You’ve done your research on dash cams, pulled the trigger and made the investment. Implementation is good to go and from here on it, it’s smooth sailing. In no time, you’ll have your drivers on board with dash cams, right?
Not always. As with anything new, there can be a learning curve, and even resistance, when it comes to getting drivers on board with dash cams.
This article will explore why some drivers might hesitate when it comes to dash cams, and how you can help get your drivers on board with dash cams.
Why Would Your Drivers Take Issue With Dash Cams?
Context, insight, and even a little empathy are necessary to address dash cam resistance. Some of the top objections with dash cams include:
Dash Cams Are an Invasion of Privacy
Having a camera pointed directly at someone for hours on end can feel a bit intrusive. Only last year, an Amazon driver tendered his notice after it was announced that the online retailer would be implementing AI dash cams in their delivery vehicles, citing the move was “both a privacy violation, and a breach of trust.”
Solution: Let Drivers Know That Privacy is a Priority
If privacy is a big concern for your drivers, let them know that it’s a priority for your fleet as well. This could include ensuring that only authorized personnel have access to footage, and that footage is only used for legitimate purposes, such as investigating accidents or claims. Implementing policies and procedures like these will go a long way in gaining driver trust.
Drivers Will Feel Like They’re Not Part of the Process
While your drivers aren’t necessarily part of your day-to-day business operations and decision-making, simply announcing a roll-out for new technology without requesting any feedback or having a pilot program can make your staff feel as though they don’t have agency over their role.
Solution: Provide Transparency
If you’re worried about drivers being resistant to dash cams, ease into it. Start by rolling out the technology to a few select drivers, and see how they react. You can then use their feedback to make adjustments before rolling it out to the rest of your fleet.
Let your drivers know why you’re using dash cams and how you plan to use the footage. Make clear your intentions, and remind them that you have their best interests at heart.
This gradual approach will give you a chance to work out any kinks, and it will also help build trust with your drivers.
Finally, it’s always a good idea to get feedback from your drivers. As primary users, they may have insights or suggestions on how to make the transition to using dash cams smoother. Don’t hesitate to reach out and ask for their input!
Dash Cams Will Catch Their Mistakes
Again, this is a valid concern. No one wants to get in trouble or be reprimanded for making a mistake, and having it all caught on camera can feel like too much pressure.
Solution: Talk About the Benefits
One of the best ways to get drivers on board with dash cams is to simply talk to them about the benefits.
Improved fleet safety, reduction in insurance rates, and peace of mind knowing that footage can be used to defend against false claims feel far less like you’re trying to catch your drivers in a “gotcha” moment.
Dash Cams Will Negatively Affect Performance Reviews
If video footage is being used for performance reviews, drivers might take umbrage with dash cams, citing them as a means to limit career advancement.
Solution: Use Training and Education as a Solution, Not Surveillance
Get drivers on board with dash cams using training and education opportunities, as well as incentives for good driving performance.
Whether you offer prizes, rewards or bonuses, positive reinforcement can put to rest any myths or misconceptions about dash cams, and it will also contribute towards a positive safety culture.
Dash cams present a unique opportunity for partnership between you and your drivers, offering transparency and accountability on either side. Your drivers want to know that you have their safety and best interests at heart. They want to feel encouraged and appreciated.
Changing the language around implementation will make a big difference when getting your drivers on board with dash cams.
Provided you’ve given your drivers adequate time to prepare for the transition, they too will come to see dash cam technology as a benefit — possibly even an asset — to their work on the road.
From cars to commercial fleets and everything in between, there isn’t a vehicle in production that couldn’t benefit from a dash cam solution. But what is the best dash cam for fleets?
The road can be a dangerous and precarious place; new and emerging dash cam technology makes transportation safer for drivers, passengers and fleet managers.
Dash cam strategies significantly improved this past year, right alongside improved driver safety records. Fleet navigation strategies and capacities likewise increased dramatically, allowing businesses of any size to thrive in this globalized world.
AI technology also took a quantum leap forward this past year. While we’re not yet at the stage of employing a fleet of fully autonomous vehicles, AI has revolutionized and streamlined the fleet industry, from fleet management software to dash cam technology like Smart Witness.
Imagine having the capture and retrieval capacity to provide diagnostic engine data and maintenance servicing reminders—long before a vehicle breaks down. Or the video capacity and resolution to show conclusive evidence exonerating drivers falsely accused of causing accidents.
