Dash Cams A Necessity To Fleet Owners - Here’s Why
It’s no secret that Dash Cams have become a necessity when it comes to fleet management. However, you might be wondering what they do and why they are important? Dash Cams not only protect our drivers, however, they also give managers access to pivotal data for the company itself to improve efficiency overall. This is why it has become a regular practice to have Dash Cams on all your fleets regardless of industry you specialise in such as trucking, towing, moving, or construction.
What Are Dash Cams?
Dash Cams are onboard camera systems that continuously record the vehicle’s trip. There are different types of systems such as single camera systems and dual camera systems. Each system has different features to meet the fleet managers’ needs for. Dash Cams are installed by using the vehicle being driven as a power source, It records the trip and detects possible collisions and motion using attached sensors. Dash Cams allow you to manage your fleet more efficiently by providing you with real-time data and visuals on your departed fleets.
Single Camera Systems
This Dash Cam system uses a single-lens camera that faces the road. This allows fleet managers to have real-time footage of the truckers’ views and the trip in general. This system is primarily used to catch evidence for accidents or safety events such as poor road conditions or possible collisions. This is the basic camera system you can use on all commercial vehicles.
All data collected through this system will be stored on an SD card that creates an infinite loop to clear data for new footage. This system requires fleet managers to have to externally download the data before the system overrides the previous footage. There are more advanced systems that detect collisions and will automatically not override the data; however, a single camera system is not equipped to do that.
Dual Camera Systems
A dual camera system comes with 2 camera lenses. One overlooks the road and the other faces the cabin which gives you a view of the trucker as they are driving. This type of system allows additional safety measures in the event of an accident by ensuring the driver is safe.
Since this system involves an AI feature it allows fleet managers to have many features to choose from. This system has AI processing abilities such as being able to detect distracted drivers, drowsiness, speeding, and tailgating. These features help keep drivers safe and accountable during their trips. Dual camera systems are easy to install and last for years which makes them easy for fleet managers to maintain.
Dash Cam Benefits:
Data Collection
Dash Cams allow fleet managers to collect data that aids the company in identifying where to make improvements in their system such as training, maintenance, and safety measures/policies. Dash Cams give management access to data such as driver behaviour and vehicle health reports. The more real-time information fleet managers have access to the more efficient their channel will be.
Safety
As a fleet manager, your greatest asset is your driver. That means protecting them from possible collisions. The University of Michigan Transportation Research institute conducted a study that involved 8,309 fatal car-truck crashes. They determined that 81% of the time passenger vehicles are at fault (Jaillet, 2022). As a fleet manager you can reduce that percentage by installing Dash Cams on all their vehicles. Not to mention, It’s difficult to keep track of drivers adhering to the hours of service regulations however, Dash Cams give you insights on if your driver is drowsy, overworked, or distracted. With this added protection for your drivers and your vehicle it reduces accidents and saves on insurance for your vehicles.
Anti-Theft
Dash Cams are a great security measure to protect your vehicles from theft and vandals. Not to mention that the technology on the Dash Cams allows you to track and recover stolen vehicles. Dash Cams also act as evidence collectors if your vehicle is involved in an accident. It allows for real-time playback that will get you all the information needed if an event were to occur.
To make the most of the Dash Cams it’s important to choose the right company and the right system type for you. Here at Fleethunt, we provide guidance on which system is the best fit for your particular needs. Book a demo with FleetHunt today and we will make sure you get the best product for your company. Learn more here or speak with us directly by booking a demo at Fleethunt Demo.
