FLEETDRIVE
Decisions made with inaccurate data can be severe and costly ; a mistake we have all made at some point in and around the fleet and transport industry . If you concentrate on your fleet data strategy first , it means you can then choose bestof-breed fleet software and hardware to suit your needs and budget , and trust that it will do what you need it to .
Based on the data we ’ ve collected from our clients , we ’ ve found that the worst 10 % of drivers contribute to 52 % of unsafe driving events and practices – which is a lot from such a small group !
The starting point for fleet managers is to use data to pinpoint the risky drivers and “ bad eggs ”. If you have access to telematics , looking at driver behaviour analytics such as harsh events and overspeeding helps uncover more anomalies . Combining this information with camera events like fatigue and distracted drivers can also help . You might also have access to safety software that looks at site check-ins , inductions completed , or even driver inspection reports missed . All these data points combined and accessible in one place help fleet managers find problem areas .
Additionally , from the data we ongoingly aggregate and collect , we ’ ve found that 20 % of unsafe driving events come from the dreaded “ Unknown Driver .” This highlights how important it is to ensure that your drivers log into the fleet monitoring tools ( which you ’ re paying for anyway ), and if there is a technical issue with the product , let the provider know to get things back on track quickly .
If you have a smaller tech stack , monitoring fuel usage can be helpful if you combine it with odometer readings . Measuring fuel economy correctly can give you insights into assets that have unusually low fuel economy compared to the fleet . There is every chance it could be fuel theft , excessive idling or a maintenance issue , but if it is not , it is a good sign of some fairly erratic driving .
Most importantly , if you are using data to help with your driver behaviour strategy , make sure to let the drivers know . Your communication can have a significant impact on their behaviour . It is amazing how quickly behaviours change when even just one driver is aware of your new and improved strategy .
ISSUE 48 AUGUST 2024 / WWW . AFMA . ORG . AU 17