Running a business is not always easy, as you always have to move with trends and provide efficient services for your customers. This is applicable in dispatching. Knowing the latest trends and keeping up with satisfying your customer’s needs is essential. In this article, we will be giving you tips on how to increase dispatch efficiencies.
1. Hire the Right People
Some business owners make the mistake of hiring the wrong people for the wrong positions, this eventually becomes a disaster in the long run. If you are in dispatching and you are looking to hire new workers, be sure to hire qualified people for the position of a dispatcher. This is because dispatching is an integral part of the company and having the wrong people handle this position could damage the companies reputation. So be very conscious!
During the hiring process, look out for people with multi-tasking skills and tech knowledge. Also, seek excellent communicators that are familiar with the services and the locality of the company.
2. Define Your Process
In every business, the process is an important factor. Your business should be able to follow a very well defined and effective work process to avoid confusion and increase productivity. In dispatching, this factor is very essential as it helps your workers or dispatchers know their duty or work for the day. With proper daily documentation, strict adherence to work processes and adequate staff training, the efficiency level of your business will increase drastically.
3. Optimize Your Dispatch
Another way to keep your customers happy and satisfied is to optimize your dispatch by prioritizing which customers need an immediate response. In the medical field, this is known as the triage. This is a situation where doctors and nurses determine which case is an emergency and needs an immediate response.
Similarly, dispatchers have the power to determine which customer needs the immediate attention of a tech. So look out and prioritize cases of emergencies that cannot wait another day over those that can wait another few days.
This strategy will not only improve the efficiency of the dispatch but make your customers happy and satisfied.
4. Efficient Routing
We all want our customers to be happy and always come back for our services. One way to achieve this in dispatching is to provide efficient routing and quick deliveries or services to your customers. This can be attained by keeping your service providers and technicians local to calls in their areas. This is an advantage as it will lead to better management of fuel and shorter drive time.
5. Utilize Computer Aided Dispatch
Computer Aided Dispatch is the means of using computer dispatching software like ZenduWork to dispatch couriers, taxi cabs, technicians, field services, and more. ZenduWork automatically optimizes routes and allows you to organize your work orders, making your dispatching operations more efficient.
In conclusion, you should pay attention to your dispatchers and always check the services your customers need. You should also utilize the tools of the industry, and look for software that best suits your needs once you have outlined them.
Forms are vital documents for every business, government organization, and enterprise as they help the various businesses and organizations get details and information of clients and customers. For instance, Schools use forms to register their students and pupils, customer services use forms for inquiries, also hospitals and health centers use forms to get their patients information and health history.
As the world is gradually evolving to become a more digital and technological community, it is no surprise that the conventional way of creating paperwork and paper forms are becoming extinct because of the innovation of e forms or electronic forms.
Since it’s innovation, e forms have proven to be beneficial to both organizations and their users/clients. Below are some of the ways that e forms are beneficial.
1. More Access
Whether you are close by or on a trip far away, you will always have access to an e form. With a good internet connection, you can access your e form wherever you are in the world especially if it is a cloud base. In order words, paperless forms have provided a solution for remote access users or clients. That is to say, forms can be easily and digitally routed from one location to another without the conventional stress.
2. Saves Effort
Collecting forms using the conventional way only proves to be stressful and a waste of effort at times. Businesses and large organizations like hospitals that receive forms every day have to deal with many issues and errors on paper forms submitted by patients. If an organization chooses to use e forms, on the other hand, it helps eliminate the issue of deciphering a client/patients handwriting, errors and transcribed data. Hence, saving time, effort and labor.
3. Easy Control of Form Quality
Using e forms enables an organization to control the data they are collecting. This can be done by creating controls to make sure that customers and clients are submitting correct phone numbers and email addresses etc. E forms also help the organization to always be updated and to gather error-free information by integrating form fields with existing databases and classifying synchronized data by sending them automatically to their systems.
