Technology has changed the world in ways previously unimagined. The 21st century has been characterized by rapid technological progress that has disrupted entire industries.
Tech has not left a single industry untouched.
- It has led to industries working more efficiently
- It has boosted employee productivity
- It has made communication more effective
- One can now work completely from the comfort of their home
- You can organize your time better
And a host of other benefits. This is even more true when it comes to fleet management.
For the uninitiated,
Fleet management is a series of diverse tasks for companies that rely on transportation. It involves reducing turnaround times, saving costs, and simply moving things as required.
There are plenty of ways in which the fleet management industry has been impacted by tech. In this article, however, we shall stick to one rather simple piece of technology, and that is -the dashcam, otherwise known as driver cams. Truck dash cameras are not the flashy kind of tech that you could instantly identify as disruptive.
Yet, this simple technology has immense potential to take your business to new heights. Before we dive in, let us first understand what a truck dash camera really is: A dashcam is a tiny camera that sits on the dash of your truck, facing outward towards the road recording every single detail out there. In short, it is a strategically placed camera that can do wonders for you.
Given how important this is, you may want to spend some time before you get one for your truck. Fret not! We are here to help you. Read on to find out 7 things you should look for in the best dash cam for your fleet:
Table of Contents
Collision detection
already occurred. But that does not always have to be the case. What if your dashcam could alert you if you are too close to the vehicle in front of you, thus preventing a collision?
Well, high-tech dash cams readily available today can do just that.
- The alerts can be useful for the driver especially when speeding
- Certain models even come with lane departure alerts
This, however, should not serve as an excuse for getting lazy behind the wheel, so adequate precautions must still be taken.
Also Read: Challenge Of Artificial Intelligence: Understanding & Using Natural Language
Speech control
Dashcams of today come equipped with speech recognition that allows you to directly voice out commands to the camera. This can be of immense help in a lot of ways.
Some benefits of speech recognition tech:
• You can conveniently issue commands without taking your eyes off the road
• You can record audio on command
• Get work done without losing focus
• You can even control home devices with smart dash cams
Parking mode
When in parking mode, your dash camera monitors activity to ensure your vehicle is safe. This is all the more important for trucks where the investment is high.
Generally, the cameras go on standby mode when the engine is off. However, any vibrations that it detects can trigger the camera, and it starts recording again.
- You can use the videos as conclusive proof in case of a break-in
- Go for models with buffered parking mode as it stores even the last seconds of footage in memory without writing to the microSD card
Live stream
Most smart dash cams of today offer live streaming, which means you can monitor your vehicle in real-time. And when you are in the fleet management business, this feature is an absolute must.
- You can take actions in real-time with the help of live-stream
- It helps you make last-minute decisions that could potentially lower delivery times
- It assists you in monitoring the environmental conditions
GPS and speed logging
Being able to pinpoint on a map, the exact spot where the action took place is crucial. Global Positioning System tracking and speed logging let you study the location data and the vehicle speed along with the footage.
This can be beneficial in a number of ways.
- It can help strengthen your case in legal battles
- It can help when communicating with the driver
- You can come up with better fleet management strategies
Read more about Global Positioning System at Samsara.com.
Impact detection
Impact detection feature can come in handy for a variety of reasons:
- To better judge the course of events in case of an accident
- You can learn about driver behavior
- You can gauge road conditions
Thus, impact detection data can help you strategize better in the future and avoid making the same mistakes. Note that in order for impact detection to work, the dashcam must come equipped with what is called a G-sensor or an accelerometer. This nifty little feature can also helo you fight your case in legal battles.
Auto-start
Again, a simple but extremely useful feature.
What’s so great about auto-start, you ask?
For starters, it is one less task for the driver. Next, you no longer have to worry about the dashcam not recording the journey because the driver forgot to turn it on. This is a great feature to have when you are running a fleet business with many trucks involved.
Also Read: AI Changes Application Development
In conclusion
Running a fleet management enterprise sure isn’t easy. There is a lot to consider, especially in uncertain times such as these.
But you know what they say,
It is adversity that separates the good from the great.
A dash camera is only a piece of technology – a means to an end. The end is running a successful business and achieving your business dreams. The above-mentioned points will help you in your search for the best dash cam – one that suits all your business needs.
Keep in mind:
- It all boils down to how you use tech to drive growth
- Equip your employees with the technical knowhow to use the camera
- Do not spend above your means
- At the same time, do not compromise on quality
- Decide to keep employee satisfaction in mind
Regardless of which piece of technology you introduce into your organization, it is important to recognize that training goes hand in hand with it. Do your research, implement change, and continue to train and retrain your employees so that they are equally comfortable with this new addition.
