Strategies for Managing a Safer, More Effective Fleet
•Download as PPTX, PDF•
1 like•693 views
This presentation provides essential information on strategies that can be put to use to make fleets and drivers safer, while improving efficiency. This presentation discusses issues common to fleet-based businesses including the cost of driver distraction, lone worker safety, hours of service and driver behavior. The key to improving safety and efficiency is in managing these issues.
Recommended
Recommended
More Related Content
What's hot
Similar to Strategies for Managing a Safer, More Effective Fleet
Similar to Strategies for Managing a Safer, More Effective Fleet (20)
Recently uploaded
Recently uploaded (20)
Strategies for Managing a Safer, More Effective Fleet
- 1. Strategies for Managing a Safer, More Effective Fleet Proprietary and Confidential. Copyright © 2012 AssetWorks Inc. All rights reserved.
- 2. Challenge #1 Unknown Operator Whereabouts – Hard to efficiently locate field operators – Making contact can be time consuming and frustrating – Dangerous in the event of an emergency 2 Fleet Management Software Proprietary and Confidential. Copyright © 2012 AssetWorks Inc. All rights reserved.
- 3. Solution Automatic Vehicle Location (AVL/GPS) – Access real-time location information for every fleet vehicle from the office – Can create boundaries for vehicles – Find closest vehicle in case of an emergency 3 Fleet Management Software Proprietary and Confidential. Copyright © 2012 AssetWorks Inc. All rights reserved.
- 4. Challenge #2 Unsafe Driver Behavior – Speeding, hard braking and turning, not wearing seat belt, etc. – Aggressive driving habits that are risky & wasteful – Knowing which drivers put your company at risk due to dangerous driving habits 4 Fleet Management Software Proprietary and Confidential. Copyright © 2012 AssetWorks Inc. All rights reserved.
- 5. The Cost of Poor Driver Behavior More worker fatalities are caused by vehicle crashes than any other incident type Fleet vehicle crashes result in the most costly work injury claims – More than $21,000 per incident 87.2 percent of all at-fault large truck crashes are driver related. Speeding is a factor in nearly 23 percent of all at-fault large truck crashes. 5 Fleet Management Software Proprietary and Confidential. Copyright © 2012 AssetWorks Inc. All rights reserved.
- 6. The Cost of Poor Driver Behavior 41% of all fatal work injuries were Transportation Events Source: http://www.bls.gov/iif/oshwc/osh/os/osar0013.htm 6 Fleet Management Software Proprietary and Confidential. Copyright © 2012 AssetWorks Inc. All rights reserved.
- 7. Solution Driver Behavior Monitoring – Tracks how long and often drivers speed – Track aggressive driving behaviors, safety practices (e.g. seat belt use) – See who your top offenders are Driver Report Cards – Establish driver incentive programs for good driving behavior 7 Fleet Management Software Proprietary and Confidential. Copyright © 2012 AssetWorks Inc. All rights reserved.
- 8. Challenge #3 Driver Distraction – The vehicle acts as the driver’s office – Multi-tasking leads to increased accident risk • Drivers who text while driving spend 400% more time taking their eyes off the road – Liability • Paper policies for acceptable cell phone use are difficult to implement and enforce 8 Fleet Management Software Proprietary and Confidential. Copyright © 2012 AssetWorks Inc. All rights reserved.
- 9. Driver Distraction Activities that Increase Risk 12 Task Odds Ratio Text messaging on cell phone 23.2 Interacting with/looking at dispatching device 9.9 Writing on a pad, notebook, etc. 9.0 Using a calculator 8.2 Looking at a map 7.0 Dialing a cell phone 5.9 Reading a book, paperwork, etc. 4.0 12. “Driver Distraction in Commercial Vehicle Operations,” FMCSA, Sept. 2009 9 Fleet Management Software Proprietary and Confidential. Copyright © 2012 AssetWorks Inc. All rights reserved.
- 10. Liability If your employee causes injury to someone because of negligent actions, your company is 12 liable Paper policies do not prevent a company from being held liable in event of an accident Technology is the best way to protect your company from liability 10 Fleet Management Software Proprietary and Confidential. Copyright © 2012 AssetWorks Inc. All rights reserved.
