The high stakes of tanker trucking

In the tanker business, the stakes couldn’t be higher when it comes to safety. Transporting liquid cargo like fuels and chemicals requires careful control to prevent spills or leaks. Safety protocols must be followed closely to ensure stability and avoid accidents. Telematics for tank trucks is a technology to help address this requirement.

Naturally, ensuring timely arrivals is just as important. Imagine the added value of having a technology that could help manage all these demands.

Here’s the good news: such technology exists. Telematics solutions for tank trucks offer real-time insights into truck location, fuel consumption, and driving practices by collecting data and making it readily available. With access to this data, you can:

• Ensure your trucks use the most efficient routes for their cargo.
• Reduce operating costs by planning fuel-efficient itineraries.
• Coach drivers to drive safely to avoid sloshing
• Ensure your cargo arrives on time.

Such valuable information transforms how you manage your fleet, elevating both safety and efficiency.

Tank truck safety solution by ISAAC

Our mission is to simplify trucking. We talk to fleets every day to understand their needs and concerns. This makes ISAAC a top choice for tank truck telematics in North America.

Reducing costs by removing operational inefficiencies, such as slow communication between back-office staff and drivers on the road and too much time spent on menial tasks, are just a few of the concerns we’ve heard. You want to invest more time in things of real value to your operations and keep your drivers happy, so they stay with your fleet. Safety is, of course, a primary concern.

In response to these requirements, we’ve developed features to streamline your operations. The result? Your sleepless nights could be a thing of the past, thanks to ISAAC Instruments Fleet Management solutions.

Safety and compliance

Beyond the standard compliance regulations, we know that tanker fleets must comply with stringent regulations due to the hazardous nature of their cargo. Protecting your cargo means protecting your fleet’s reputation—a complex undertaking for sure.

But with the right technology, you can manage compliance proactively and efficiently—we call it smart compliance. With our easy-to-use ELDs and telematics for tank trucks, drivers can fill out their electronic logbooks and perform vehicle inspections with just a few clicks.

To ensure HOS compliance, drivers receive HOS warnings directly on the tablet, while compliance managers receive notifications when a driver is in violation. Mechanical defects signaled by drivers during vehicle inspections are communicated instantly to your maintenance team with all the relevant information, to ensure your trucks are in optimal condition on the road and significantly reduce vehicle downtime.

Lastly, inspections are a breeze with the ISAAC tablet: drivers can hand it directly to authorities for roadside inspections or easily send them reports.

Let’s take a concrete example. Quality Carriers, North America’s largest liquid chemical carrier network, switched to ISAAC, as their previous telematics provider didn’t meet their expectations. They needed technology that was not only reliable but could also meet their high standards for safety and efficiency, considering the number of tanker trucks they manage every day.

ISAAC delivered, by reducing equipment failures and improving the driver interface, thus minimizing downtime and compliance issues. This change has allowed Quality Carriers to maintain a stellar CSA rating, which is crucial for their operations and customer relations.

Route optimization with telematics for tank trucks

Knowing the exact location of your trucks is crucial, especially when transporting hazardous cargo. Thanks to real-time data, fleets can have constant visibility of their trucks. Tank carriers can track routes and quickly see if tankers go off course, helping them act as required.

A fleet can use the data collected by ISAAC within its Trucking Management System (TMS). In fact, many TMSs can suggest optimized routes for tanker trucks. This feature enhances safety and compliance and also minimizes fuel consumption. In turn, you can reduce risks, cut costs during route planning, and maximize supply chain visibility for tank trucks.

And it gets better: at ISAAC, we take route optimization a step further. Our system lets you push routing profiles directly to a driver’s trip planning based on specific load information from your TMS, thanks to our CoPilot integration. For instance, while a dry van fleet might transport non-hazardous cargo most of the time, hazmat loads that require special handling can be automatically identified and routed differently to stay on designated routes.

This routing integration prevents drivers from mistakenly taking restricted roads, which could lead to compliance violations, safety issues, and operational delays. This ensures deliveries are both safe and on time.

