Safety remains a top priority for fleet operations, and understandably so. Although there has been a decline in accidents, many commercial drivers are observing an increase in unsafe driving behaviors among others on the road.
At Syook, our mission is centered on enhancing safety in the operations that drive our world. We are dedicated to continuously developing innovative safety tools and features aimed at protecting fleets and the communities they serve.
Dash cams equipped with GPS tracking are becoming essential tools for fleet managers, as they significantly enhance driver safety and help reduce costs. Dash Cams with GPS tracking not only provide high-resolution video evidence that can clear drivers of false claims but also offer a host of other benefits.
Previously, we have discussed how you can use Syook’s end to end fleet management solution to drive cost savings and safety improvements and how you can unlock operational efficiency with Real-Time Vehicle Tracking.
Let’s dive into the advantages of using dash cams with GPS tracking and explore what features to consider when selecting the right dash cam for your fleet.
What Are Vehicle Dash Cams with GPS Tracking?
Dash cams, or dashboard cameras, are devices installed in vehicles to record footage of the road ahead and activities inside the vehicle.
The most effective dash cams for fleets come with telematics capabilities, allowing for real-time GPS tracking, internet connectivity, and built-in sensors.
This technology enables the system to automatically identify safety-related incidents—such as harsh braking or collisions—and upload relevant footage to the cloud for easy access.
Benefits of Dash Cams with GPS Tracking for Fleet Managers
Research indicates that when paired with driver coaching, dash cams can lead to a remarkable 52% reduction in safety-related incidents. Beyond enhancing safety, these cameras can also help save money.
Here are five key benefits of implementing dash cams with GPS tracking:
Clear Drivers from False Claims: In accidents involving cars and trucks, dumpers etc. are typically found at fault only about 26% of the time, yet they often face blame more frequently. With Syook AI Dash Cams, incident footage is automatically uploaded to the cloud within minutes, facilitating swift exoneration of innocent drivers and expediting the claims process.
Minimize Accidents: Safety managers can quickly review auto-uploaded footage of incidents, including near-misses and distracted driving events. This immediate access allows them to coach drivers using actual footage of their behavior. Additionally, Syook’s AI Dash Cams provide real-time alerts within the vehicle to encourage safer driving practices.
Lower Insurance Costs: Insurance premiums are heavily influenced by safety records. Since dash cams have been shown to enhance safety and lower risks, insurance providers may offer discounts or credits for fleets that utilize these devices and share their safe driving data.
Minimize Vehicle Wear and Tear: Harsh driving behaviors such as sudden braking can lead to increased wear on vehicle components. Dash cams can issue alerts when such behaviors are detected, helping to promote smoother driving and reduce maintenance costs.
Enhance Driver Retention and Cut Labor Costs: Surprisingly, dash cams can also help lower labor costs in various ways. They enable office teams to develop effective safety programs and coach drivers more efficiently through real time dashboards and footage-based training modules. Moreover, data from dash cams can support safety reward programs that boost driver engagement and retention, ultimately reducing turnover rates.
Are dash cams with GPS tracking worth the investment for your fleet?
One of the biggest objections to investing in a fleet dash cam solution is the cost. Although the initial cost might seem expensive, dash cams with GPS tracking are proven to lower costs and pay for themselves, especially when it comes to exoneration.
For example, one of India’s biggest mining enterprise. After debating whether or not to implement dash cams for several years, the company ultimately decided to make the investment because of the ability to utilize dash cam footage and GPS data to monitor haul road condition, exonerate drivers, as well as an expectation that it would result in improved driver safety, fewer accidents, and reduced insurance and legal costs. They saw incredible results just one year after installing Syook’s AI Das Cam, including:
Decrease in haul road speeding
Increased safety with reduced incidents
Better instruction visibility with AI cam sign detection
Saved millions in recent insurance renewal
What features should you consider when evaluating the best dash cam for your fleet?
There are a lot of different dash cam options available for fleets in the United States. Here are a few features to consider when evaluating the best dash cam for your business needs:
GPS tracking: Connectivity to a GPS tracker, like a telematics device, is incredibly helpful for enriching your dash cam data and exonerating drivers. With real-time GPS location data, you can pinpoint exactly where safety incidents happen, create admin alerts based on geofences, and retrieve additional video evidence in the case of a false claim.
Configuration: Dash cams come in a variety of different configurations, which serve different purposes. Front-facing dash cams, for example, are mounted on your windshield and have one lens that faces the road ahead—whereas dual-facing dash cams (or dual dash cams) have an additional lens that faces inward to capture in-cab activity.
Artificial intelligence: The most advanced dash cams include built-in artificial intelligence (AI), so they can detect safety issues without a g-force trigger—like rolling stops, distracted driving, and tailgating. AI makes it possible to coach drivers on risky behavior and near misses.
Internet connectivity: Advanced dash cams can connect to the internet via a high-speed cellular connection, which allows the dash cam to send footage to the cloud. This provides nearly instant access to auto-uploaded incident footage via cloud storage, so you can coach and exonerate drivers in real time.
Harsh event detection: The best dash cams use a built-in gyroscope and accelerometer to automatically detect harsh driving events—like harsh braking or a collision—and auto-upload footage to the cloud. This is helpful for coaching and improving driver behavior.
Resolution: Resolution (or image quality) depends on how many pixels the dash cam records. High quality forward-facing dash cams should record video in full HD 1080p, which will make it possible for you to see the road ahead clearly and make out numbers on license plates.
Field of view: Field of view is how much of the road (or inside of the cab) the dash cam can see. To ensure your dash cams capture a broad field of view, look for a wide angle or semi-wide angle lens.
Mounting: The two most popular ways to install dash cams are via a suction cup or adhesive. Some dash cams may also attach to your rear view mirror. Adhesive attachments are generally a more secure option that still offer quick and easy installation.
Night vision: Some dash cams are optimized for capturing footage at night or in low-light conditions. If your drivers often operate at night, look for a dash cam with HDR—which optimizes for both bright and low-light conditions—or infrared LED, which is particularly important for capturing video footage of unlit cabs.
Syook's End to End Fleet Management Solution
Today's fleets face increasing demands, including enhancing safety, ensuring compliance, reducing fuel waste, and preventing cargo theft. These challenges have driven the cost of operating a truck to an all-time high of $2.25 per mile. Managers need comprehensive solutions to lower costs, boost efficiency, and improve safety performance across their fleets.
Syook's cutting-edge Smart Trailer features can help achieve these goals. In addition to frontline efficiency tools, Syook has introduced new trailer telematics features and formed strategic partnerships to enhance trailer operations and safety.
Incorporating Syook’s TiTo module (End to End Fleet Management Solution) into your operations you’ll yield substantial returns. If you haven’t yet explored the potential of TiTo for your organization, now is the perfect time to start. Visit us at Syook or just simply fill up this form to schedule a onsite demo.
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