Trucking accidents cost the transportation industry billions each year. While the cost of fatal crashes has remained about the same over the years, statistics from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) show the overall cost of all large truck and bus accidents has increased each year.
Using Telematics to Reduce Trucking Accidents
Before recent technological advances, most fleets used telematics to keep track of their vehicles’ locations as well as how far they traveled. Now, fleets can use telematics to monitor their drivers’ behaviors and implement measure to improve their driving performance. Modern telematics provides fleets with data that allows them to:
- Improve driver safety
- Reduce accidents
- Reduce insurance claims
- Improve efficiency
Some of the risky behaviors telematics can identify include speeding, hard braking, and phone distractions.
Tackling Distracted Driving
Despite prolific safety campaigns, distracted driving continues to claim lives every year. However, with new smartphone-based telematics, fleets can take on this challenging issue. Many telematics devices can now collect data through the driver’s smartphone. Fleet managers will know straightaway which drivers use their phone while operating their vehicle. This allows fleets to address the risky behavior and put a stop to it before it is too late.
While saving countless lives per year due to trucking accidents should be incentive enough to upgrade telematics equipment, the sheer cost of trucking accidents is a powerful motivator as well. Many fleets are utilizing telematics due to the electronic logging device (ELD) mandate; however, not all devices perform to the same level. If your telematics solution is failing to meet your expectations, DriverCheck can help. Our GPS/telematics tracking solution provides a wide range of services to meet all of your needs. Contact us today to learn more.
