Risks and dangers on the road are growing ever-more complex in our fast-moving society. Busier roads, cell phones, environmental concerns, and other factors all come into play when thinking about fleet management and driver safety. Moreover: investors, business partners, and the general public are casting a more scrutinizing eye on the safety measures that companies put in place to protect their people, and the assets they transport.
Fortunately, innovation and technology are helping fleets keep pace. At GardaWorld Cash Services, we’re thrilled to be witnessing and helping shape many of these innovations first-hand. Critical to this vision is working with world-class partners like Samsara, who are helping transform operations through their portfolio of Internet of Things (“IoT”) solutions that combine hardware, software and cloud services. Samsara solutions are now an integral component of GardaWorld Cash Services’ holistic approach to fleet management and safety. In complement to regular training and the fleet safety features already in place, our vehicles now also utilize Samsara AI dash cams, equipment, and software to track, coach and report on driver safety metrics. This partnership is a key part of our vision for building the safest and most innovative secured transportation fleet.
We recently chatted with Alexander Stevenson, Samsara’s VP of Product Management, who helped paint a picture of how far fleet management has come from a driver safety standpoint, and where it’s going next.
Fleet Management Technology in the Driver’s Seat
As in many other industries and spaces, emerging technologies are fueling the evolution of fleet management and cash-in-transit. Alexander points to three primary areas of innovation that are profoundly impacting the ways companies like GardaWorld keep drivers and deliveries safe:
More devices, more data:
Better visibility into what’s happening on the road is critical to improving safety and oversight. Modern sensors and cameras are becoming smaller and more powerful, enabling companies to gather more data and extract better insight. With customers spanning a wide range of industries and sectors, Samsara gathers some 2 trillion IoT data points annually, and its customers have driven on 99% of all roads in the U.S.
Instant feedback loops:
Advances in artificial intelligence and computer vision allow companies like Samsara to run sophisticated algorithms “at the edge,” which is to say within the cameras themselves (rather than relaying to a data center for processing). “What this means is that our dash cams are able to provide drivers with real-time alerts to safety situations like distracted driving and tailgating,” says Alexander, who notes that distracted drivers are 23 times more likely to be involved in a crash or near-crash.
Holistic operational insight:
With more devices, more data, and more instantaneous feedback, organizations are starting to see the big picture as far as logistics and fleet management are concerned, with reduced complexity. From one central platform or interface, businesses are now able to track a pallet from the warehouse all the way along the delivery route and to its final destination. The full supply chain is coming into view.
Telematics Tell Us More
Telematics refer to the technology used to send, store, and receive information from remote points, and they are essential to advancing fleet management and driver safety. While telematics were once limited to transmitting locations, they can now capture a wide range of data, such as imagery, video, accelerometer readings, in-vehicle diagnostics, temperature-sensing, and more. This information all feeds into that comprehensive, holistic level of insight that is changing the game for fleet and business operations.
As one example, Alexander references the ability of Samsara’s dash cams to process acceleration and GPS data in their gateways. “From our data, we’ve seen that when drivers receive in-cab alerts for harsh braking and harsh acceleration, the frequency of those behaviors is reduced by up to 40%.”
Bringing Innovation to Cash Services
These technologies contribute to a deep commitment to safety at GardaWorld Cash Services, with our cutting-edge fleet of high-security armored trucks. The Samsara dual-view AI-enabled dash cams that are integrated in our fleet provide views both inside and outside the cab and use artificial intelligence to assess driver behavior in response to on-road events. These cameras feed into a connected dashboard, allowing leadership to review for coaching opportunities and feedback. This is in addition to other safety features and advancements we’ve incorporated into our vehicles, such as telematics, electronic DVIR (driver vehicle inspection report) that is directly linked to the truck maintenance software, speed-limiting governors, and industry-leading access control and alarm features.
Fleet Managers: Take Control with Safety Data and Technology
The more you know, the better you can manage, plan, and react. That is why investing in new technologies is so significant for driver safety. Accessing and analyzing real-time data and insight across your range of fleet operations mitigates uncertainties, helps identify coaching opportunities, and facilitates the creation of new training protocols as well as incentive programs around proven safe behaviors.
The best part? We’re only scratching the surface of these technologies and their potential.
“In the next five years, the convergence of computer vision applications with additional sensor data will unlock further contextual information in ways that will truly transform safety operations,” Alexander says. “For example, we will be able to adapt safety alerts based on weather conditions, traffic patterns, or time spent on the road. As a result, we will have safer roads and fewer fatalities.”
We’re happy to partner with Samsara and other industry leaders in working together towards a safer future on the road. Learn more about our armored fleet and our secure transportation services.