Driver satisfaction and retention

Imagine this: your driver is eager to start their route on a chilly winter morning. Unpleasant surprise: they find their Electronic Logging Device (ELD) is unresponsive due to the cold. This is not uncommon with consumer-grade tablets, and it can work against tank truck driver retention. Extreme temperatures and other trucking realities—such as accidental drops or driving distractions caused by apps like YouTube or Facebook—can all cause downtime and create safety hazards.

We engineered ISAAC’s tablets to address the realities of trucking and foster safety. With a broad operating temperature range, our devices work in extreme cold and heat and are built rugged to withstand shocks. They also do away with non-essential apps that create driver distraction while allowing for the seamless integration of helpful trucking apps. To maximize safety even further, the tablet locks while driving. Drivers hauling a tank full of liquid need to stay focused, and our solution helps them do just that.

Fleets equipped with ISAAC’s solution report significantly higher driver satisfaction, which helps boost tank truck driver retention. In an industry where driver shortage is a real problem, that is a significant benefit. For instance, Quality Carriers saw tablet failure rates plummet below 5% when they switched to ISAAC, something unheard of in the history of the fleet.

Don Benoit, Vice President of Operations at Quality Carriers, attests to the effectiveness of their new solution: “Quality Carriers was searching for an in-cab solution that could harness all available technology to best optimize our most critical resource, our drivers’ time. The ISAAC solution puts technology’s most valuable capabilities at the fingertips of all our QC drivers, optimizing their time and enhancing their experience.”

Corey Cox from the Tandet Group of Companies echoes the sentiment: “I can tell you that we have had drivers leave and actually come back because of ISAAC.”

Cost efficiency and return on investment

Adopting eco-driving practices not only saves you fuel but also enhances fleet safety—a correlation that a comprehensive study from the Traffic Injury Research Foundation has proven.

Our clients have experienced substantial benefits through the ISAAC Coach, our innovative real-time driver coaching solution. This system has been instrumental in reducing hard braking, collisions, and sharp turns. Any improvement in the ISAAC Coach score leads to substantial cost savings in fuel consumption and potential legal expenses.

Moreover, this fuel-efficient, eco-friendly coaching promotes sustainable tank truck operations because it reduces emissions and establishes a new standard of excellence and commitment to safety in the industry.

Telematics for tank trucks, tailor-made for tanker fleets

Finding the right technology for tank truck fleets—an industry held to stringent regulations and with particular needs—is challenging.

At ISAAC, simplifying trucking for every fleet is our mission. We are proud to offer a solution that not only facilitates tank truck compliance, but also improves operations, increases driver happiness and generates cost savings. Most importantly, it helps tanker fleets increase fleet safety by helping drivers avoid sloshing with smoother driving.

By choosing ISAAC’s telematics solution, tank fleet carriers can confidently steer their companies toward a more profitable and sustainable future, securing a long-term leadership position in the market.

The importance of conducting a vehicle inspection on a truck, as required by Canadian and American fleet safety regulations, cannot be overstated. These critical steps are fundamental in ensuring and improving the safety of drivers, passengers, and all road users. By carrying out thorough inspections, drivers can identify potential mechanical issues and perform preventive maintenance. It’s not merely about regulatory or truck inspection compliance; it’s a proactive measure essential for ensuring the safety and integrity of road transportation in Canada and the United States.

Truck Inspection Compliance – Why it Matters

It’s simple: complying with vehicle inspection regulations prevents accidents and plays a big role in mechanical failure prevention for trucks. Less accidents and truck breakdowns mean better integrity of road infrastructure and a strong reputation for fleets that promote road safety in their fleet management.

Ultimately, these inspections are a cornerstone of safety and reliability in the transportation sector.

The Importance of Establishing Inspection Duration

Although regulations do not specify a specific duration for conducting an inspection, a fleet can establish this duration through a company policy. It ensures that all heavy vehicle operators in the organization follow the guidelines, promoting consistency and thoroughness in safety practices. Why should a fleet care about establishing such a policy? Here are a few reasons:

1) Early problem detection

Allowing enough time for an inspection ensures that drivers will thoroughly examine each component. This way, they detect any potential issues early. These issues could be mechanical defects, wear and tear, or other risks.

