THE DEFINITIVE TRUCKING SITE

June 2009

 

Derrick Shellard (left) of FS24 and Tim Allen of Absolute Underwriting Managers analyse DriveCam video clips from clients’ trucks.          DriveCam video clips showing clearly where other road users are at fault, absolving the client (and driver) of culpability in the accident.

THERE ARE many commercial truck fleets operating in South Africa that are so risk-prone they are ‘uninsurable’. So says Tim Allen of Absolute Underwriting Managers, a specialised commercial fleet insurance company. 

He adds, however, that while other insurance companies refuse to insure these fleets, “we believe in finding solutions that address this problem. When risk ratios escalate, you can’t simply increase premiums and you certainly shouldn’t be turning clients away.” 

Apart from offering customised insurance solutions to its clients, Absolute Underwriting Managers also runs a dedicated fleet management service called FS24, which monitors over 350 vehicles using DriveCam, an in-vehicle video camera supplied by Drive Report. 

“Insurers need to find creative ways of helping fleet operators proactively manage their risk. DriveCam is one such ‘intervention’,” Allen says. “The effectiveness of this video and driverprofiling technology to improve driving skills has resulted in a 90 percent reduction in risk at one of our big truck fleet clients. By bringing losses under control across our client base, we are able to subsidise the DriveCam system via rebates on insurance premiums for fleet vehicles.” 

In the event of an accident, the DriveCam video clips also serve to provide irrefutable proof of culpability. Allen cites one example where a long-haul truck belonging to one his clients was involved in a head-on collision with another heavyduty truck. 

“The DriveCam video footage showed, beyond doubt, that it was the oncoming truck that was at fault, having veered into the oncoming lane. With this hard evidence to hand, we were able to save our client R80 000 in excess payments - no small amount in these cash-strapped times.”