4. No Paper
The opportunity to use less paper or no paper is very beneficial to both the user and the organization. Paper forms can be quite expensive to produce and can easily create clutter which can be very disorganizing. A form or two is very likely to get lost in a pile of forms. In order words, paper forms are expensive and time-consuming.
Another downside of using paper forms is that users can easily make mistakes and errors while filling them and corrections cannot be made hence, making the form look disorganized and less presentable. Using e forms, on the other hand, the user will have the opportunity to correct their work, save their progress and start all over if not satisfied.
Summary
As we look for new ways to increase the quality and service of our businesses, it is essential to understand that Forms are very important to the growth of every organization and should be treated like that. If you haven’t started using electronic forms for your business and organizations by now, consider giving it a try with a few forms, and you will immediately see the benefits. E forms will provide a smooth administrative growth for your business and great services to your clients.
You’re having a great morning. You’ve just left the house after enjoying some coffee and you’re on your way to get some groceries. While you’re on the road, you pass by another car and you notice the person inside is looking down at their phone.
Now I’m sure this situation has been observed multiple times by people who regularly drive. But this is more than just a regular occurrence and texting while driving should be taken more seriously. Sure, you could look down at a text for a second and nothing might happen. But there is a chance that your act of looking away from the road for a few seconds could end in disaster.
Worst case scenario?
Check out this short video on how a distracted driver changed lives forever by having two eyes on his cell phone instead of the road ahead.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, distracted driving was linked to 3,450 deaths in 2016, making up 9.2% of all motor vehicle-related fatalities. So what can you do? Well, if you have a fleet you might want to look into some distracted driving solutions. GoFleet, for example, offers two solutions currently – their Driver Distraction Camera and their FleetGuardian.
The FleetGuardian Solution
FleetGuardian is for the driver who needs to stay connected and the company that is serious about safety. It’s basically a tamper-proof safety box for drivers to store their phone in while they are busy driving while allowing for Bluetooth connectivity for easy hands – free communication.
It connects to a GO7 tracking device through the IOX port and can track if the drivers haven’t placed the phone inside the box when the car is moving. This is a great feature that allows you to monitor if your drivers are using the boxes and if not, you can correct the issue.
Another plus to the FleetGuardian, is how easy it is to set up, since its just hardware (a box with a cable). Other solutions like apps, take some time to configure.
Driver Distraction Camera
Driver Distraction Camera you say? Yes, it’s real, and it is almost ready for the public to use. The ZenduCAM Driver Distraction Camera is the world’s most advanced fatigue detection and driver distraction alert camera. The camera features facial recognition technology which detects when the driver is distracted (this includes alerts when the driver is texting, eating, micro-sleeping, holding a phone, yawning, and more). This amazing advancement even works in the night time due to twelve infrared LEDs. It also sounds audible alerts when it detects any distraction.
With so many options to help prevent distracted driving, I recommend investing in a solution that is right for you and your business. Whether that means a preventative solution, or protective solution – any way to keep the roads safer is always a good bet.
Whether you are a small or large business, it’s never too late to look into solutions to protect and optimize your vehicles for the sake of protecting them. Personally speaking, my car is my baby. And by baby I mean she has a name, gets regular car washes…
… and is equipped with a dash cam. Basically, I love her. And because I love her so much, I do the best I can to protect her, for my own peace of mind.
If you own a fleet, your vehicles should be your babies too. They get your services/products to places they need to go, and your business probably wouldn’t be the same without them. So let’s discuss some ways you can protect them and sleep better at night.
