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The Advantages of Using Video Intelligence to Protect Your Fleet

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When you think of video intelligence, you might imagine equipment like a truck backup camera or an in-cab camera. But the phrase has come to mean much more to the transportation industry in recent years. With the help of advanced technology like artificial intelligence and onboard event recording, video intelligence is making fleets safer and more efficient. 

Today, we’re diving into this invaluable transportation solutions category and examining how it can benefit fleets of all sizes. If you’re on the fence about introducing video intelligence into your operations, read on.

 

What Goes Into Video Intelligence?

There is no one-size-fits-all approach to this technology. What works for one large fleet may not work for a smaller fleet or one with lighter-duty vehicles. That’s why Trimble’s Video Intelligence solutions are customizable.

 

Here are just a few helpful Video Intelligence features:

  • Up to four cameras provide a 360-degree view of the entire truck

  • Reliable wireless truck backup cameras

  • Event-triggered video

  • Real-time data and safety analytics

 

Two-Channel vs. Four-Channel DVR

Contrary to popular belief, you don’t need a massive fleet of Class 8 vehicles to reap the rewards of video intelligence. Smaller fleets and lighter-duty vehicles can also benefit from an expanded field of vision, video recording, and more. Trimble’s two-channel DVR is designed specifically for those light-duty fleets. This easy-to-install option takes up little space inside the cab, records video from up to two cameras, and allows back-office staff to view video on demand. For heavy-duty fleets, our four-channel DVR supports up to four cameras.

 

 

4 Ways Video Intelligence Can Benefit Your Fleet

Modern video intelligence solutions go far beyond in-cab cameras for trucks. Here’s a look at some of the most significant advantages of employing this technology to protect your fleet.

 

1. Provide Drivers with a Wider Field of Vision

Fatigue, distracted driving, and blind spots are all major contributors to accidents, but even the most attentive driver can benefit from another set of eyes on the road. Front-facing, left and right view, and rear-facing cameras provide drivers with a more complete picture of the road, broadening their field of vision and eliminating blind spots. This makes lane changeover, exiting and entering highways, and backing up significantly safer.

 

2. Identify and Correct Risky Driving Behaviors

Those risky driving behaviors we mentioned? They can lead to catastrophic accidents and injuries—tarnishing reputations, raising insurance premiums, and costing trucking companies millions of dollars. Ideally, safety managers and other back-office personnel could catch and address these behaviors before they cause a collision. With the help of video intelligence and safety solutions, they can do exactly that.

Trimble’s Safety Analytics™ dashboard, for example, provides an overview of your entire fleet, all in one accessible location. With this easy-to-interpret view, you’ll be able to pick out potentially dangerous driving patterns like speeding and proactively reach out to those at-risk drivers. Coaching those drivers and providing valuable feedback can result in fewer accidents and a safer fleet.

 

3. Access Recorded Video On Demand

It’s not reasonable to expect back-office staff to monitor video feeds whenever a driver is on the road or rewatch hours of recorded footage to pinpoint specific events—that’s not a productive use of anyone’s time. This is where video intelligence lives up to its name.

Trimble’s software allows dispatchers to remotely request footage on demand up to 12 hours after a truck has been turned off. One of our newest features, Intelliview™, uses artificial intelligence to automatically flag dangerous events as “primary” or “secondary” risks. This allows back-office staff to easily identify those potentially harmful driving behaviors we mentioned, without having to painstakingly sort through footage themselves. Additionally, these recorded videos can provide much-needed context in the event of an incident.

 

 

4. Combat Potential Litigation 

Perhaps most importantly, video intelligence offers protection against potentially damaging lawsuits and insurance claims. Up to 75 percent of car-truck collisions are not the fault of the truck driver; however, when compared to a Class 8 truck or other large vehicle, the smaller car will always appear more vulnerable in the aftermath. This gives both authorities and insurance companies ample reason to lay the blame and any legal repercussions on the trucking company. 

Nuclear verdicts (legal penalties over $10 million) have caused a number of carriers to go bankrupt, and they’re on the rise. A neutral eyewitness in the form of recorded video can make the difference in a potentially disastrous case. Our Onboard Event Recording® feature automatically starts capturing footage based on company-controlled parameters, such as hard braking or sudden acceleration. In the event of a collision or other type of accident, you’ll be able to review exactly what happened.

 

Ready to Introduce Trimble’s Video Intelligence Solutions to Your Fleet?

If you’re ready to move beyond fleet dashcams and simple truck backup cameras, now is the time to get started. Trimble is proud to offer customizable Video Intelligence solutions for both light-duty and heavy-duty fleets. Regardless of the size of your fleet or the class of your trucks, we’re eager to work with you and identify the combination of solutions that will best protect your drivers and vehicles. Contact Trimble today to request a demo or learn more about our suite of video and safety solutions.