2) Safety of drivers and the public

A comprehensive inspection helps identify safety risks to workers and the public. Identifying defective equipment or hazardous conditions in time can prevent serious accidents, and in some cases, save lives.

For example, if a safety officer notices and reports brake pads that are worn below the safety margin during an inspection, they can have the brake pads replaced before the truck takes off. Being able to stop in time is crucial when operating a heavy vehicle, and allocating sufficient time for inspections can ensure the safety of other road users as well as the truck driver.

3) Avoiding legal penalties and operational disruptions

Rigorous safety inspections are vital for compliance with safety standards and regulations, a legal requirement in the transportation sector. This ensures all requirements are met, thus avoiding operational disruptions and legal penalties due to a fleet’s non-compliance.

For example, if a trucking company neglects to notice significant wear on a steering mechanism, they could be liable to a costly legal settlement due to negligence. Furthermore, they might have their operating license temporarily suspended.

All this can be avoided by complying with safety regulations and allowing for sufficient time during inspection.

4) Cost reduction

Identifying and addressing safety issues promptly play a big part in operating cost reduction, thanks to vehicle inspections. This approach prevents expensive repairs, minimizes unplanned downtime, and as mentioned above, avoids potential fines or legal actions related to non-compliance.

As an example, identifying an engine crack early and fixing the problem can prevent major engine failure. So, because of a thorough vehicle inspection, fleets can keep maintenance costs low and minimize downtime, paying dividends towards the fleet’s bottom line.

5) Safety culture in transportation

Regular safety inspections foster a culture of safety and accountability within the organization. Drivers are encouraged to be responsible for their actions and the safety of their work environment and other motorists. Why is driver accountability in fleet operations so important?

A strong safety culture encourages drivers to be more vigilant, and proactive in safeguarding a fleet’s safety reputation, which results in increased operational efficiency, shorter maintenance periods, and increased driver happiness.

Another motor for more efficient operations and greater driver happiness? Automated workflows. Read more on automated workflows for fleets in our whitepaper.

The Comprehensive Benefits of Vehicle Inspections

In sum, by allocating sufficient time for inspections, fleets can detect potential problems early and reduce the risk of accidents and equipment failure, helping to lower costs all thanks to vehicle inspections.

Establishing an internal policy can improve road safety, reduce costly downtime, minimize legal risks and increase driver satisfaction. By committing to vehicle inspections of sufficient duration, a fleet is not just complying with regulations; it is giving its drivers a clear directive and demonstrating its commitment to higher safety standards.

The Confirmed Link Between Safety and Eco-Driving

Safety. It’s the key to protecting lives, company success, and cost efficiency. Not to mention regulatory compliance and favorable public perception. This might sound like stating the obvious, and we may believe companies have this well under control. Yet when it comes to road safety, a rise in insurance premiums, increased accident rates, and escalating legal and operational costs tell a different story. These statistics tell us that we need help when it comes to mitigating risky driving behaviors and bolstering road safety. In this article, we talk about enhancing road safety through eco-driving with the ISAAC Coach.

“If I went to our owners and said, ‘Would you want a 5% increase in revenue next year or a 5% decrease in safety-related events?’ I know they would actually say, ‘I’ll take the safety’.”

Technology, in the form of trucking safety solutions such as the ISAAC Coach, has been proven to reduce costs and enhance road safety through eco-driving. At our 2023 User Conference, an annual event where we bring together clients during a two-day conference, we had the pleasure to tap into the expertise of Chief Operating Officer Ward Van Lar from the Traffic Injury Research Foundation (TIRF), Senior Vice President of Innovation Corey Cox from the Tandet Group of Companies, and Director of Information Technology Matt Braslavsky from West Side Transport. We discussed the current road safety challenges in North America and how uncovering the link between eco-driving and safety could help save lives, increase operational efficiency and safety, and provide driver shortage solutions.

