Driving Change: Enhancing Fleet Safety with Dash Cam Training

Safety in commercial motor vehicle (CMV) operation is critical to protecting the motoring public. By prioritizing safety, companies can develop a culture of integrity on the road.

Dash cams capture critical data such as:

• Driving patterns,
• Road conditions and,
• Incidents.

This data can be used to help in accident investigation. A more preferred use of the data is to identify risky driving habits before an accident occurs. Changing behaviors of drivers can reduce future accidents.

Understanding corrective action training

Corrective Action Training (CAT) is a structured approach to addressing specific behaviors that do not meet standards. It involves:

• Identifying where improvement is needed,
• Providing targeted training in those areas, and
• Monitoring progress over time.

By focusing on CAT for improvement, carriers can reduce accidents, eliminate down time, and foster a culture of continuous improvement.

The role of dash cams in corrective action training

Dash cams typically start recording automatically when a vehicle is in motion. This provides continuous video evidence of what happens on the road. A variety of data can be collected including:

• Time and date,
• GPS coordinates,
• Speed,
• Real-time road footage, and
• Weather conditions.

This data can be used to monitor driver behavior, analyze traffic incidents, and improve overall safety. By providing clear and objective evidence, dash cams help recognize driver behavior and help resolve disputes. Individual and team-focused CAT can be identified to best utilize training curriculum. Historically, training has been assigned by what appears to have happened. Dash cams reveal the evidence of habits and behaviors that can cause a safety issue.

Where do we start

Before training can be implemented, drivers need to trust the technology. A good place to start is by explaining how dash cams provide valuable data. This can be used to help improve driving habits and reduce accidents. Offer training sessions to familiarize them with the technology. Take the time to listen and address any questions the drivers have. The primary goal is to enhance safety and support the drivers.

It is important to establish a system for collecting and storing the footage securely. It should be accessible to anyone who may analyze the data. Trigger events can be reviewed to determine cause, and other footage can be reviewed randomly to analyze the entire fleet. Many carriers find drivers in a particular terminal or region have similar habits.

Training modules can be assigned to an individual driver, a group of drivers or the entire fleet. Real footage from the dash cams can be used to provide examples and enhance learning. Regular follow ups help ensure drivers are constantly improving and adhering to safety standards.

Make it fun

Some carriers utilize the information collected to incentivize drivers. By creating a scorecard to collect driving events and assigning points for each, drivers can be categorized into different levels. Each level has a cents per mile bonus attached, paid on a regular basis. Scoresheets are posted to allow drivers to see where they stand in relationship to their peers. There have been reports of drivers requesting additional training on a voluntary basis to improve scores. No one wants to be last. Drivers who are consistently self-monitoring will continue to improve their behaviors.

Carriers who use dash cams and incentives as a compliment to corrective action training see results. They say the increase in payroll far outweighs the cost of accidents and other violations.

Celebrate the wins

A successful corrective action training program recognizes progress. Early progress may be slow, but consistency will grow the improvements. As drivers’ habits improve, public recognition promotes future success. Positive feedback to the team will promote a culture of change and pride in the brand.

Celebrating in public and coaching in private goes a long way in developing safe drivers.