- 11. Solution Make smart technology choices for drivers What to look for in an in-vehicle device: – Limited functionality while the vehicle is in motion – Ease of use – Allows consolidation of job tasks – Integrated voice calling – Customizable navigation prompts 11 Fleet Management Software Proprietary and Confidential. Copyright © 2012 AssetWorks Inc. All rights reserved.
- 12. Challenge #4 Remote and Lone Worker Safety – Knowing exactly where lone/remote workers are – Sending help in an emergency – Unreliable cell coverage – Legislatively required work alone safety plans 12 Fleet Management Software Proprietary and Confidential. Copyright © 2012 AssetWorks Inc. All rights reserved.
- 13. Solution Automatic Vehicle Location (AVL/GPS) – Track all vehicles Mobile Technology – An in-vehicle/in-office solution provides instant communication Work-Alone Pendant – Connects workers to the office while outside of cellular coverage 13 Fleet Management Software Proprietary and Confidential. Copyright © 2012 AssetWorks Inc. All rights reserved.
- 14. Challenge #5 Hours of Service (HOS) – Compliance regulations are complex – Tedious manual paperwork required to keep drivers’ logs • Paperwork is a distraction for drivers • Paper records can be more easily falsified – Inattention and fatigue causes injuries 14 Fleet Management Software Proprietary and Confidential. Copyright © 2012 AssetWorks Inc. All rights reserved.
- 15. Solution EOBRs + HOS Software – Real-time vehicle/asset tracking – Create and assign loads, better resource use – Collect DOT data for reporting Electronic Logs – Eliminates HOS violations • Hours are automatically tracked – Alerts drivers when they reach their work limits – Eliminates the need for paper logs, speeds inspections/audits 15 Fleet Management Software Proprietary and Confidential. Copyright © 2012 AssetWorks Inc. All rights reserved.
- 16. Challenge #6 Remote Communication – Lack of cell coverage can make communication impossible – Hard to get in touch with workers • Wastes time for both office staff and field operators 16 Fleet Management Software Proprietary and Confidential. Copyright © 2012 AssetWorks Inc. All rights reserved.
- 17. Solution Satellite Network – Guaranteed connectivity – Guaranteed communication – Enhances work-alone safety Smart Devices, Dual Mode Communications Two-way Text Messaging – Allows for faster dispatching – Real-time communication – Reduce reliance on radios and phones 17 Fleet Management Software Proprietary and Confidential. Copyright © 2012 AssetWorks Inc. All rights reserved.
- 18. Challenge #7 Maintenance – 10 percent of all at-fault large truck crashes can be attributed specifically to vehicle factors and improper vehicle maintenance 13 – Ensuring vehicles are receiving the right amount of maintenance – Preventing serious maintenance issues before they happen 18 Fleet Management Software Proprietary and Confidential. Copyright © 2012 AssetWorks Inc. All rights reserved.
- 19. Solution Electronic Vehicle Inspection – Helps ensure vehicles with known issues aren’t being used – Real time collection of vehicle inspection faults Vehicle Telematics – Engine data monitoring – Ensures vehicles are being driven properly, extending their life – Vehicles are serviced regularly to prevent serious maintenance issues 19 Fleet Management Software Proprietary and Confidential. Copyright © 2012 AssetWorks Inc. All rights reserved.
- 20. Conclusion Technology combined with behavior-based safety is the most effective strategy for reducing workplace incidents To learn more about improving safety for your mobile workers, please visit us at www.assetworks.com 20 Fleet Management Software Proprietary and Confidential. Copyright © 2012 AssetWorks Inc. All rights reserved.
