You’ve explained federal safety regulations. You’ve stressed the need to reduce speed, map out routes and report hours of service accurately. You’ve implemented safety and compliance policies. But, when your drivers get behind the wheel, how confident are you that they’re following the rules of the road?
If the answer is “not confident” then consider implementing a GPS tracking solution. GPS fleet management can help managers monitor their trucks in real-time to help gain visibility into driver behavior, vehicle activity and many other valuable insights. Fleet management also helps to automate state and federal compliance reporting for further peace of mind.
Every fleet manager understands the importance of driver safety. A lack of proper safety measures for vehicle fleets can cause significant out-of-pocket expenses, increase liability and most important, put lives in jeopardy. By improving the safety of drivers and vehicles, businesses can significantly reduce payouts for accidents and violations. GPS fleet tracking solutions can help identify and address accident-prone behaviors and activities, including:
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Excessive Speeding
According to the Large Truck Crash Causation Study (LTCCS) conducted by the U.S Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and National Highway Safety Administration, 87.2 percent of all at-fault large truck crashes are driver related. Speeding is a factor in nearly 23 percent of large truck crashes.
GPS fleet tracking solutions provide several methods to help fleet managers identify and put a stop to dangerous driving behaviors, including speeding. Managers can be notified of excessive speed via real-time alerts, email or text alerts that can then be used to take corrective action.
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Faulty Navigation and Routing
According to the LTCCS, driver unfamiliarity with the roadway is a factor in 22 percent of all at-fault large truck crashes. GPS vehicle tracking solutions that include exceptional mapping functionality can help improve driver preparedness and reduce confusion in unfamiliar areas. Integration with mapping and traffic tools that provide real-time data on traffic can also help drivers avoid accidents and other road hazards.
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Improper Vehicle Maintenance
According to the LTCCS, just over 10 percent of all at-fault large truck crashes can be attributed specifically to vehicle factors. Improper vehicle maintenance can lead to accidents in several areas including brakes, tires, engine breakdowns and more.
High-quality GPS tracking solutions include maintenance scheduling that alerts you when vehicles are due for maintenance. Many times, alerts can be set by calendar time, engine on-time or mileage, depending on the type of service needed.
With a proactive vehicle maintenance program, you can reduce the risk of vehicles malfunctioning on the roadways and causing serious accidents.