Key Findings from the TIRF Study

The TIRF study, presented by Ward Vanlaar, involved over 2500 drivers from four commercial trucking companies, covering more than 341 million kilometers of driving exposure. It revealed key insights:

• Increasing cruise control usage by 1% reduces hard braking events by 3%.
• Maintaining steady speed in top gear cuts stability control events by 34%.
• Boosting the ISAAC score by one percentage point correlates with a 7% decrease in hard braking, 8% fewer hard turns, and a 4% reduction in collision odds.

Vanlaar points to this compelling evidence to demonstrate that enhancing road safety through eco-driving with the ISAAC Coach directly and positively impacts a fleet’s fuel savings and safety, potentially reducing insurance costs. He also emphasizes how useful the ISAAC scorecard is in measuring your drivers’ eco-driving efficiency and safety.

A Holistic Approach to Enhancing Road Safety

However, Vanlaar points out that in “Road safety, there is no such thing as one simple solution. There’s no silver bullet. The only solutions are nuanced, complicated, holistic ones.” This tells us that integrating telematics in trucking, though relatively easy to implement, is just a piece of the bigger road safety puzzle.

Beyond that, our speakers concurred that you need holistic road safety strategies. One of those strategies could consist of three things that work in tandem: technology-enabled driver education, a healthy safety culture in trucking, and public awareness.

1. Technology as a safety enabler

   Driver training technologies such as the ISAAC Coach are part of a broader system that includes video cameras and other data sources, allowing for a comprehensive view of driver performance. Corey Cox from Tandet emphasized that they use the ISAAC Coach for driver incentives, focusing on safety and fuel efficiency. He goes on to add that feedback conversations with drivers have been significantly more positive since installing the ISAAC Coach, as all participants have access to the same data. Lastly, he expressed excitement about the future developments in ISAAC technology, particularly with AI integration, which could provide even deeper insights into driver behavior and fleet management.

   At West Side Transport, a similar driver bonus program based on the ISAAC Coach led to a significant fuel efficiency improvement. This cost-efficiency was clearly observed when comparing a trip done first without the ISAAC Coach, and then with the ISAAC Coach. So, while technology is not the solution to challenge in a trucking fleet, it was a key enabler in building a safety culture and reducing costs.

2. An organizational culture built around road safety

   Human factors can sometimes stall necessary change. These include general resistance to change by existing employees, a lack of available training, and inadequate leadership commitment. Furthermore, measuring the impact of new initiatives is complex and requires patience and leadership buy-in. Ward Vanlaar also emphasized the importance of supporting drivers in maintaining a healthy lifestyle to combat fatigue and stress, which have a definite impact on safe driving.

   Corey from Tandet acknowledges an initial resistance to implementing the ISAAC system at Tandet, but emphasizes the overall long-term impact on the team has been positive, with the system attracting new drivers and having former drivers return. He further stated, “I can tell you that we have had drivers leave and actually come back because of ISAAC.”

3. Public Awareness

   Once an organization has installed safety-enhancing technology and has secured the buy-in from their team, it has done its part to make the roads safer . However, the hazards of the numerous cars sharing the road with trucks and driving around them still need to be dealt with. Educating the public is a key step in implementing this holistic approach to public road safety. Car drivers need to be educated on safe driving practices around large trucks and become aware of the unique challenges professional truck drivers face, such as braking distances and turning techniques.

Be the Change: Enhance Road Safety through Eco-Driving with the ISAAC Coach

When confronted with rising accident statistics, it’s easy to look for external factors to blame. One might consider a lack of focus among drivers, perceive resistance to safety culture changes within the organization, or observe the general public’s driving habits with concern, especially in this era of constant digital distraction. While these factors may come into play, they only tell part of the story. They overlook the powerful role that we , as trucking professionals, can play in creating a safer future.

Let’s engage in a conversation of empowerment and action. What positive steps can we take today, this week, and this month to enhance road safety?

The journey to improving road safety, boosting driver morale, and cutting operational and legal expenses begins with our ability to harness the power of data-driven safety in trucking. Tools like the ISAAC Coach allow us to assess driver performance accurately and improve it. This data becomes the foundation for implementing transformative changes— affecting individuals, teams, the entire organizational culture, and eventually influencing public behavior for the better.

