The importance of video telematics in commercial vehicles can’t be underestimated. Between legal protection and increased driver safety, fleets have widely adopted this technology, with 70% reporting the use of dashcams. That said, despite the vast benefits, contractors and construction companies are on the lower end of adoption. A recent survey showed that while 86% of construction companies use telematics, only 23% actually apply that data to heir decision-making.

Video telematics are a crucial component for industries ranging from fleet to refrigeration to construction. These specially engineered solutions have the ability to increase jobsite safety, decrease theft and even protect drivers in the event of accidents.

HOW TO OPTIMIZE FLEET TELEMATICS SOLUTIONS

The adoption of video telematics is an absolute imperative for construction operators to protect their drivers and their businesses. This is especially true for heavy short-haul fleets, such as waste and construction trucks, as well as light commercial delivery vehicles that are navigating challenging environments, including busy and construction-ridden city streets and residential neighborhoods. Luckily, the use of video telematics gives contractors and companies the peace of mind necessary to protect them from theft while increasing safety. With the optimizations below, these solutions can provide critical insights that improve decision-making.

Make Safety Culture a Priority

Safety on the jobsite as well as on the road is of the utmost importance not only to protect employees and their employers but also to avoid legal issues and save on costs. In 2019, the construction industry accounted for about 20% of all on-the-job fatalities, according to OSHA. The use of video on the jobsite and in vehicles can support coaching opportunities for employees once unsafe behavior is observed, as well as offer a way to reward safe driving and onsite behavior.

Protect Assets

In addition to keeping employees safe, asset protection and the cost savings that come with it are key components of video telematics. Up to $1 billion in equipment, materials and appliances are stolen from construction sites every year, and less than 25% is recovered, according to the National Equipment Register. The adoption of video can assist in preventing theft and—should theft occur—help in the legal process that follows.

Avoid Legal Issues

While theft and safety issues can create a monetary cost, legal issues can be another problem for construction companies. Staged accidents, where vehicles are purposely targeted in accidents as a form of insurance fraud, have been an increasing issue, especially for commercial drivers. According to a report from the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute, commercial drivers are at fault for regular accidents far less than the drivers of passenger cars, but the burden of defense falls on the commercial drivers more often than not—even when it’s a staged accident. To have a case stand up in court, drivers need good-quality video, a wide-angle shot to include as much footage as possible and GPS and time-stamped videos.

THE SAVINGS OF VIDEO

Video telematics are a crucial technology for commercial vehicles in a wide range of industries, with benefits from driver safety to theft prevention. In addition, the adoption of this technology inevitably will save on time and money, with construction industry injuries costing $11.5 billion per year and equipment theft costing $400 million annually. With the optimization of video telematics, construction companies will be able to free up time and resources to focus on the job at hand.