Editor's Notes
- First and most important challenge to address, determining the whereabouts of field operatorsWith numerous workers in various locations, how do you accurately and efficiently determine their whereabouts on-demandTraditional methods (such as 2-way radios and cell phone for periodic check-ins) are inefficient, time consuming, impreciseBecomes especially dangerous in emergency situations, when time is of the essence & exact locations are vital
- With an AVL solution, using in-vehicle devices & in-office software, allow supervisors and managers have access to real-time location info. for each vehicle in the fleetThe use of GPS technology allows the in-vehicle equip. to send precise location reports @ configurable rates & allows office personnel to track vehicle movements and re-trace where vehicles have been (which can be useful for incident investigation)Supervisors can also use in-office software to create boundaries (or geofences) to trigger automatic notif. when vehicles enter/leave geographical areas @ certain timesHelps when you are wanting to track vehicles that are entering high risk areas, but can also aide in tracking stolen vehicles/equipment. For example, as a fleet supervisor I could setup a geofence around my maintenance lot and receive automatic email/text notifications when a vehicle exits the lot after midnight or on the weekend, when vehicle usage is prohibited.The sse of an AVL especially beneficial in emerg. situations, as the workers whereabouts are always known, help can be dispatched immediatelyAEP Example:Utilities customer5000+ vehicles throughout the USA driver had fallen on ice outside of his truck & broke his hip. With the GPS tracking device installed, the driver was able to call for help and the company was able to get someone to his location immediately
- Our second challenge, unsafe driver behavior, specifically looking at dangerous driving behavior that puts worker, company, and public at riskThis driving behavior is not only unsafe, but can be wasteful and will increase operating costs to your companySpeeding will obviously put your worker & the public at risk, but also increases your company’s liability in the event of an incidentOther aggressive behavior such as harsh braking, turning & acceleration also pose safety risks, & increase the wear and tear on the vehicles
- These are some statistics gathered from the US; it was found that more worker fatalities were caused by vehicle crashes than any of type of incident.Also, vehicle crashes resulted in most costly work injury claims, averaging more that $21K per incidentWhile most supervisors would agree that managing driver behavior is important to the safety of workers & public, often difficult to enforce safe driving practices from the office
- Some further information regarding vehicle-related accidents, from US Department of Labour.They found that b/w 2004-2008, there were 120 fatal work injuries occurred in the O&G extraction industry, and of those, 41% were transportation incidents.While mitigating unsafe driver behav. will not completely eliminate the chance of vehicle-related accidents, the likelihood of occurrence can be greatly reduced
- Through the use of tech., driver behavior can be monitored remotely & safer driving habits can be promoted to individual workers who may engage in unsafe driving habitsUsing Telematic data, which is pulled directly from the vehicle computer, we can monitor vehicle speed & determine how often & where a driver is speedingIn-vehicle equipment can also be setup to provide reminders/notifications to drivers when they are speeding, to start curbing the unsafe driving habits immediately.Other unsafe habits, such as harsh braking, turning, acceleration, even seat belt usage can be tracked & used to build statistics to see who the worst offenders are (often referred to as Driver Report card or Scorecard)While punishment may not always be best way to promote change, incentive programs can be setup to reward drivers who consistently score high on their Driver scorecard
- The 3rd challenge we will be discussing, driver distraction, has received a lot of attention recently with the amount of legislation that has been put in place in various provinces & states.In a survey of fleet managers, they ranked distracted driving among their top 2 safety challenges, because of the preventable nature of accidents resulting from distracted drivingIn the day & age of field workers using their vehicles as their mobile office, there are often several devices (such as laptops, smart phones, navigation devices, & so on) that can provide distractionsMany times there is the desire to multi-task while on the road, such as sending off a quick text/email while driving down the highway, there is obviously an increasing risk of incidentOne study in particular showed that people who text while driving spend 400% more time taking their eyes of the road & 70% are less likely to stay in their laneFrom a liability standpoint, companies can implement paper policies for accept. cell usage while in the vehicle, but this can be next to impossible to implement and enforce.
- http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/facts-research/research-technology/report/FMCSA-RRR-09-045.pdfThese statistics, provided by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, outline which in-vehicle activities increase the risk of safety-critical incidentsAs you would imagine, texting carries the largest risk of accident, but there are several other activities that would be routinely performed within the vehicle that increase risk of accident (such as dialing cell phone or looking at a map)
- An often overlooked aspect of dist. driving is the company’s liability when an employee causes an accident, referred to vicarious liability, in which the employer is responsible/liable for the actions of the employee while acting on behalf of the company at the time of the accident. Past 10 years, a variety of cases resulted in companies paying restitution to victims injured by an employee distracted by a cell phone, with some recent settlements ranging from $1.5 to $21 millionAs mentioned earlier, many companies have tried to address this problem using paper policies which outline acceptable cell phone use by employees, but these paper policies do not prevent a company from being held liable in the event of an accident.