Firstly, knowing the location of your vehicles would probably be the first thing that comes to mind. Currently, many different solutions exist for vehicle tracking and the one you choose would be based on your needs. GO7’s are essential in my book, as they provide your basic tracking functions as well as advanced diagnostics and driver behavior tracking. The reason I recommend GO7’s is mainly because of how seamlessly you can add more hardware or software depending on your needs. (Add-ons like ELD, & GoTalk for example) Plus, they are easily installed without any hardwiring, making them a good choice for fleets of any size. Simply put, if the GO7 could talk, it would be like…
On the other hand, let’s talk about those dash cams I mentioned earlier. Dash cams are the eyes of your vehicles, except they record what they see too. We hear stories every day about insurance fraud, hit and runs etc. What if you had proof of an incident? Would you be more likely to win your case and avoid large fees? Absolutely! Check out this video captured on a dash cam of a driver who bumped into another vehicle and tried to imply that it was the other driver’s fault –
“No, you reversed into me” – Lying driver caught out on dash cam
Unbelievable right? But it happens all the time. So take the necessary steps to protect your vehicles. They are your precious investment (aka your babies) and you deserve a peace of mind.
ELDs have become a popular solution for businesses that prioritize monitoring safety, efficiency, and savings. They have also become a legal obligation for businesses in many cities. In the US, the ELD mandate has softly been enforced and Canada is next to join the party. Except it’s not so much a party, but more so a system used to electronically record a driver’s Record of Duty Status. So simply put, an ELD is an electronic logging device.
Who Needs Electronic Logging Devices?
So who cares? Well, if your business is required to fill Records of Duty logs and is operating in an ELD- mandated region you should care because you’ll need them. For example, ELDs are mandated in the US, Europe and other places as of this year.
Some exemptions in the American FMCSA include infrequent Records of Duty (Businesses keeping a Record of Duty for 8 or less days in a 30 day period are exempt from ELD mandate), driveaway-towaway service, and pre-2000 vehicles as they are not compatible with ELD technology. Experts expect similar exemptions to be put in place for the Canadians.
Yeah, that place.
Canada is currently in the middle of putting an ELD mandate in place but the timeline has not yet been finalized. Therefore, if you are a Canadian, we recommend that you take a look at your regional transportation authority’s official website for an updated list. And then maybe stop for a Double Double at Tim Hortons.
AOBRD vs ELD? Which Should You Use?
If you’ve heard of AOBRDs, you must be a dinosaur by now because they are compliant with 1988 regulations and we are living in the future, people! ELDs are compliant with modern mandates, AOBRDs, on the other hand, will have to be left behind as companies upgrade to ELD solutions in the future.
So what’s the difference? Well, in one of our earlier articles we discussed:
AOBRDs can edit hours without leaving a trail sometimes
AOBRDs do not have the ability to switch driver status from Off to On Duty if the truck has been stopped for 5 minutes
AOBRDs also lack the ability to warn drivers of any unassigned hours upon logging in
With ELD, driving habits can be made safer and reduce the likelihood of accidents occurring. Things like speeding, harsh braking or acceleration, as well as distracted driving and optimized routes can be easily tracked by ELDs and help to monitor drivers.
Time Savings
With ELDs, the need for drivers to fill in their logs by hand and have them faxed while they are on the road is eliminated. Everything is paperless.
Money Savings
Did you know that 30% of fuel cost is influenced by driver behavior? With driver coaching features and optimizing the shortest routes, fuel efficiency is improved up to 12% while reducing the fuel usage by 18%. With better vehicle maintenance, downtime and any replacement costs are reduced to a minimum.
When it comes to discovering if ELDs are needed in any vehicle, the biggest factor is compliance. Generally, ELDs for Heavy Duty and Light Duty vehicles are the same but there are some minor differences. The biggest? Installation. You see, heavy-duty vehicles usually don’t have an OBDii port so they would have to opt for adaptors such as 9-pin cables. Most light-duty vehicles, on the other hand, are equipped with an OBDii connector port which an ELD device can then directly be connected to.
This graph can be helpful when trying to understand the need for an ELD:
Light Duty ELD
If you are still unsure, feel free to reach out to GoFleet’s specialists and they can help you discover exactly what your options are.
