Press Release
From Technology to Teaching Moments: How Fleetmaster Express Uses Lytx DriveCam® To Future-Proof its Fleet
‘A Rare All-in-One Solution’ Expands When the Fleet’s Ready
SAN DIEGO (January 24, 2018) –
There’s an operating philosophy at Fleetmaster Express that has served them well through their 30 years in the transportation business: use technology to your advantage. Gaining the technology edge with an eye toward the future was the prevailing reason behind Fleetmaster’s recent adoption of the Lytx DriveCam® video safety program, which combines video capture of road incidents such as hard braking or sudden swerving, data analysis of those incidents, and personalized coaching insights to improve driving behavior.
The decision has led to significant results for Fleetmaster, including:
- 91 percent improvement in both frequency and severity of events
- 61 percent decrease in collisions
- 71 percent decrease in near collisions
“We are a very dynamic fleet, with over-the-road, local, and dedicated hauling, and we have an intense focus on customer service and safety,” said Travis Smith, chief operating officer for Fleetmaster Express. “We’re also a growing company. And as our footprint expands, we needed a solution to efficiently identify and manage coaching opportunities throughout our fleet.”
Mr. Smith said the DriveCam solution helps his company to effectively tackle safety challenges now, while helping it stay ahead of the fleet’s needs as it grows. In fact, a major factor in Fleetmaster’s choice to adopt the DriveCam program was the embedded sensor and machine-vision technologies in its ER-SV2 event recorder that give Fleetmaster the flexibility to add functionality and services in the future, including fleet tracking and connectivity to third-party solutions.
Lytx’s ER-SV2 enables a variety of services, including the ActiveVision® service. ActiveVision uses machine vision and a high-precision analytics algorithm to detect and capture driving patterns consistent with distracted and drowsy driving, such as swerving within a lane or driving slowly relative surrounding traffic. It can also work with third-party roll-stability systems to identify what’s happening inside and outside the cab.
“DriveCam is that rare all-in-one solution that will allow us to expand our program when we’re ready,” Mr. Smith said.
Protecting Drivers Through Exoneration
“Defending drivers and the company from false claims is also a priority,” said Andy Kester, safety and HR manager for Fleetmaster Express. Mr. Kester said a recent claim of a hit-and-run against one of their drivers was proved false when the DriveCam video clip revealed that the driver had properly followed all procedures.
Fleetmaster also uses DriveCam videos to recognize and reward good drivers.
“While the driving event videos are great to show a driver about what they could be doing differently, as a group we can celebrate those times when the driver’s doing everything right,” Mr. Kester said. “That becomes a real teaching moment.”
Although advanced technology is a hallmark of Fleetmaster Express, the company works hard to cultivate genuine relationships with its employees. Fleetmaster began as a family-owned business with two trucks in 1987, and, even though it now has almost 300 trucks operating from 15 terminals, drivers are still treated like family.
Each new driver is onboarded at one of the company’s three regional offices and often meets with one or more members of the executive team, demonstrating how much Fleetmaster values connecting on a personal level.
“We’re using DriveCam to protect our drivers,” Mr. Kester said. “When you protect the driver, you protect the company. We are very excited to implement this program, as it reinforces our core value of promoting the safety of our employees and the motorists that we share the road with.”
About Lytx
At Lytx® we harness the power of video and data to enable fleets to improve safety, efficiency, and security. Our flagship DriveCam® safety program is the gold standard for driver safety, helping to ensure that 650,000 drivers come home safely every day. Our Lytx Video ServicesSM platform delivers on-demand continual video and optional livestream of the road to show even more critical moments – both on the road and in the field. We protect more than 2,200 commercial and government fleets that log billions of miles worldwide each year. We empower our clients to realize significant returns on investment by lowering operating and insurance costs, while achieving greater efficiency, compliance, and safety. Most of all, we strive to help save lives—on our roads and in our communities, every day. Lytx is privately held and headquartered in San Diego, California. For more information, visit www.lytx.com, @lytx on Twitter, or on our YouTube channel.