- To address distracted driving, there are many in-vehicle technologies that can allow companies to directly manage employee cell phone usage while the vehicle is in motion. It is also a smart decision to select an in-vehicle device that will also allow the company to control other aspects of distracted driving, other than simply cell phone usage, and can also eliminate the need for sole-purpose devices within the vehicle. When and if you are looking for a multi-purpose device, aspects to consider are: Devices that limit functionality while in motion & only display necessary information and enabled necessary buttons You are also looking for a device that is easy to use. Many commercial mobile devices, such as smart phones and tablets are lightweight & portable, but their small buttons make it difficult for drivers to use quickly. On the other hand, rugged mobile computers are a good option as they are specifically designed to take into account limited vehicle real estate while still being large enough for easy viewing. Choosing rugged devices that are equipped with touch screens that accommodate different lighting conditions, such as sun glare and night viewing, also allow the driver to easily see the screen at-a-glance. For example, consumer-grade tablets like the iPad are all but impossible to see in the sunshine. Devices that allow for the Consolidation of job tasks. The driver no longer needs to rummage around for their map book or enter an address on a navigation device, or fill on details from the last job en route to the next. Devices that combine work creation & tracking, navigation, and texting capabilities can further reduce distractions.Look for a device that offers completely integrated voice communications, eliminating the need to provide drivers with cell phones. This functionality mimics a cell phone, but allows full control of cellular capabilities when the vehicle is in motion, such as limiting texting, placing & receiving calls. These device can also allow the employer to limit who drivers are able to call.Now, while limiting interaction with in-vehicle devices is important when the vehicle is in motion, there are times when it is necessary to have drivers looking at a mobile device, such as when they are trying to find their way to a job site. Look for devices that give drivers audible turn-by-turn navigation prompts or allow drivers to look at a limited on-screen map while disabling driver interaction with the device. This way drivers aren’t trying to follow a paper map while driving, but the device still helps them reach their destination quickly and safely.
- Our 4th challenge relates to remote or lone workers in the field, which poses a significant safety concern.W/O an accurate way to track the worker’s location, being able to send help in an emergency situation can be very difficult. Further complicating matters, cell phone coverage in remote area is often marginal and unreliable, posing logistical issues when a worker is required to check-in at predetermined times or intervals.Also, many companies are often required to comply with work-alone legislation, even when the worker is out of cell service.
- Managing lone worker safety doesn’t have to be a challenge and technology that helps you monitor lone workers goes a long way in improving their safety. As mentioned before, and AVL solution allows the company to track vehicle locations at all times. This allows the company to find the closest vehicle to the scene or provide location info to emergency responders. Through the use of mobile technology, which includes a combined in-vehicle and back-office solution, it allows the company to know what their field workers are doing. Throughout the day everything field workers do – from logon to logoff– is automatically time-stamped and captured, and contact with the office is maintained. This creates an historical record of worker/vehicle activity which allows you to easily pull up accurate details in the event of an accident, minimizing liability and helping to prevent future incidents. Also, the use of intrinsically safe,Work-Alone Pendant allows your workers to be connected to the office even when away from the vehicle and outside of cell coverage. The pendants are easy to use and can be activated by clicking the button at pre-determined intervalsto send an ‘okay’ status to the office. The office is automatically alerted if the pendant has been motionless for a specified amount of time, or if a worker misses a scheduled check-in. As an example, going back to our US-based utilities customer, there was a field tech in Oklahoma that was experiencing chest pain while on the road. He called in to the dispatch office located in Ohio and because of the GPS data being provided by his in-vehicle device, his exact location was provided to EMS, who arrived within minutes. The tech felt that the fleet management solution played a huge part in saving his life, and the customer agreed.