Common Myths & Misunderstandings About ELDs
The Mandate Will Drive Owner/Operators Out of Business
FACT: ELDs save money and time with paperwork
The Government Has 24/7 Access to Driver Logs.
FACT: Data is kept on a private platform
ELDs Does Not Improve Safety.
FACT: Europe has been using ELDs for 10+ safe years
Only Big Fleets Will Be Affected
FACT: All drivers filling Records of Duty are affected
The ELD Rule Will Never Go Into Effect
FACT: The mandate passed through multiple appeals
The Cost of ELDs are so High That it Will Close Businesses
FACT: The benefits of ELDs outweigh the costs
ELDs Control Drivers
FACT: ELDs are only there to record data
All Drivers Will Quit
FACT: Drivers are becoming more accepting of ELDs.
Only Vendors on the FMCSA Website are Compliant with the ELD Mandate
FACT: The list includes vendors that are self-certified
Still worried about those mandate fines? Here’s how you can avoid them :
Failing to provide documents. To avoid this, drivers must be trained in how to use their ELD. This way, most officers won’t fine drivers for not being able to use their logbooks. (Considering officers may get impatient instead of trying to resolve a possible glitch)
Racking up unassigned driving logs and improperly editing hours. Some drivers sign out of their electronic logging devices and mark that driving time as unassigned, others may improperly edit their hours. However, ELDs can keep unassigned log records and inspection officers are often not impressed when they see this.
(P.S if you’re a driver and you’re reading this… don’t do that.)
And lastly, not having your electronic logging device mounted. Yes, if the ELD is in the drivers pocket or on their passenger seat – they could be fined. (So don’t do that either, and make sure your device is properly mounted.)
How to Choose an ELD Provider and Which ELD Device Should You Buy?
FMCSA Compliance
Is the solution FMCSA Compliant? If not, stop looking. Without being compliant with the standards set out by the FMCSA, even with an e-log solution, you could still be at risk of fines.
Experience
Even before getting into the features of the solution, take a look at the supplier’s experience and expertise with the FMCSA and ELDs.
Long-Term Solution
As you know, the Commercial Vehicle industry deals with constantly evolving and changing regulations. It’s crucial your future supplier is comfortable with the industry to easily manage constant changes and updates, without any downtime. It’s also important the ELD equipment/software you have invested in will allow for easy updates to stay on par with any new regulations or changes, and in order to grow along with your business.
Expandability & Integration
You want to work with a company that will be a long-term fit, and that usually means being able to adapt and integrate with other technologies as necessary. Does the supplier allow for 3rd party apps to be connected? With an open platform, you can easily integrate all your solutions, whether that be dispatching, accounting, or anything else, into an all-in-one solution platform for easier access and management.
Compliant in Canada, Alaska and Oil Fields
The FMCSA regulations are different in oil field operations, in Canada, and in Alaska. If your business also operates in these areas, ensure your supplier is able to meet those requirements to prevent downtime and keep your business in compliance.
If you’d like to learn more, we encourage you to check out the following video to get a walkthrough of GoFleet’s HOS solution.
By definition, distracted driving seems pretty simple. If something is causing a driver to compromise their judgement while driving – it is considered a distraction. Typically, most people associate distracted driving with electronic devices. It has now become common knowledge that you absolutely cannot be using your phone while driving or even hold it in your hands. Well, unless your idea of fun includes paying up to $1000 and receiving three demerit points (not to mention a suspended license for 30 days for a first conviction).
Still sound like fun? No? Just don’t use your phone while driving. While that statement is applicable everywhere that roads exist, these consequences come directly from Ontario’s laws. So if you’re from Ontario, pay extra attention folks.
Now that we are familiar with the consequences of using an electronic device while driving, let’s discuss what else constitutes distracted driving according to the RCMP.
Did Matt’s infamous “shortcut” get you lost again? Well, you’re going to have to pull over and type your destination into the GPS when you aren’t driving.
