In this week’s CCJ Tech Shorts, we’ll take a look at a new driver drowsiness monitoring system, Rand McNally’s use of AI in driver and vehicle performance data and more. CCJ Tech Shorts is a weekly roundup of technology in trucking.
Contents of this video
00:00 Tech Shorts intro
00:23 Driver drowsiness monitoring system
02:00 Rand McNally’s Practical AI
03:17 Weigh station bypass
00:00 In this week’s CCJ Tech Shorts, we’ll take a look at a new driver drowsiness monitoring system, Rand McNally’s use of AI in driver and vehicle performance data and more.
00:23 Netradyne, an AI and edge computing software as a service provider, introduces its cutting-edge Driver Drowsiness with Driver Monitoring System (DMS) Sensor.
This technology detects and addresses drowsy driving. Building on years of sleep research and a vast dataset, Netradyne's third-generation drowsiness detection technology can now identify early-stage drowsiness, whereas most existing solutions only detect severe or acute drowsiness. This enables proactive intervention, significantly reducing the risk of collisions, saving lives, improving road safety and reducing liability and litigation costs.
A lack of sleep can cause microsleeps, usually lasting four to five seconds. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, vehicles running 55 miles per hour can travel 100 yards before drivers wake from their microsleep. According to the Governors Highway Safety Association,10% to 20% of severe collisions are due to driver drowsiness.
Netradyne’s sensor works to detect both early and late stages of drowsiness. It is sensitive to low light at night and can detect drowsiness even if the driver is wearing sunglasses.
This solution enables timely and precise alerts by accurately detecting subtle micro-behaviors indicative of drowsiness like microsleeps (eye closures), blink measurements, and percentage of eye closure over time (PERCLOS) that can objectively detect the onset of drowsiness. Its ability to discern varying levels of drowsiness allows for more tailored and urgent responses.
This Driver Drowsiness with DMS Sensor solution is available in the U.S. on a limited basis, as an add-on with Netradyne’s D-450.
02:00 Fleet management technology provider Rand McNally rolls out its Practical AI framework within its SafetyDirect solution that uses machine learning to analyze vast amounts of driver and vehicle performance data.
The first new feature enabled by Practical AI is Automated Event Ranking or AER that automatically classifies and prioritizes safety events. It allows fleet managers to concentrate on critical incidents while reducing the time spent reviewing non-essential data. In testing, Rand McNally demonstrated a 70% reduction in the number of safety events requiring manual review, enabling managers to focus on high-priority incidents and make faster decisions that improve fleet safety and operational efficiency.
AER leverages data collected from proprietary onboard ADAS systems, ranking safety events such as sudden braking, lane departures, and other driving behaviors based on their severity. It helps fleet managers make quicker, more informed decisions that lead to safer driving outcomes by minimizing false positives and delivering actionable insights.
Looking ahead, Rand McNally plans to expand its use beyond safety management to areas such as predictive maintenance and vehicle health monitoring by leveraging its access to proprietary data from onboard sensors and telematics systems.
03:17 EZ LYNK ELD mobile app customers now have access to Drivewyze PreClear weigh station bypass and Drivewyze Free driver safety notifications.
Drivewyze seamlessly integrates into the EZ LYNK ELD app; no transponders are required. When activated, Drivewyze transmits safety scores, registration and tax compliance information to weigh stations, which then calculates the information against the bypass criteria established by its state or province. If the carrier and vehicle pass the criteria at one mile out, the driver receives permission to bypass the site.
The better the fleet’s safety score, the more bypasses typically granted. Through Drivewyze PreClear, EZ LYNK customers can receive bypass opportunities at close to 900 locations in 48 states and provinces.
The Co-Founder and CEO of EZ LYNK (Brad Gintz) said, “We understand that in the logistics and transportation industry, time is money. By allowing drivers to bypass weigh stations, Drivewyze PreClear reduces delays, enabling drivers to cover more miles, complete more deliveries and maximize their productivity. This translates directly to improved operational efficiency and financial benefits for fleet operators.”
In addition, Drivewyze’s safety alerts, through Drivewyze Free, provides real-time alerts to improve efficiency and enhance safety. Drivewyze Free provides essential messaging, including heads-up warnings for High-Rollover risk areas, Low Bridges, Mountain alerts like steep grade ahead and runaway ramps, and rest area information with truck parking availability. It also provides real-time traffic slowdowns and other safety alerts generated in partnership with select state transportation and enforcement agencies through the Drivewyze Smart Roadways highway safety program for connected trucks.
