Fleet Driver Risk Management

In the current political climate, Eco Conservation, Green Driving or  Eco Driving are not only altruistic goals to be strived for, they are proven ways for business to reduce their operating costs, reduce their fleet vehicle related pollution and increase their profit margins. 

Some of the best minds and biggest hearts in the scientific and environmental movement have contributed to create “Eco-driver” programs that in most instances offer some or most of the following recommendations to promote environmental responsible driving:

1-     Maintain proper tire air pressure

2-     Purchase low rolling resistance tires

3-     Keep your engine tuned up for peak efficiency

4-     Train drivers that rapid acceleration can waste fuel

5-     Train drivers that hard braking waste fuel

6-     Train drivers to drive slower as high speeds waste fuel

7-     Install a M.P.G. display on the dash so the driver can look at the display and see when they consume more fuel during different driving behaviors

I applauded their valued efforts, the ‘Eco-Driver” programs popping up throughout the private and public sector fleet markets, the way so many have signaled publicly the commitment to lead the way for recognition of the importance in conservation of precious natural resources, reduction of excessive greenhouse gas and reduction of waste associated with irresponsible or simply ignorant drivers of motor vehicles.

While conservation is not my area of expertise, on occasion I experience a brief firing of functional neurons, so I submit for your consideration,  that the “Eco-Driver” programs are overlooking much of the potential environmental benefits and reduction in fuel waste/pollution, that would be derived through the incorporation of a active Driver Training Device (DTD).

This Driver Training Device (DTD) would not only provide immediate awareness to the drivers when they drive in a wasteful and eco-damaging manor, it also provides a mechanism that will enable management to verify they are following the spirit of the program and the guidelines the environmentally conscious company is setting forth to insure that their bold new “Eco-Friendly” initiative is a stunning success.

It is essential that business fleets adopting Eco-Driver programs are successful in achieving measurable fuel savings to insure other business pay attention to their financial good choices and want to follow suite, because saving lots of money is good for business. Whether for green leaning interests or the desire to save fuel and thus save money the benefits to the environment are the same. The more money a company with a fleet of vehicles can save the greater their pursuit to reduce fuel waste, as it is in their best interests and conversely the smaller their carbon footprint on the environment.

Other added benefits of a successful Eco-Drive program, incorporating this Driver Training Device (DTD) would be the reduction of accidents, reduction of vehicle related injuries and deaths, not only reducing the considerable business/state expenses associated with emergency medical response, fire and police services as well as uninsured motorists, hospital emergency rooms and all other associated expenses that the state often incurs with these tragedies.

Should you be wondering how this device to save fuel, can also enhance driver safety which might also reduce accidents, permit me to dilate on some of the features of this remarkably well thought out device:

To reduce wasted fuel the Driver Training Device can:

• Alert driver of fuel waste in rapid acceleration
• Alert driver of hi-speed braking, that also wastes fuel
• Alert driver they are exceeding preset maximum speed limit, wasting fuel

To enhance driver safety the Driver Training Device can:

• Alerts driver they are taking turns faster than preset limits
  (Possible spinout of vehicle, potential contribution to accidents)

• Alerts driver they are exceeding the preset maximum speed
   (Response time drops as speed increases, potential contribution to accidents)

• Alerts driver during hard braking (often an indication of following too closely)
• Alerts driver after rolling vehicle over (Known as Life Beeps one model only, to wake them up and get them out)

• Alerts driver they have had an impact in case they did not notice 
  (On many occasions drivers may be unaware they had an accident)
  
  

Also the 2 digital cameras can document:

• Does the driver text on a phone while driving?
• Does the driver surf the net on a laptop PC while driving?
• Does the drive watch video movies or TV while Driving?
• Did the driver stop at the 4 way stop signs?
• Does the driver exhibit road rage warning signs
• Does the driver stop at a railroad crossing or just slow down?
  