Wondering if you missed any information in that document you just signed? You’ll need to wait until you are no longer driving in order to read it.
Is Friday by Rebecca Black blaring through your speakers? Well, you can apologise to your ears after you pull over because you can’t switch playlists while driving either.
Oh, and that burrito in the passenger seat that you just picked up? It might be calling your name but if you choose to eat it on the road, a distracted driving violation could be waiting for you too (Plus six demerits depending on the food).
Got it?
Basically, distracted driving isn’t only limited to the use of electronics. You could be combing your hair while merging to be found guilty of distracted driving. So let’s get into specifics, the following actions that are considered as distracted driving:
Talking on a cell phone
Texting
Reading (books, maps, newspapers for example)
Using a GPS navigator
Watching videos or movies
Eating /drinking
Smoking
Personal grooming
Adjusting the radio / CD
Playing extremely loud music
So What?
Look, rules are broken all the time. But when it comes to distracted driving, breaking the rules could mean the difference between life and death. In fact, 80% of collisions and 65% of near crashes have some form of driver inattention as contributing factors according to the National Highway Safety Administration. With statistics like those, companies have started to take preventative action by implementing ways to monitor distracted driving on the roads.
What’s Being Done About it?
Solutions like alert systems to tell drivers to slow down when they’re speeding, for example, can help create a safer environment on the road. GoFleet specifically offers solutions to act as deterrents for distracted driving; like their variety of cameras, hands-free communication alternatives, and cellphone disabling systems. A cool feature that we will see available on the market is Video AI. This technology processes facial contours to determine if people are distracted or not while they are driving, and sends notifications to managers. The system is able to detect when the driver is texting, eating, micro-sleeping, holding a phone, yawning and more. It can be suggested that reactions leading to crashes usually occur when the driver in question is being distracted while operating the vehicle. Technology is making big moves people!
Many companies run reports and try to further educate drivers on how to drive safely so fewer accidents occur due to distractions. What’s more, goFleet also offers solutions for disabling mobile devices while the driver is on a route, as well as intelligent cameras that recognize if the eyes are looking down, or if there’s a phone in your hand, if you’re eating and more! See our solutions by clicking here.
Okay so, just to clarify – no phone use while driving. At all.
Do not take your eyes off the road to pull out your lunch, and definitely do not try to do your makeup on the way to work. Anything that could limit you from being focused while driving should be avoided. Let’s work together to be more aware and keep the streets safer.
One of the great things about fleet cameras is most fleet cameras include basic vehicle monitoring. For that reason, some businesses are replacing GPS systems with camera systems. Although this makes sense for light GPS tracking users, there are many benefits of using a Dash Cam with a GPS system.
In this post, we’ll explore two things. Firstly, we’ll discuss when fleets can use fleet cameras without additional GPS devices. Secondly, we’ll look at some benefits of using a GPS with a camera system.
When are fleet cameras enough for vehicle tracking?
Fleet cameras are enough when two things happen: (1) the fleet camera has a built-in GPS, and (2) the fleet only needs tracking for basic needs. This is because most fleet cameras record vehicle location and save a trip history, thus sufficing basic tracking needs.
When will fleets get benefits from a GPS with a camera system?
Sometimes, fleets need more than basic monitoring and significantly benefit from combining cameras and GPS solutions. The most common use cases include: wanting fuel and diagnostic data, following compliance rules, and simplifying office reporting.
Fleets want to record fuel & diagnostics.
One of the biggest fleet camera weaknesses is that fleet cameras don’t connect with the vehicle’s engine computer. Hence, cameras are not able to collect engine data such as fuel measurements or diagnostics codes.
On the other hand, one of the benefits of using a dash cam with a GPS system is getting engine data. For instance, Geotab devices work with OEMs to read and report thousands of engine codes. In turn, fleets can leverage that data to improve their maintenance process.
Fleets need to follow compliance rules.
Another use case includes complying with rules. A great example is the ELD mandate. The ELD mandate requires fleets to electronically verify driving hours.
