Managing fleet safety data is similar to a hub-and-spoke transportation network. Just as freight is picked up from various locations and consolidated at a warehouse or distribution center, fleets need to do the same with loads of safety data coming from different sources — ELDs, telematics systems and cameras, to name a few.
All of this data has to be reviewed and acted upon, which can be difficult given the distributed workforce of drivers. To be effective, fleet managers also need information to be predictive of accident risk, but tailored to specific driver needs.
“I’ve learned from experience that one size can’t fit all,” said Cody McLain, director of safety and human resources at Tucker Freight Lines, a Dubuque, Iowa-based truckload carrier that specializes in dry van, open deck and heavy hauls. “You always want to make sure you are assessing where you are at with a driver, and what they need to be successful.”
McLain participated in a webinar this week that was presented by Idelic, one of several technology companies that offer software platforms that bring safety data together from various sources into a central hub for management.
Having safety data in a single location can help office staff be more efficient and prevent information from getting overlooked or mismanaged. When accidents happen, the systems also have a central record of safety data that creates alignment between the awareness of risk and actions that match fleet safety policies to provide legal protection.
Direct channel for safety alerts
One option that fleets are using to close the loop on safety data provides drivers with location-based safety alerts for areas of risk.