What if it were possible to give driver safety alerts in real-time, helping prevent accidents, reduce drowsiness, or warn of tailgating—even at night? Try to picture fleet operations managers receiving video alerts triggered by any range of incidents—immediately, rather than waiting for formal accident reports or written tickets.
Who knew that by 2022 command centres could conduct virtual ride-alongs or in-cab coaching, record training sessions, detect unsafe behaviours and reward safe drivers in real-time?
That’s the beauty of dash cam technology today: All of these leaps in fleet operation strategies are actually here. From AI-equipped dash cams to infrared technology, 2022 is going to make smart fleets wiser, safer, and more automated.
Here are what the smarter fleets are focusing on this year.
2022 Dash Cam Wish List
As the world becomes ever more interconnected, dash cam digital technology strategies are providing more peace of mind than ever before. Emerging trends for the upcoming year give fleets an advantage over every generation that came before.
Thermostat sensors in commercial transportation vehicles now provide temperature readings once a minute.
Multi-camera solutions for armoured trucks and emergency vehicles mean command centres can now receive live stream of both the driver and contents in the back of the vehicle.
Delivery vehicles and ride shares now have facial recognition software to authorize driver use, or log in route details.
Fleet managers, command centres and anyone hurrying on the road are sure to benefit from the following vast technological improvements—coming to a fleet near you.
Improved Driver Safety
When digital dash cam technology first came about, drivers were wary. But given the remarkable evolution of responsive navigation and its impact on road safety, drivers soon began requesting this emerging technology as an added protection for them on the road.
Technology like MobilEye 560 continuously scans the road ahead to analyze driving patterns and speeds, warning drivers of potential collisions or other road hazards.
MobileEye and Samsara AI dash cams also come equipped with infrared LED and low light camera video recording capability, allowing for clear night vision.
The ZenduCam multi-camera solution provides drivers a microphone and a panic button to reach fleet managers in real-time.
Reduced Vehicle Incidents
Avoiding collisions and offering warning alerts in critical situations can make the difference between life and death on the road. GoFleet’s integrated 5-Driver Assistance warns of pedestrian and cyclist collisions, speed limit indications, lane departure warnings, harsh breaking and more.
ADAS, or Advanced Driver Assistance Systems, have become a leading industry trend due to their ability to prevent accidents. For example, MobileEye uses ADAS technology to warn of objects ahead, tailgating, even distracted driving. When it comes to road safety, every bit helps.
Incident-based reporting now allows dash cams to filter the footage surrounding an accident or event, and automatically stream it to the fleet command centre. No longer will fleet managers have to review hours of footage to localize an event. Today, that tedious task is fully automated.
Improved Driver Training
GoFleet’s seamless integration of emerging dash cam technologies allows real-time alerts, so drivers are warned before accidents happen.
Alerts are sent immediately after an event—such as crossing a lane boundary or tailgating—and received within a few tenths of a second.
Automated reports—on individuals or entire fleets—provide detailed driver scorecards and can even measure safety improvements over the life of your drivers.
Driver safety software can even be ‘gamefied,’ allowing for healthy team competition that makes road safety more engaging and fun. For example, Drivewyze rewards hard-earned driver safety scores by offering bypass opportunities at inspection sites and weigh stations.
Seamless Integration
GoFleet’s future-focused vision has stayed miles ahead of emerging technology, allowing for a seamless integration of customizable platforms loaded with the best features available to fleets in the new year.
Better data and vastly improved interconnectivity has allowed GPS tracking solutions such as GeoTabs to be paired with emerging dash cam technology. This gives fleets the following capabilities:
Connecting to a vehicles engine to provide ongoing diagnostic codes, engine data, fuel use and more, under any weather condition, anywhere on Earth.
Compliance rules, such as the ELD mandate, are merged into the navigation software so driver logs are automatically registered, and driving hours compared against regulation hours.
Timecard reports, detailed diver records, real-time streaming dash cam footage, video incident management solutions, even requisition sign-off forms can all be automated by triggering digital signatures or electronic logs, with encryption features for data security.
Streamlined and simplified, automating paperwork (and guesswork) means that the daily administration of fleet operations has become a less onerous task, allowing managers to focus on what matters most.