While fleet cameras can verify driver location and driving time, it fails to connect those data to HOS rules. Instead, fleets need a dedicated vehicle monitoring device because these devices compare driving hours against regulation hours.
Fleets want to simplify office reporting.
Lastly, GPS tracking helps simplify office reporting whereas fleet cameras can only provide footage.
For instance, consider time card reports. While administrators can match driver footage, driving records, and payroll together, this takes a lot of time. Instead, a vehicle tracking solution is more intuitive. Many vehicle trackers use driver log-in technology to match drivers to time cards.
Combining solutions improve reporting!
In summary, while fleet cameras are sufficient in some cases, combining a dash cam with a GPS system provide much more information. This is seen in fleets that want to manage fuel reporting, stay in compliance, and simplify reporting.
Like this blog? Check out our other blogs on fleet dash cameras and GPS tracking!
ELDs were a big industry item in 2017 because of the ELD mandate. It’s now making industry headlines in 2019. In this article, we’ll discuss who needs ELDs & who is exempt from ELDs in 2019.
What’s the buzz about ELDs in 2019?
ELD compliance will be on the radar again for 2019 fleet news for two reasons. Firstly, fleets with AOBRDS will need to upgrade to ELDs as the “grandfather clause” exemption expires in December 2019. Secondly, the industry is anticipating an announcement for the Canadian ELD mandate in 2019.
Who needs ELDs?
Who needs ELDs in 2019? Long story short, drivers will need to use an ELD if they are required to fill Records of Duty logs and if they are operating in an ELD-mandated region. As of the beginning of 2019, ELDs are mandated in the US, Europe, and other spots around the world. There will be an ELD mandate in Canada but lawmakers have not finalized a timeline.
Who needs Records of Duties?
A sub-question, then, is who need needs Records of Duties. The answer depends on your region. For instance, Ontario drivers must follow the MTO Rules. The MTO Rules specify that every CVOR-certified driver, every vehicle with a registered weight over 4500kg, and commercial vehicles carrying 10 or more people must keep a Record of Duty.
Because of differing rules and regions, we recommend looking on your regional transportation authority’s official website for an updated list.
Who is exempt from ELDs?
Another thing to note is there are some exemptions for ELDs. Who is exempt from ELDs in 2019? Similar to our discussion on Record of Duty, ELD exemptions vary depending on your region.
We’ll focus our discussion on the American FMCSA exemptions because experts expect similar Canadian exemptions. Three exemptions include infrequent Records of Duty, driveaway-towaway service, and pre-2000 vehicles.
Infrequent Records of Duty
Specifically, if a driver keeps Records of Duty for 8 or fewer days in a 30-day period, they are exempt from ELDs. This is most frequently applied to short-haul businesses that rarely go on jobs beyond the Record of Duty radius.
Driveaway-Towaway
Another category is driveaway-towaway services. These services hire contract workers to drive other business’s vehicles. Due to the nature of their work, they are also exempt from ELDs.
Pre-2000 Vehicles
Lastly, pre-2000 vehicles are exempt from the ELD mandate. These trucks do not have onboard computers, and as a result, are not compatible with sharing vehicle data to ELDs.
Summary: Research is Key!
In summary, ELD rules can get confusing. Who needs ELDs? Who is exempt? Ultimately, answers vary based on each fleet’s jurisdiction. Companies that are required to switch over to ELDs in 2019 and beyond should prioritize research to discover their personalized answer.
Disclaimer: “Who Needs ELDs & Who is Exempt” references the MOT and FMCSA website. However, this information may become out of date and inaccurate and readers should not substitute this article for official legal documents.
Liked this blog? Please leave a rating or comment below! Check our other blogs on ELDs and the mandate:
Consider the following case. Two fleet owners got together and talked about their insurance. Their fleets used the same insurers and had a similar history, so the business owners expected to pay similar premiums. However, to the surprise of both owners, one of the companies was paying significantly less on their premiums. Why?
