Safety is integral to modern semi-truck designs. In addition to making ergonomic and mechanical safety improvements, OEMs have advanced driver assist systems (ADAS) like roll stability control, collision mitigation, and lane departure warning, as standard equipment.
ADAS systems alert drivers with instant visual, audio, and haptic feedback when unsafe conditions occur. They also activate throttle and braking controls to prevent rear-end collisions, rollovers, and sideswipes, among other accident risks.
Fleets also have numerous technology options for monitoring, recording, and assessing safe driving behaviors. For example, dash cameras and telematics systems gather context and evidence of critical safety events to coach drivers and mitigate risk.
However, not acting promptly on information from these systems creates additional exposure to accident risks and liabilities. To close the loop on risk management, fleets can use custom mobile apps to keep drivers connected and on task to increase safety awareness and skills.
This article highlights two ways fleets can use an integrated custom app platform for unique and vital driver safety workflows.
1. Integrated Safety Checklists
Trip planning is one of the most important aspects of driver safety. Drivers who successfully plan trips know precisely where and when to stop for pickups, fuel, rest breaks, and deliveries. This foresight gives them a safety cushion to reach appointed destinations on time.
The custom app platform from Eleos includes trip-planning tools that give drivers essential information on hours of service, ETA guidance, and one-click access to turn-by-turn navigation, among other helpful assistance.
Drivers receive dispatch assignments through the app – inside or outside the cab – to plan trips thoughtfully and purposefully. Fleet managers have visibility to driver trip plans, helping them know the best time to contact drivers to conduct a safety coaching session or to heap praise on a job well done. They can view driver locations and status information to be mindful of when not to call, such as while a driver is on a 10-hour rest break.
The Eleos platform also has pre-built integrations with compliance, safety, and learning management systems, allowing fleets to create automated driver workflows to complete tasks. The app’s “to-do” checklist shows drivers what they must complete each day, such as a safety training lesson or reviewing a video from a critical safety event earlier that day for “hard braking.”
To-dos and associated due dates are easily customized to fit the fleet’s and their drivers’ needs, ensuring safety is top of mind and that the most critical tasks are completed. As a bonus, links in the checklist can take the driver to the source of information with no additional logins required.
Fleets can also set up dedicated messaging channels for safety-related communications. For example, a geofencing feature can send safety messages to select drivers with routes in areas with severe weather warnings. As one example, this feature could send weather updates during hurricane season, which starts in June for states on the Atlantic coast, to safeguard drivers and freight without sacrificing efficiency.
2. Real-time Safety Alerts
Another valuable way to boost safety with custom apps is by giving drivers targeted alerts for high-risk locations on routes. With the Eleos platform, fleets can prompt drivers to take extra precautions when approaching dangerous turns associated with rollovers or areas where speed-related incidents are common.
The most recent crash statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration show that more than 5,600 fatalities involving heavy trucks occurred in 2021. Fifty-two percent of large truck occupant deaths occurred in crashes in which their vehicles rolled over. A 2020 NHTSA study also found that 28% of fatal crashes were speeding-related.
Eleos integrates with PrePass and Drivewyze for active safety alerts. These companies provide mobile inspection and weigh station bypass services. They also have nationwide safety alerts that have been proven to mitigate rollover and speed-related accidents and greatly reduce the likelihood of low bridge strikes.
Fleets configure their custom mobile app to give drivers audible tones and visual alerts when approaching safety danger zones. On average, slowdown alerts result in 70% of drivers decreasing their speed by 11 miles per hour. This correlates to a 10% to 16% reduction in hard braking events.
Studies show that drivers going more than 5 miles per hour over the speed limit reduce their speed by an average of 7.3 mph when they get a rollover alert. Crash data shows trucks going 5 mph over the posted speed limit around curves are twice as likely to be in a preventable accident as a driver going the speed limit.
Other useful alerts include mountain areas (steep grade ahead, chain-up/brake check stations, and runaway ramps), rest area information, and truck parking availability.
Additionally, drivers can be alerted through a fleet’s custom app when approaching areas with stationary or heavy traffic requiring slowdowns, active work zones, lane closures, and virtual signs. PrePass and Drivewyze get this information from state DOTs and relay messages to drivers through the Eleos app for upcoming road closures, detours, reminders to wear seatbelts, etc., and emergency alerts.
Custom apps like Eleos enable proactive risk mitigation by including real-time audible and visual safety alerts in comprehensive driver workflows encompassing trip planning, safety to-do checklists, and integrations with various third-party systems and services.
Empower Fleet Safety with Eleos
ADAS technology, such as roll stability control and collision mitigation, has become standard. Yet challenges persist in managing the influx of safety information from technology to ensure prompt action to mitigate risks.
Eleos has emerged as an integral custom app platform for fleets to automate and enhance the flow of safety information and driver communications. Through Eleos, fleets gain access to integrated trip planning and safety workflows that help drivers and managers promptly complete essential tasks and make informed decisions to reduce accident risks.
Contact us today to discover how Eleos can improve safety management for your fleet to achieve new operational efficiency and driver satisfaction levels.
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