The SmartDrive SR4 platform is an integration hub that connects to multiple cameras, electronic control units (ECUs), sensors, and various OEM and third-party advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) in vehicles.The adoption rates of video-based fleet safety systems continue to rise, fueled by a need to stem the rise of accident and insurance costs. SmartDrive Systems shared a success story of its customer Linden Bulk Transportation since adopted its safety program in 2018.
“We are preventing accidents before they occur, which is particularly important given the DOT’s use of recorded accidents to determine trucking company safety rankings,” said Michael Salz, president of Linden Bulk Transportation. “With the insurance rate hikes across the industry, unlike many companies that have seen premiums rise precipitously, our rates have remained nearly flat due to our improved safety record.”
Linden is a subsidiary of Odyssey Logistics & Technology Corporation, whose bulk transportation businesses include over-the-road tank truck, and ISO tanks for domestic and international shipments.
During a pilot program prior to fleetwide adoption, Linden experienced a 55% improvement in its SmartDrive Safety Score while maintaining nearly 100% coaching performance. More recently, the company added SmartDrive Extended Recording to capture hard-to-get, low impact incidents that are not triggered by other systems.
This capability helps with sideswipes, workers compensation claims and driver compliance with company policy.
“We continued rolling out SmartDrive to our lease purchase vehicles and our owner-operators, along with our yard horses and company-owned pickup trucks. With over 200 cameras installed, we know our drivers and our company are safer, and we’re attracting more drivers because of it,” Salz added.
The managed service aspect of the SmartDrive program, where behavior analysts review video footage to identify risk observations not detected by the cameras and sensors, provides additional insight and saves safety managers time, Salz said.
