Telematics and Driver Privacy

GPS tracking has revolutionized the fleet vehicle industry. Using telematics devices, fleet managers can track locations, work hours, speeds, and more for any drivers using a company vehicle.

In an age where jealous spouses and unsavory characters can use GPS devices to secretly monitor others, this level of scrutiny can make some fleet drivers uncomfortable. The unauthorized access and distribution of an employee’s personally identifiable information (PII) is prohibited by more than 3,000 state and federal laws and regulations, but are they enough to ease fears?

To protect your drivers’ privacy and create a program your employees can trust, use the following tips to improve your fleet practices.

Be transparent

How many conversations have you had with your drivers about privacy and the purpose of your telematics program? You know the reasons and needs behind your policies, but your drivers likely don’t.

To rectify this issue, keep your drivers informed. Make it clear that you are protecting an expensive company asset and using the data you collect to improve company practices. Assure your drivers of their continued privacy. Show how your devices will be used and what kind of data you will be recording. Be transparent and open.

Build trust

Your transparency will build a foundation for trust, but you also need to actively involve your drivers in your telematics use. You can use the information you collect from your GPS tracking devices to hold driver training sessions. Or offer incentives for good driving behaviors. Show your drivers how you are using telematics to increase their safety and improve their time on the road. Be open to questions and resolve any issues quickly. Show your drivers you care about them and their well-being.

Avoid accidental violations

It’s always important to carefully guard all access and use of your employees’ personal information. Unfortunately, it’s easy to miss accidental violations when dealing with vehicle telematics. There are four ways that private information can be accidentally shared, including bluetooth, garage openers, navigation, and telematics systems.

To protect against these violations, use the following tips:

• Bluetooth: If your fleet vehicle has hands-free bluetooth calling capabilities, be sure to reset this feature. Some employees will upload their contacts to simplify phone calls on the road. Make sure this information is deleted before passing the car to another driver.
• Garage Openers: Some vehicles have integrated garage openers, which should be reset anytime the vehicle changes hands.
• Navigation: Many navigation systems will save frequently visited locations, such as home or work addresses. Whenever your vehicles are used by multiple people, be sure to wipe any saved data.
• Telematics systems: PII is often stored on a database that is connected to your entire fleet’s telematics. Carefully monitor all access and use of this information.

Don’t let driver privacy become an issue. Instead, use these tips to be proactive and avoid any complications that may arise.

When dealing with saved information, it’s always better to be safe than sorry. Frequently remind your drivers to avoid saving any of this data and to clear it immediately when they are done using a fleet vehicle.

How do you avoid privacy issues with your fleet?