Ramping Up for College
Enterprise-level turns campus-level as major universities across the country expand their fleets and solutions
By Emma Green
BUSRide recently spoke with Ryan Driscoll , VP of marketing for GPS Insight , to discuss government fleet safety programs and how technology solutions and platforms are allowing universities to ramp up their fleet operations in a safe and cost-effective way .
How can building an effective government
Ryan Driscoll fleet safety program help to ensure that vehicles are safe to operate ? It starts with implementing a comprehensive program that includes GPS tracking , in-cab smart cameras , and analytics dashboards that allow fleet managers to track driver behavior while also keeping up to date on maintenance and other issues . In that same vein , vehicles that have been in less accidents and are well-maintained are more likely to last longer and prove to be reliable to their operators . By incorporating these data analytics , fleet managers can access a broad scope view of all their vehicles and keep track of whether a driver or their vehicle prove safe day by day .
As universities prepare for Fall 2021 , what do you see as the main on-campus fleet needs ? We have just spent a year in quarantine , so it will definitely be an adjustment getting back on-campus and in the swing of things . Some of the biggest needs that require attention for Fall 2021 are better rider experiences , reduced insurance risk , increased visibility for fleet managers , and – most importantly – increased safety for campus inhabitants and drivers .
With so much fleet data available for managers , how can they best focus efforts on maximizing that data ' s value ? A huge help is what we call Scorecard reports that aggregate data pulled from monitoring driver activity and vehicle status and ranks them based on good and bad behavior . AI can automatically score severe , moderate , mild and positive driving activity whenever a vehicle is in use or on the road . This allows managers to recognize driver , group or fleet issues and to reward good drivers . Drivers themselves can use the mobile app to see progress and see how they rank .
What sort of ROI can an advanced GPS tracking system provide for universities and educational institutions running bus fleets ? By detecting , alerting , and reporting on basic driving behavior , and identifying risky events , a fleet can see a reduction in accidents , speeding tickets , and maintenance costs . A two-year safety study shows a 30 percent decrease in claims submitted for at fault incidents across 26 fleets . Utilizing an in-cab camera provides fleets with evidence to exonerate their driver / fleet if / when an incident occurs , significantly reducing legal and repair costs . Expect to see a reduction in preventable vehicle accidents of 50 percent or more .
Creating a driver-friendly safety solution that works with , not against , the driver leads to less driver turnover and a positive work environment .
In which areas of a bus fleet can this technology help most ? Location : Whether looking at where a vehicle is , or where it should be , location tracking is the most basic element of a fleet safety program as it provides visibility into routes , usage , and driver behavior . Fleet managers can track vehicles and determine optimal routes and access visibility into timing and delivery metrics . At the core of any fleet safety program is location tracking technology . Maintenance : GPS tracking solutions can make it easy to ensure that mobile resources get the maintenance they need , when they need it , to avoid costly , time-consuming breakdowns and down time . The technology can help : - Ensure DOT compliance with Driver Vehicle Inspection ( DVIR ) reporting . - Schedule preventative maintenance ahead of time and track it all electronically . - Ensure maintenance teams are aware of diagnostic trouble codes and what the issue is to determine if / when the vehicle needs to be brought in . Then , a fleet manager can push odometer readings and diagnostic trouble codes from the GPS device into their existing maintenance software to ensure proactive and reactive maintenance is scheduled automatically . Fuel use : Driver behavior can impact fuel consumption . Utilizing on-demand reports and real-time alerts can diagnose fuel waste and help fleets determine best practices for idle times and utilization . Route analytics helps reduce unnecessary miles , saving both fuel and labor costs . Safety : Safety is always the most important as it has the most impact on people ’ s lives . By investing in a government fleet safety program , fleet managers can monitor behavior , context , scoring and coaching . - Behavior : Dashboards and in-cab cameras offer complete visibility to track negative behaviors and positive behaviors , ultimately creating an overall positive fleet culture , improving safety , and preventing incidents from occurring . - Context : In-cab cameras track and analyze 100 % of a driver ’ s activity , and automatically sends drivers videos and analysis to change behaviors like distracted driving or following distance . - Scoring : AI evaluates severe and moderate incidents to determine a driver ’ s safety score . This tool allows managers to track individual driver and fleet performance against goals . - Coaching : With remote or virtual coaching , the AI pinpoints problematic driving habits , prepares examples and sends them to the driver ' s app for weekly review . The app can then make suggestions for how the driver can improve their score over the next week .
What advice do you offer fleet-owners looking to upgrade this technology ? Please focus on preliminary and initial steps . Investing in a GPS tracking solution can be easy , it ’ s finding a partner with the skills , experience , and compatibility that will provide the results your organization is looking to achieve that is the hard part . That is where the right vendor can help . Start by identifying your organization ’ s challenges . Include all departments that will use the technology and the people that will be impacted daily to not only garner different points of view , but also obtain buy-in from all stakeholders . Next , match features and products to your fleet ’ s issues and consider both your current and long-term goals . Make sure to take the time to identify other operational software your organization offers to determine data integration and save time and money . The next step is the test drive . Conduct a trial run and inspect compatibility of each solution before deciding . After that , it ’ s time to make an investment .
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