  

Active Eco Driver Training
Most are aware that vehicles have MPG ratings that let you know how far the vehicle can go on a gallon of fuel. Many in the fleet management business can quote from memory several different ratings for their fleet vehicles. Do any of you know the minimum number of miles that same vehicle can drive on the same gallon of fuel if the driver really tries hard not to be efficient? That would be "0 MPG".

Do you know how fast a gallon of fuel can be burned up:

• Sitting in a parking lot with the A/C going to keep cool?
• Waiting in traffic that is not moving for 10-30 minutes at a time
• Waiting for customers to unload the vehicles?
• Waiting for callbacks from dispatch?
• Driving in first gear at high speeds hoping the engine overheats?
• Racing from light to light, and locking up the brakes for each stop?
• Running the engine all night to keep warm or cool while sleeping?
• Driving around with an additional 1,000 pounds of junk?
• Driving around with parking brake on?
• Driving twice the speed limits?

In a prefect world our vehicles might always reach their M.P.G. ratings, however the world is far from perfect and currently there is an abyss of reality between the goals of proficient eco-drivers and their means of getting there through formal training alone.

Active Driver Training Devices are the metaphorical bridge that permits, assures and proves that safe drivers can meet the Eco-Driver standards. Through discipline of driving behaviors, commitment to reducing fuel consumption, air pollution along with the active driver reminders and logged violations provide an interactive means to permit the driver to correct driving behaviors while it provides management documented proof of how the vehicles are being operated.

 A few examples of the Active Eco-Driver Training:

• Should a driver abuse the freedom of no management oversight in the vehicle with them they may operate the vehicle at speeds that are greatly in excess of what is desired to be fuel-efficient.
• The "over-speed" alert lets the driver know that they are exceeding the maximum speed requested by the company or fleet manager. Should that not be sufficient, Active Mobile Video systems are available that will permit E-mail alerts to be sent to the CMS operator, or to supervisor PDAs, Blackberries or cell phones, permitting those in charge to see a screenshot of the incident, then a server uploaded short video clip, and if this is not enough, the CMS operator or supervisor can Live View through the vehicle cameras and see what is going on and if desired open a 2-way communication with the driver to speak with them directly.
  
• Should the drivers follow other too closely to other vehicles they often have to apply the brakes very hard to stop the vehicle quickly.
• The active alerts will remind the drivers they are operating in a manor that will hurt fuel mileage and document this as a violation of management Eco policy for later review. In addition to the safety hazard this may pose, it is a waste of all the fuel required to get that vehicle up to that speed and must of the fuel consumed by an engine is in the acceleration of the vehicle, so hard braking indicated insufficient space between vehicle and poor driver fuel conservation. This also causes a higher amount of air pollution as the vehicle is exceeding fuel-efficient operation parameters.
  
• Should the driver not accelerate gradually to conserve fuel and instead rapidly accelerate to get to an operating speed they are wasting fuel and contributing to pollution in an unnecessary manor.
• The active alerts will remind the drivers they are operating in a manor that will hurt fuel mileage and document this as a violation of management eco policy for later review.

By drivers active and enthusiastic participation in Eco-Driver behaviors, it is proven that significant fuel savings of as much as 25% are possible.

This means almost 1/4 of the air pollution from a vehicle can be eliminated with no modification the vehicle at all.

• Trained drivers are capable of saving their companies up to 25% of fuel costs.
• Trained driver are capable of reducing air pollution from their vehicle up to 25%
• Trained drivers have less accidents so less pollution from accidents cleanup
• Trained drivers less likely to cause spills from toxic chemicals, fuels

Skeptics require more than concepts and theory, we require proof in the form of verifiable scientific evidence that can be both demonstrated and understood by our fellow man. Vague claims and increased testing scores from classroom, or one on one driver training sessions lack weight the real business world where all that matters are results. 

 Active Eco-Driver  Driver Training Devices can provide more $$$Green$$$ for the company and less pollution for us all.