The Best Dash Cam for Fleets: Strategies
With the many recent advances in smart dash cam technology, the selection process can be daunting. There are dual-facing dash cameras, wireless cameras, rear-view mirror dash cams, even multi-camera devices that employ backup cameras—just in case.
GoFleet can help you integrate your required services with the right dash navigation system platform.
Dash cams in 2022 are powered by an ever-growing number of sources, including wireless, GPS, Bluetooth, lithium batteries and even solar-powered sensors. The sky is now, quite literally, the limit.
Before committing to any dash navigation system, fleets are strongly recommended to seek the advice of telematics experts. Our GoFleet advisors offer free trials and live demonstrations, so your team can effectively evaluate different dash-cam options in live action.
There is no ‘one size fits all’ to fleet monitoring. Like any good diagnosis, the trick lies in being laser focused on individual needs, then adjusting the available technology appropriately to effectively measure and support the impacted operation areas.
With that said, our experts, designers and engineers are excited to recommend the following next-generation top-rated dash cams for fleet vehicles and cars in 2022.
This GPS active dash cam provides real-time video and advanced AI technology, with audio-visual alerts, analytic reporting of unsafe driver behaviour, driver coaching capability, even ‘panic button’ video alerts from drivers in the event of an incident.
Live video footage can record incidents both day and night, and exonerate your drivers from false accusations or accident liability.
Features include:
HD Recording Support: 1080p high-definition footage
Facial AI: Detects distracted or drowsy driving
Real-time Coaching: Contact drivers remotely to provide live training on the road
Supports Remote Retrieval & Streaming: For critical recorded events; know your company’s liability within minutes
All-in-one Coaching Dashboard: Insights enabled for fleet managers and drivers
The beauty of this wide-angle, full HP 1080p HDR video camera with infrared LED for night vision is simple: they’ve thought of everything. This intelligent dual dash cam combines internet-connected cameras with cloud-based software and real-time visibility.
It helps your team coach drivers in real-time by using AI detection of unsafe or distracted behaviours, helping prevent accidents, litigation and preventable losses.
Features include:
Real-time Visibility: Live video streaming, accident retrieval, and distracted driving detection
Optimize Dispatch Routes: Custom dashboards and reports for managers to monitor GPS locations and driving behaviour
Stay Connected with Live Updates: Data, security and privacy that is GDPR compliant and are monitored 24/7
This intelligent, next-level dash cam unit has multiple camera inputs for the same device, connecting up to 4 cameras in a single vehicle. This solution also comes equipped with a panic button, GPS receiver, microphone, 3-Axis G-Sensor, all translating into 360-degree visibility and real-time footage of driving events.
This solution is available for Android or iOS platforms, and the cloud.
Features include:
360-Degree Visibility: Connect up to 4 cameras to reduce blind spots and view live HD footage at any time.
Set Rules & Alerts: Get real-time footage of driving events triggered by defined rules in the Geotab telematics solution.
View Footage Anywhere, Anytime: View events on a smartphone or tablet. Available on Android and iOS platforms.
ZenduCam AD Plus
The ZenduCam AD Plus continuously captures video events using AI and Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) functionalities, so you can review incidents in real-time and conduct driver coaching on the go. This solution integrates seamlessly with popular fleet management platforms (such as Trax and Geotab) to provide a holistic overview of your fleet.
Features include:
This driver-facing camera has facial AI recognition to authenticate drivers and detect risky driving behaviour.
This plug-n-play 3-channel dash camera allows for easy installation, no technician required.
The AD Plus supports live video streaming, so you can upload video playback and crucial events in real-time.
Receive notifications of all critical road and driver-facing events with harsh driving detection.
ADAS means your drivers can prevent accidents before they happen.
Mobileye was designed with one priority in mind: Protecting the driver. It uses a single forward-facing camera that scans the road ahead, providing the driver with critical safety feedback in real-time.
Features include:
Prevent Collisions: Mobileye’s collision avoidance system warns drivers of potential hazards in real time with audio and/or visual warnings.
Stay Connected: Receive critical real-time alerts on your smartphone, in addition to the EyeWatch that is included with the system.
Night Vision & Weather Resistance: Works in all weather conditions and has night vision capabilities for accident avoidance in any situation.