By adopting this proactive stance, we become architects of a safer, more responsible road environment, paving the way for a brighter and more secure tomorrow.

We’ve also put together an in-depth guide exploring a Modern Take on Fleet Safety.

Speeding Up Insurance Claims and Legal Proceedings

Truck accidents can occur, and unfortunately, some can be fatal. You may be surprised to learn that in 80% of fatal accidents involving trucks and cars, the truck driver is not at fault. Your truck dash cam footage is considered admissible evidence in court and by insurance companies. Most importantly, it can make the difference between lengthy, complicated legal proceedings and a swift resolution in your favor. This footage serves as indisputable evidence that accurately reconstructs the accident.

Comprehensive truck dash cam solutions, such as ISAAC InView, cover different angles around the vehicle. An ultra-wide-angle view of the front and both sides of the truck, for example, offer a good view of events you need to examine. You can also add a driver-facing camera for maximum coverage. This critical footage is recorded and securely stored on a rugged onboard digital video recorder (DVR), ready for retrieval on demand via the ISAAC InRealTime web portal when needed.

Protecting Your Drivers

Imagine your driver returning from a break and discovering a large dent in the truck body and a broken side window. The responsible party is nowhere to be found, and goods from the truck are gone. Dash cams can capture the incident on video and help establish the incident as a theft. You can then initiate proceedings with the insurance company. Advanced truck dash cam systems such as ISAAC InView can continue recording even after the truck is turned off. You can thus ensure no incidents go undocumented.

Learn more about modern fleet safety in our guide.

Enhancing Fleet Safety Through Improved Driver Performance

Constructive feedback is essential when training your drivers to enhance fleet safety and enforce regulatory compliance. You can elevate driver training and coaching with real-life footage from dash cams such as the ISAAC InView cameras.You can combine the footage with results from a real-time driver coaching tool, such as the ISAAC Coach. Together, these tools help enrich your fleet’s safety and compliance programs. They also help save costs on fuel, fines, legal costs, and keep your trucks moving.

Informed Fleet Management Decisions

Advanced truck dash cam systems can provide a comprehensive view of your fleet operations out on the road. This is accomplished by recording not only video footage, but also detailed telemetry data that reveals what images can’t. ISAAC InView is such a system and combines with the ISAAC Coach to provide summaries and recommendations on driving practices. You’re then all set to make informed decisions, provide proactive feedback to drivers, and optimize your operations.

Data Is Your Fuel

In today’s world, data is paramount. Reliable video footage combined with advanced telemetry protect you and your drivers against unwarranted claims. The right advanced truck dash cam solution helps elevate fleet safety, nurture better drivers, and make better-informed fleet management decisions.

Learn more about modern fleet safety in our guide.

The ISAAC Coach is an innovative in-cab coaching solution for truck drivers that promotes eco-driving while offering so much more. Initially designed to deliver fuel savings, it was expected to also enhance safety, as both eco-friendly and safety-conscious driving practices overlap. This extra benefit is now documented by an independent study. And based on the experience of drivers actually using the ISAAC Coach, we’ve observed that it contributes to a positive experience for them on the road and creates friendly dynamics among the drivers inside a fleet.

This blog post dives into how the ISAAC Coach contributes to safety, cost savings, and driver happiness.

What is eco-driving and how does it enhance safety?

Eco-driving is a term coined by the Swedish National Driving School in 1998 and is now used around the world. Most are familiar with the basics of eco-driving which include, for example, gradual acceleration and the avoidance of sudden turns or braking by anticipating exits or the need to slow down or stop. It’s easy to envision how this type of driving also leads to safer roads.

A recent independent study conducted by the Traffic Injury Research Foundation (TIRF) now confirms that advanced telematics systems like the ISAAC Coach offer tremendous potential for fleets seeking ways to help their drivers be safer and more efficient. The study included three heavy-duty trucking fleets that use the ISAAC Coach and found that adopting a fuel-efficient driving style clearly translates into fewer highway accidents and near-misses. This “side effect” is a considerable benefit, if not the ultimate goal, when considering the numbers regarding safety on our roads.

