(Updated: 15 March 2024)
Utilizing video telematics in your fleet is one of the most effective ways fleet managers can improve fleet safety. By combining this approach with extensive driver training, fleet managers can anticipate a reduction in safety-related incidents within their organization, but getting drivers on board with dash cameras can prove quite challenging.
Commercial fleet drivers often feel as though they are being monitored, with the dash cameras limiting their independence and invading their privacy. However, this could not be farther from the truth! The intent behind installing dash cameras within a fleet is primarily to gather data to improve fleet safety.
Fleet managers should better explain the benefits behind the dash cameras to the drivers, letting them voice their concerns, making them apart of the conversation. After all, inspiring driver confidence in the new fleet monitoring and tracking technology is pivotal to creating a safe organisational culture.
In this article, we take a look at how you can gain driver confidence in fleet monitoring technology and how you can successfully roll out dash cameras to your drivers.
Gaining driver buy-in with these top 10 steps
- Building trust through transparency
Building a strong foundation of trust between drivers and management is vital to the successful rollout of new technology within a fleet. By being transparent about the implementation of new technology, drivers can get a clearer understanding of the reasons behind the change and how it would impact them. Fleet managers can host open meetings and Q&A sessions that provide drivers with the opportunity to ask questions and raise their concerns without fear of discrimination and will help management to further explain the company’s safety goals and protocols, giving drivers a more active role in the fleet’s success.
- Explaining how the new technology works
Video telematics systems are meant to ensure driver protection and safety. However, if you do not take the necessary time to properly explain the purpose of the system or how it functions, it leaves drivers to assume that it is there to monitor them. To avoid misunderstandings, fleet managers should contemplate scheduling meetings to discuss the technology, educating drivers on how it works, the various types of occurrences that can be triggered, how the video footage is stored and analysed, and who is involved.
- Leading by example and sharing experiences
Demonstrate to your drivers that there is nothing to be afraid of, by having the devices installed in manager owned vehicles. This utilises a top-down leadership style. Fleet managers can then select a few trusted and well-known drivers within the fleet that are willing to test out the dash camera system. Once they have had enough experience with the system (typically after several weeks), they can share their experience to the remaining team, growing confidence within your driver’s community.
- Showcasing drivers being exonerated using dash cam footage
Showcasing select videos to encourage driver buy-in for video telematics systems can be a very effective tool for fleet managers to use. During coaching sessions, fleet managers, can show official videos of events such as near-misses or not-at-fault collisions that helped exonerate a driver during post-crash investigations. This demonstrates to drivers the benefits of dash cameras and how they can be used to not only protect them and their reputation, but also protecting the company.
- Offering up incentives and rewards to drivers
Increase driver buy-in for video telematics systems by incentivizing the process. Fleet managers should consider setting up a driver safety rewards programme based on factors you want your drivers to remain aware of and potentially improve. These factors can include harsh braking events, speeding, unsafe following distances, or collisions etc. By offering your top-performing drivers awards like cash bonuses, gift cards, vouchers, etc. you not only improve driver behaviour, but you also help drivers feel as though their efforts are being recognised – thus further benefiting from the dash camera systems.
- Show transparency in your corrective measures
Have an agreement with all your drivers before deploying the video telematics systems, so there are no surprises when training and implementation begin. Make it clear what constitutes rule violations and what actions – caught on the dash cams – may warrant verbal or written warnings and terminations. Be consistent, unbiased, and fair in your approach and make that approach an overt part of the plan.
- Encourage driver feedback
Receiving driver buy-in to the installation of video telematics systems isn’t just a once-off challenge. Fleet managers will need to continually keep communications open and trust factors high if they want their drivers to remain committed to using the dash cameras. Listening to driver feedback boosts morale and job satisfaction and can help you identify specific driver concerns and how to alleviate them.
- Commend role model behaviour
Good coaching programs should not focus solely on “risky” driving behaviour, as this can be received negatively. For example, if fleet managers only ever use video footage of poor driving behaviour, drivers will learn to dislike dash cameras – associating them with negative events. Therefore, incorporating and acknowledging good driving behaviour where a driver performed above expectation or averted an accident or collision can aid towards improving driver buy-in by openly giving praise and commendations.
- Release new features in stages
It can be tempting to take advantage of all the features available with your new video telematics system. However, this can be overwhelming for your drivers, creating a scenario of anger and frustration, where drivers focus on the negative before they have even experienced the benefits. For the first few weeks after deploying the video telematics system, keep all optional features off and introduce the option features in stages, which can result in a higher ROI in the long term.
- Dash cameras and in-cab privacy
Being monitored constantly can make anyone feel on edge and be resistant at first to video telematics systems. Therefore, it is imperative that fleet managers advise on the different camera configurations being used, such as forward-facing, side-facing, inward-facing camera etc. and how these will be monitored. For example, in-cab cameras may only run whilst the ignition is switched on, however, when it is off, it will be deactivated. You could also consider providing your drivers with removable camera covers for the in-cab facing cameras, especially for drivers who utilise a sleeper berth. Plus, by actively providing your drivers with the option of a removable camera cover, minimises the chances of a driver obstructing or damaging the camera.
Benefits of dash cameras for fleet safety
Dash cameras are an incredibly powerful tool that can help fleet managers better protect their fleet from various threats such as:
- Insurance fraud: Easily identify employees who intentionally cause accidents to claim insurance money or benefits as a result of the incident.
- Property damage: Identify the cause of property damage or vandalism when the driver is off-duty, asleep in-cab, or away from the vehicle.
- Training: Utilizing in-cab footage of your drivers can aid in enhancing the comprehension of appropriate driving and safety protocols among new recruits.
Conclusion
By using video telematics and dash camera technology, you can monitor your fleet in real time and ensure every vehicle is safe and secure, all the while increasing productivity and improving driver training. Dash cameras are great because they were designed with fleet managers and their drivers in mind.
Landmark Tracking are leaders in the fleet management field and provide South Africa’s best fleet vehicle monitoring systems. Contact Landmark Tracking for more information on how you can transform your fleet’s safety and reliability. To see more of the benefits provided by fleet vehicle monitoring systems, see here.
