Using Telematics to Influence Driver Behavior

Telematics has radically changed the operation and management of vehicle fleets around the world. As companies have refined telematics use to limit fuel costs, idle time, and travel distance, they have found additional uses for the information they receive through their telematics devices. Better and more efficient business practices have been joined by safety initiatives and driver training.

To understand how telematics has influenced fleet driver behavior, read through the list below.

1. Behavior Changes

In the early days of telematics use, vehicle tracking and monitoring was the focus of data understanding. Managers were unable to track driver behavior while these employees were in the field and unsafe practices often went unchecked. Now, as telematics devices have offered more data options, fleet managers are using the information from their telematics to improve driving behaviors. Telematics offers tracking for seatbelt use, speed, location, idle time, and work hours, allowing fleet managers to correct and train drivers for better behaviors. Though driver monitoring has been unpopular with some drivers, it has proven to save money for companies and improve safety for employees.

2. Better Driving

New technology has taken driving improvement a step further, alerting drivers to unwanted behaviors right after they happen. This new capability helps correct behavior as it happens, instead of waiting until later to address it, which is less effective. Drivers are more likely to listen and learn to this real-time correction, which makes for safer driving and bigger company savings. Using negative and positive reinforcements for these behaviors has shown to be the most effective way to influence behaviors.

3. Competition

One of the popular telematics trends is gamification — an addition of game-like competition to the behaviors tracked by telematics. This system usually uses rewards such as company recognition or cash prizes to encourage drivers to work together and continue good behavior. Companies can set goals — such as reducing company idle time by 50 percent in a set amount of time — to encourage drivers to work with a specific result in mind.

Each of these elements can help improve driver behavior, but the best results come from a combination of all three. To see improvements within your own company, give these options a try.