Despite advancements in safety technology and increased safety-focused regulations, the number of fatal road accidents remains alarmingly high. 2021 saw a 10.5% increase in road fatalities compared to the previous year. The ISAAC Coach can lower the risk of accidents and improve overall safety.

Accident avoidance is also vital to saving money—not just in terms of lost time and the cost of repairs, but also to avoid legal issues—including preventing a nuclear verdict. ISAAC’s advanced technology encourages safer driving styles by giving the driver instant feedback whenever a harsh maneuver, such as hard acceleration or braking, is detected. This enables proactive risk management through timely information that encourages safer driving.

The ISAAC Coach provides reporting that can be used for drivers to see how they’re doing and for training purposes. Whether used alone or coupled with video footage from the ISAAC InView integrated camera system, these driving metrics can be used as “teachable moments” in fleet training programs, showing drivers how to best handle real-world situations that happen out on the road.

For example, one ISAAC client, Kriska Holdings, uses road incidents as coaching opportunities―even when their driver was not at fault. In one case, a passenger car lost control and crashed in front of one of their trucks, triggering hard braking to avoid colliding with the car. Although the driver responded perfectly to what had occurred in front of his truck, the incident was used for further online training to boost maintaining awareness of the driver’s surroundings.

Enhancing safety by managing compliance and risk

In a heavily regulated industry like trucking, compliance is always an important area of focus. One way that ISAAC simplifies trucking is by making it easier to maintain compliance, including by offering guided processes and automated reporting.

This goes well beyond ELD technology to maintain hours of service records. It includes facilitating daily vehicle inspection reports (DVIRs) and generating data that supports managing compliance processes as efficiently as possible.

The ISAAC Coach has a direct impact on compliance by cutting the risk of accidents and violations―along with the fines and penalties that go along with that.

The in-cab coaching is coupled with the transmission of alerts in real time to the back office whenever there is a hard maneuver or hard braking. This helps you take a proactive approach to safety, allowing for interventions before any violations occur.

The ISAAC Coach also allows you to quickly identify risky behaviors before they cause problems. As an example, consider the risks of distracted driving and fatigue. Estimates vary, but it’s generally reported that each of these two factors is involved in up to 30% of accidents. By helping to reduce distracted driving and fatigue, the ISAAC Coach substantially lowers the risk of accidents from either of these causes.

How the ISAAC Coach saves fuel

Trucking fleets are increasingly looking for technological solutions to help them cope with rising fuel costs. According to trucking industry research from the Technology Maintenance Council (TMC) and ATRI, driving behaviors can make as much as a 35% difference between the most fuel-efficient and least fuel-efficient driving.

In addition, 30% of fuel consumption is under a driver’s direct control with factors such as speed, acceleration, braking, and use of cruise control. As many driving teachers can attest, a large part of eco-driving involves smooth driving, including gradual acceleration and maintaining safe following distances.

Avoiding harsh braking and turning is something that may not be immediately evident. As Cody McClain, vice president of safety and human resources at Tucker Freight Lines (an ISAAC client), explains, “If you’re braking harshly quickly, you’ve got to get back up to speed.”

The ISAAC Coach works by displaying a color-coded indicator on the ISAAC tablet. When the driver presses the accelerator pedal, the display offers cues on how much pressure is needed while considering multiple data points collected by the ISAAC solution to calculate rolling resistance and mechanical resistance. It uses the information to provide easy-to-follow cues around three activities: accelerator pedal pressure, optimal gear changes, and when to avoid using cruise control.

The objective is to reach and maintain 95% adherence to these cues. This results in up to a 5% gain in fuel efficiency, according to users. While that may not sound like a huge percentage, it adds up to substantial savings in fuel—especially when it’s fleet-wide.

Try our fuel savings calculator

Saving on maintenance costs

Maintenance is the second fastest-growing cost center for fleets after fuel. Some factors that influence rising maintenance costs, such as spare parts, are outside of your control. However, taking a proactive approach to maintenance is one way that fleets can rein in maintenance expenses.

