a cab with a trainee driver to conduct practical training. They are far keener on theoretical training and processing learners in bulk because it’s more profitable. One such training organisation ‘trained’ 50 applicants for us and at the end of the course, only two were capable of driving to our required standards!” 

The operation also finds the TETA process of accreditation and levy claiming somewhat problematic. “It takes too long and is too complex,” says Cobri Kriel, Management Systems Coordinator. “We do want to claim rebates on our skills levies but we realize that our training courses and our trainers will have to come from within Du Plessis Sand. We are prepared to invest extra time and money to get our in-house training established and accredited. DriveCam is helping us do this as effectively as possible.” 

A camera and teamwork 

A team of six fleet controllers at Du Plessis Sand, in conjunction with DriveCam’s ‘Management Service’, conducts daily analysis of the recorded video clips from DriveCam units fitted to all the vehicles, each clip showing the ‘exceptions’ (the on-the-road incidents where the vehicle has been subjected to risky situations, either by the driver or other road users). 

“We play these clips to our drivers at weekly safety meetings. All the incidents are there on the big screen and drivers can see for themselves what their colleagues are doing wrong,” says Kriel. “We all learn from our mistakes and the DriveCam system is a great way to help drivers improve their driving.” 

At the end of the day, skills development is about strengthening business through people empowerment. By helping employees realise their true potential, companies inculcate a ‘best practice’ mindset that brings an enhanced quality to the lives of those serving and those being served. 

The DriveCam unit inside the MAN TGA can be activated by hand when a driver wants to record something (like how well he’s driving, perhaps).