Onboard camera and transportation intelligence do more for the construction industry than just supply video recording. Technology plays a major role in all industries. Whether it be in our professional or personal lives, the role technology plays is evident. The pandemic has fast-forwarded technological advances in many industries and the construction industry is no different. Recent advances have shown just how savvy and progressive the construction industry is.
COVID-19 put many industries technology platforms on fast-forward. While many employees are traveling less due to working from home – that is not the case for a road construction business such as Ajax Paving Industries of FL, LLC. Ajax Paving’s safety culture has always been strong; however, a recent company-wide decision was made to further improve safety.
That recent advancement is the implementation of onboard cameras and utilization of a transportation intelligence platform. Recently, all of Ajax’s black and yellow vehicles, from F150’s to lowboys have been equipped with onboard cameras. While most onboard cameras have the capability to record front facing and rear facing views, the software Ajax decided to go with also features an intelligence platform that drivers can use to view their real-time score and dashboard.
Smart Driver Dashboard
Drivers can log into their dashboard and see their “driver score.” An employee’s driver score is comprised of event points divided by hours driven. This gives the employee a point value which is then measured against a bar Ajax has set. The benefits of the dashboard are that drivers have a sense of accountability and management can reward drivers accordingly. Ajax Paving’s Transportation Operations Manager Josh Campbell stated, “In the first week of installing the cameras and using the intelligence platform we saw a 360 change in driver behavior. That is not to say we had bad drivers before, but it does go to show drivers care about their safety and the impression they make when being recorded.”
Some may view cameras as “invasive,” but the reality is we are constantly being recorded. Onboard cameras allow companies to have a proactive verses reactive approach when it comes to safety. They allow for factual info verses “he said she said,” and they provide protection for the driver and company in the event of a traffic related incident.