Used in conjunction with Geotab integration, transmission of alerts and video footage of the road are captured and sent, all under one operating system equipped with IHC analog output.
Mobileye provides five different Driver Assistance warning mechanisms:
Pedestrian Collision Warning (PCW)
Forward Collision Warning (FCW)
Lane Departure Warning (LDW)
Headway Monitoring and Warning (HMW)
Speed Limit Indication (SLI)
Get Smart
Despite the speed with which technology evolves, GoFleet dash cam solutions keep the pace, making it easier for fleets to optimize.
The coming year is sure to lower insurance premiums and preventable thefts by protecting fleet management agencies and drivers.
Smart dash cam technology frees fleets and drivers from false claims, preventing needless accidents and helping fleets stay in compliance.
Despite current global supply chain issues and derailed logistics, our integrated dash cam solutions will keep you ahead of any curve—even helping measure and lower fuel maintenance costs.
GoFleet’s quick response and expert flexibility will help ensure your fleet stays robust. Schedule a demo and see what GoFleet can do for your business.
If you really want to get an animated conversation going with truck drivers, mention dash cams. While drivers have more or less accepted road-facing cameras as part of the job, many remain skeptical or outright opposed to having one positioned within the cab, tracking their movements and driving behaviours.
Since driver-facing dash cams are becoming the norm, this is a great time to take a look at how dash cam technology can actually be a benefit, not a detriment, to your drivers and to your organization’s safety culture.
Dash cam pain points
The way in which dash cams are presented to drivers makes all the difference in impacting buy-in and engagement. Many commercial truck drivers feel that dash cams, particularly cab-facing devices, are an invasion of privacy. This sentiment rings especially true in instances where drivers use an area of the cab to sleep and eat (as an aside, sleeper berths are not considered a “home” and as such, are exempt from current privacy laws).
Furthermore, disclosure is an essential component that can make or break your work culture. Companies must let their employees know if and how dash cams will be used in their fleets, but the ways in which they do so will determine whether drivers remain within the company, or leave in droves to pursue other opportunities.
There are enough stories on the internet to affirm surveillance culture in some companies that implement dash cams (read our story here about Amazon and Netradyne), often the direct result of a lack of transparency or care for their drivers’ collective safety.
The truth is that most dash cams only transmit a short segment of data that includes time directly before and after an event is triggered. No fleet manager has the time or the desire to search through hours of continuous footage. For a great perspective on how to talk to your drivers about implementing dash cams, read here.
ZenduCAM AD+
Demand within the dash cam market is expected to increase by 150% (from 2018), no matter what side of the fence your drivers are on. Customers are familiar with dash cams, and have more requirements — and higher expectations — than ever before.
The new ZenduCAM AD+ is an HD dual-facing camera that offers best-in-class industry features to solve your technology pain points and improve work culture within your fleet. Combining an advanced AI processor, built-in advanced driver-assistance system (ADAS) and Driver Management System (DMS) capabilities, the AD+ monitors risky driver behaviour and delivers real-time incident detection to protect your drivers, reduce false positives and lower costs.
Filter out low-risk events and false alerts with ZenduIT’s industry-leading managed services. Automatically dismiss events that don’t represent an actual risk, and prioritize the most critical events to simplify compliance adherence and improve productivity.
Working synergistically with the Trax app, fleet managers have a full field view and access to location updates in real-time on a virtual map. Moreover, advanced facial recognition means you know who has been using your vehicles, and when. You can receive alerts, escalate and coach events, and view the distribution of assets on a cloud-based map instantaneously.
The fastest road to a safe, positive work environment is to show your drivers how an advanced dash cam system can keep them safe. Equip and coach them in real-time with our advanced AI and Data Analytics models, designed to monitor unsafe behaviours such as tailgating, speeding, not wearing a seatbelt, and other vehicle movements to alert and coach drivers in real-time while ensuring their privacy. When your drivers get an alert from the Trax Mobile App, they know it matters.
ZenduCAM AD+ uses a tested human-machine interface to improve your drivers’ ability to react to dangers on the road. This system increases safety, protects your assets and improves workflow. Moreover, improved algorithms mean your drivers aren’t penalized for driving offences they didn’t commit, leading to an improved workplace.
Technological innovation and automation have greatly increased the popularity of dash cam systems in commercial vehicles. Don’t get left behind, improve your safety culture today!