The difference was that one fleet used fleet cameras while the other fleet did not. Just like the fleet owner with higher premiums, many people wonder why dash cams lower insurance rates.
Why do dash cams lower insurance rates?
Insurers reduce rates whenever a client is considered less risky or whenever a solution reduces business costs. Hence, many insurers categorized fleet cameras a risky reducing and a money saving solution because fleet cameras reduce false claims, reduce client accident rates, and saves admin time.
Dash cams reduce false claims.
Firstly, dash cams lower insurance rates by reducing false claims. False claims are extremely relevant for fleet operations because 80% of company drivers are not responsible for an accident involving commercial vehicles.
Hence, dash cams protect drivers by capturing incidents. In turn, insurers are also off the hook from covering the accident when cameras prove their client’s innocence.
Dash cams reduce accident rates.
Secondly, dash cams lower insurance rates by reducing accident rates. Drivers are much more likely to drive safer when cameras are monitoring them. Additionally, many fleets use fleet cameras as a training tool by recording and reviewing incidents.
Dash cams reduce insurance admin work.
Thirdly, dash cams lower insurance rates by reducing an insurer’s admin cost. Dash cams reduce admin cost because getting a video footage significantly shortens the insurance claim cycle.
To illustrate this point, consider filing an insurance claim. What does a claimer need to provide? Traditionally, claimers need to send facts by taking pictures and providing witness statements. In other words, insurers need to constantly ask their client for more information. In contrast, a video footage provides all of that information and eliminates a long claim process.
Insurance & fleet cameras will continue to be closely aligned.
In summary, both insurers and their clients see fleet cameras as a useful tool. In fact, many insurers now have fleet cameras as a mandated item for their clients and incentivize their clients for their investment. With the continued growth of dash cameras, we anticipate continued collaboration between the insurance industry and the dash camera industry.
Liked this blog? Please leave a rating or comment below! Check our other blogs on Dash Cams:
When you’re managing a fleet, you are always looking for ways to improve your drivers driving habits, and look for savings in fuel costs and maintenance. ZenScore is very effective in doing that, and we’ll talk about how the dashboard will allow you to meet your goals with your fleet.
The dashboard is a feature within ZenScore that gives you a live display of your fleets driving performance, by showing the data in charts and graphics. The charts are fully customizable to your liking and can range from pie charts, line charts, and heat maps. These charts are referred to as widgets, and can be arranged on the screen as you prefer.
The dashboard can be displayed on a screen in your office, for drivers to see when they come in, and see how their fleets performing, or how they compare to other drivers. This will incentivize your drivers to drive better, and rank higher, especially if you run a contest.
Let’s review the top 5 widgets we think you need to be showing:
1. Incidents
In the incidents widget, you are able to choose which rules you’d like “incidents” to represent, such as speeding or harsh braking. You are able to select up to 8 rules and decide what type of chart you’d like to use.
2. Top 10 Drivers
You can decide what 8 or fewer rules you want to select which will decide who the top drivers are. You may select idle time, harsh braking, speeding & hard acceleration, or any other rules you want to include.
3. Heat Map
The heat map will show darker colored areas where the most rules are broken. The map is fully interactive, and the data will refresh frequently. This is a great way for you or your drivers to see where the problem areas are.
4. Driver Contest Top 10
When you decide to run a contest, explained in our blog here, you can create a widget that shows the current standings of the top drivers, from 1 – 10. This is a great way to motivate drivers to win by improving their safe driving practices while saving you lots of money in the long run!
5. HOS Violations
We know that tracking driver’s hours is very crucial to your business. Create the HOS Violations widget to see how many incidents there were per day. Tracking this is important for the safety of your drivers, and for protecting you from fines that can be up to $16,000 per violation.
Now that you know the top 5 widgets, start using them today to run a safer and more efficient fleet!
