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Driving a truck is a risky business, especially in South Africa, as the DoT's accident statistics will testify to. Transport managers have many tools at their disposal to help mitigate this risk, especially onerous when rigs and cargo are valued at in excess of R2-million. We are, however, about to experience the 'next wave' in Fleet Management, suggests one technology vendor whose product is an in-cab video camera.
Paul Collings reports.
Many FleetWatch readers will be familiar with a truck sticker which reads "Report my Driving" along with a 086 telephone number. The company supplying the stickers is Drive Report, launched in 2002 by Louis Swart, an entrepreneur with a keen eye for marketing gaps in the trucking world.
"Drive Report was started to help managers get a better view of driver behaviour, using the public as its source of information on both good and bad driving practices," says Swart. "This intelligence enables us to build a profile on individual drivers, assisting in employment and training processes, as well as helping to reduce the chance of accidents."
With over 20 000 vehicles being monitored by Drive Report, Swart has introduced a new 'risk mitigation solution' to South Africa's commercial vehicle fleets. It's called DriveCam (imported from the USA) and is based on a dual-lens in-cab video camera, reporting software and a comprehensive implementation and training service.
"The camera records what's happening on the road ahead of the truck as well as in the cab through its two wide angle lenses. Using algorithmic technology and a built-in gravity sensor, the camera records audio and video in a loop and only stores footage when the vehicle is subjected to forward or lateral gravitational forces beyond predefined parameters," Swart explains.
Out o' sight
Sitting across a desk from Swart with a computer screen displaying the camera in action not only illustrates the power of this technology but also how the 'out of sight, out of mind' mentality persists among local drivers - and no doubt their managers as well.
"Typically, bosses and drivers are strangers to one another," says Swart. "Driver histories are generally unreliable indicators of how they perform in reality. DriveCam will record 10 seconds before and after an incident, storing the trip's 20 worst exceptions. These clips are automatically downloaded to the depot server as the truck enters the yard via a WiFi network, with no human intervention whatsoever," says Swart.
Like other Fleet Management offerings, a bureau service is available to monitor and report exceptions to management. "The power of video to help transport managers be proactive in identifying risky driving habits is unprecedented. Up to now, fleet managers have had to analyse data via tacho charts or graphs and numerical reports from on-board computers. Drivers in South Africa don't relate to these reports too easily but have no problem in seeing where they're going wrong when shown the video clips of their risky driving."
And Swart has several such clips to prove just how bad it gets out there on South Africa's roads. There, on camera, are drivers ignoring road rules, abusing vehicles, falling asleep at the wheel or in some way posing a risk to themselves, other road users and the company that employs them.
Beyond doubt
"DriveCam is not about surveillance but rather risk mitigation through early detection of bad driving habits," Swart is quick to point out. "The DriveCam software enables managers to rectify risky driving before it's too late. Also, with the soft costs of truck accidents often greater than the vehicle repair costs, the video footage assists in the resolution of insurance claims disputes."
Swart's computer screen shows more DriveCam footage - a brick truck parked in a building site, one lens on the driver and his assistant sitting in the cab, the other filming a bakkie coming towards it carrying steel window frames which are protruding well beyond the left side of the bakkie. After nearly connecting the heads of a pair of builders standing alongside another vehicle, the bakkie passes the brick truck, but not before the window frames plough into the cab, giving the brick truck crew the fright of their lives.
"The bakkie owner actually presented the brick truck owner with a claim. When DriveCam footage was produced as evidence of how the accident occurred, the bakkie owner promptly produced his cheque book," Swart says.
The cost issue
With most commercial truck fleets already equipped with tracking devices capable of delivering relatively accurate data on driver behaviour, does the fitting of DriveCam warrant the expense?
"Absolutely," says Swart. "Being able to literally see and hear what really causes accidents and vehicle damage goes well beyond what data delivers. A tracking system may record a truck traveling at 80km/h but will it tell operators that it happened in a 60 zone over speed bumps?"
DriveCam costs in the region of R8 000 per unit, once off, states Swart, and runs off a single computer. "DriveCam serves multiple purposes and has proven itself both here and around the world to cut fuel costs by 3 to 5%, wear and tear by 6 to 12% and mitigate risk by at least 30%. Companies using DriveCam receive insurance rebates and discounts on excess payments. It's a management tool, a training tool and it proves liability," concludes Swart.
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