- Our 5th challenge relates to Hours of Service, as compliance and monitoring are becoming a more prevalanet issues.In an effort to improve driver & public safety, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is considering changes to the # of hours a motor carrier can operate his vehicle.The hope is that further regulation will curb driver fatigure and as a result, reduce the # off incidents involving motor carriers.WithHours-of-Service (HOS) compliance, it can be especially challenging when companies are required to adhere to complex regulations, and tedious for drivers who need to keep manual logs of hours worked. This manual paperwork can be a distraction and paper log records can also be more easily falsified, which not only puts your company at risk, but doesn’t give you a true picture of driver performance or fleet efficiency.
- To address this challenge, a technology solution that puts hardware in the vehicle (referred to as the Electronic On-board recording device), in addition to software in the office offers benefits simply beyond hours of service compliance.Users can create and assign loads, track vehicles and assets in real-time, and collect Department of Transportation fuel tax data.Also, using an automated, electronic log system, drivers simply need to log onto their device at the beginning of the work day, and as they progress through the day, DOT duty states change (driving, idling, not working, sleeper, and so on) are automatically tracked and recorded based on the vehicle movements. The device also alerts the driver when he is nearing a violation, and data is always kept on the device & in the office for regulatory purposes. With the data collected from the in-vehicle device, companies can run reports based on drivers, vehicles or exceptions over any period of time. This information can be used to evaluate non-compliant drivers as well as providing the DOT or Transport Canada with a history of all drivers and their compliance to HOS rules, in the event of an audit.
- Our nextchallenge relates to Remote Communication.When your field workers are in an area where cell coverage is unreliable, it makes communication even more difficult, if not impossible.This not only wastes time for your office staff and field workers, who need to drive back into cell coverage to get in contact with the office, it poses a significant safety risk.
- One of the best ways to stay in contact with remote field workers is the use of satellite technology. It provides guaranteed connectivity and communication, and ensures that field workers will always be able to contact the office. This guaranteed connectivity allows for confident monitoring and communication with workers in high-risk areas.Also, the use of smart devices, that can automatically switch between cellular and satellite, will ensure that communications costs are kept to a minimum.Devices that allow sending of text messages also the driver to quickly and instantly get in contact the office. This reduces the reliance on radio or cell communications, and provides real-time notifications that messages were received by the office.
- “Large Truck Crash Causation Study (LTCCS)”, FMCSA, January 2006Our next challenge deals with vehicle and equipment maintenance. Now, ensuring your field workers are driving in a safe manner and can always connect with the office is very important, but establishing a safer, more effective fleet extends to the condition of your vehicles as well.The main challenge of managing a fleet of vehicles is knowing when they need to be maintained and keeping track of maintenance schedules. This ensures vehicles are being driven properly, which results in longer vehicle life spans and lower maintenance costs.Properly maintaining a vehicle also prevents serious issues before they happen, which helps eliminate a serious safety risk to your drivers.
- A vehicle telematics solution that combines wireless GPS tracking with remote vehicle diagnostics helps fleets increase safety and efficiency by providing real-time vehicle location information as well as useful vehicle diagnostics data. A solution that captures and uses engine diagnostics data ensure that your vehicles are being driven properly, helpingreduces maintenance costs. This vehicle diagnostic information can be pulled directly from your vehicles and integrated with your maintenance program to ensure that vehicles are being serviced when they need. Scheduled vehicle maintenance can also be tracked and automated reminders can be generated for maintenance personnel. A solution that also incorporates an electronic vehicle inspection can also be useful, as it helps to ensure vehicles with known issues aren’t being used
- Safety is one of the top challenges facing fleet managers and it is a difficult challenge to manage when you have mobile workers and lone workers in the field. More and more, drivers are essentiallyusing their vehicle as their office, and often times their technology devices create a safety risk, especially when it comes to the issue of driver distraction. Technology used inappropriately puts your drivers and your company at risk, but the right technology and smart technology decisions can help you reach greater levels of safety as well as increasing efficiency and lowering operating costs. Instead of creating a safety risk, technology can be used at various levels of your company to mitigate risk and keep workers safe.