While ISAAC’s Smart DVIR can be a practical foundation for any preventive maintenance program for your fleet, the ISAAC Coach also reduces maintenance costs. It does so by fostering driving behaviors that minimize vehicle wear and tear in addition to using less fuel.
Of course, by reducing the wear and tear that comes with more aggressive driving styles, using the ISAAC Coach also helps boost the overall longevity of each truck in your fleet, which saves money. It also lowers the risk of experiencing a sudden breakdown.

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Keeping drivers happy

Good drivers are hard to find and can be even harder to keep. Keeping drivers happy has long been a key focus area at ISAAC. This involves making drivers’ lives easier by way of an easy-to-use solution that incorporates automated workflows and next-action prompts. But beyond offering a user-friendly solution that drivers can appreciate, ISAAC’s solution, including the ISAAC Coach, supports driver professionalism through ongoing skill development and recognition.

Evaluating driving behaviors can be tricky. Experienced drivers may feel like they don’t need further training and may resist the idea of in-cab coaching. The ISAAC Coach, however, can be well accepted by drivers.

“The Driver Coach app really works well with the driver. In talking to drivers, that has been the number one thing they love.”

No matter their experience level, drivers expect fair and transparent evaluations of their driving behaviors. Maintaining objectivity is critical, as even the perception of favoritism in these evaluations can affect the relationship with an individual driver and group morale. The ISAAC Coach lets drivers see a summary of how their driving results compare to the targeted objectives. The system works through big data recording, with exceptionally precise telemetry data from ISAAC InMetrics. That data is then analyzed using ISAAC’s patented algorithm to transform the data into meaningful feedback for the driver.

Because the feedback is provided in real time, drivers can adjust their driving style right as they’re driving. The system analyzes their performance and produces a relevant score regardless of the truck model, load, or route type.

These ISAAC Coach results are ideal for using as part of a driver reward program. With fleets increasingly implementing such programs to offer bonuses or perks to drivers based on their performance, it’s vital to maintain the sort of fairness and objectivity that the ISAAC Coach provides. It’s critical to getting drivers’ buy-in and maintaining their respect for such incentive programs.

Beyond helping individual drivers, the ISAAC Coach has been known to foster friendly competition among fleet drivers to see who can get the best results. This promotes a culture of safety across your fleet, all in a positive mindset.

Using technology to everyone’s benefit

ISAAC’s mission is to simplify trucking and keep the wheels turning―figuratively and literally. From enhancing safety, to lowering fuel and maintenance costs, and keeping drivers engaged, even small improvements on each truck—thanks to a tool such as the ISAAC Coach—benefit everyone.

We at ISAAC have long known that eco-driving improves safety as well as fuel economy. This has now been borne out independently by the Traffic Injury Research Foundation’s (TIRF) study confirming that advanced telematics systems and in-cab coaching solutions such as the ISAAC Coach can help fleets make drivers safer and more efficient.

Read the whitepaper

Ultimately, it’s your drivers that keep your fleet going, so keeping them happy makes good business sense. To that end, the ISAAC Coach not only provides them with the individual feedback they need to drive their best, but fosters a culture of safety and improved efficiency across your whole fleet.

Contact us to learn about implementing ISAAC Coach. Or, if you are already using the ISAAC solution, be sure to ask us for guidance in making the most of ISAAC Coach.

A shift in driver monitoring

The best way to improve truck driver behavior is through ongoing training and monitoring. While ELDs were developed to track compliance with hours of service (HOS) regulations, today’s sophisticated ELD technology, coupled with telematics, can be much more than just a replacement for the paper logbooks of old. By integrating the data generated by in-cab technology into an intelligent feedback loop, it’s possible to identify trends in risky driving behaviors and proactively intervene before any safety problems arise. But that’s just the beginning of how the right fleet management solution can benefit drivers and trucking fleets.

Call 1-800…drive better

Roughly 20 years ago, signs began appearing on the back of trailers with the question, “How’s my driving?” and a toll-free number to call. Clearly, these were attempts to recruit motorists to help monitor driver behavior. Just as clearly, this approach had several problems, including:

• A likelihood that only negative feedback would ever be shared by callers
• Built-in bias, given that average motorists know very little about a tractor-trailer’s operational reality, such as typical braking distance and turning radius.
• The inability to verify the accuracy of any reported incident
• Understandable lack of buy-in from the drivers themselves

While this telephone reporting idea left a lot to be desired, there is a still strong case for some sort of monitoring of how your drivers operate on North American roadways. Better designed, more thorough and fair monitoring can take center stage in any truck driver safety program. After all, your fleet’s reputation rides on the performance and professionalism of each of your drivers.

The key to successfully monitoring driver behavior is to have a system that is effective, and fair—and above all—constructive for the driver. This approach is far more effective than sin gling out anyone for criticism and disciplinary action. This is where technology can be transformative.

Telematics and the Internet of Trucks

Everyone has heard of the Internet of Things (IoT) and Big Data. Broadband internet connectivity virtually everywhere, together with widely available, small, and inexpensive sensors, has made both IoT and Big Data easily available to businesses of any size.

When sensors and connectivity are part of advanced in-cab technology, a whole new world opens up in trucking. ELDs can go beyond simply recording hours of service. You now have access to powerful tools that enable IoT for trucking—an Internet of Trucks, if you will. This type of technology solution can provide:

• Ongoing, real-world training tailored to every driver, no matter their experience level
• Continuous connections and communication between each driver and the back office
• Data-driven monitoring with sensors such as accelerometers, speed gauges, etc.
• The generation of a large amount of data that can inform AI algorithms to identify trends and make predictions

The best way to influence driver behavior and reinforce the practices for safety and eco-driving is to use real-time monitoring and feedback, and provide coaching to limit less-than-ideal behaviors. By making use of the Big Data that a modern ELD and other in-cab technology will generate, you can identify any negative trends in performance. You can also take note of desirable trends and use positive reinforcement to encourage driving styles that are good from both a fuel-saving and eco-driving perspective, as well as a safety perspective.

This technology can also go beyond simply monitoring the driver’s actions. It can also track external factors that can influence driver behavior, such as headwinds or slopes , as well as mechanical conditions (think brake wear or low tire pressure). Catching mechanical issues before they cause excessive fuel consumption or unsafe conditions is to everyone’s benefit.

The ISAAC Coach is designed to provide real-time feedback to promote eco-driving, monitoring practices such as speeding, braking and acceleration, and abrupt maneuvers. It factors out things over which drivers have absolutely no control, such as road inclines and declines. The results in fuel economy alone—typically a 5% savings across the fleet—can more than cover the systems’ cost. The additional benefits that this training and coaching of driving behavior can have on safety are also important.

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Can data and AI aid driver retention?

ISAAC’s solution generates large amounts of data, and we are continually working to innovate new ways to leverage this to benefit our clients. Applying data analytics to extract and transform the data and then using Artificial Intelligence algorithms to gain predictive insights is an avenue we are vigorously exploring.

We recently co-hosted a webinar with FreightWaves on how using data analytics & AI can simplify fleet operations. Watch this webinar to hear firsthand how Tandet Group is starting to leverage AI to make informed decisions. By using the technology to spot trends and predict issues before they arise, Tandet is increasing safety and improving efficiencies across the fleet.

Watch now

Accentuate the positive

According to a World War II-era song by Bing Crosby, “You’ve got to AC-CENT-U-ATE the positive.” Eighty years later, this remains good advice—especially when it’s applied to changing driver behavior.

It’s a simple fact that, in any sort of education or training, positive reinforcement (such as praise for an action) is far more effective than negative reinforcement. It is also central to getting buy-in from both your drivers and back-office staff. Among drivers, no one likes to think that a system is in place to catch them doing something wrong and report them to fleet managers. For starters, that creates an assumption that good actions (consistently safe and responsible driving behavior) will go largely unnoticed, while any slip-ups will immediately be singled out.

Among the back-office staff or fleet managers, people rarely enjoy confronting a driver to point out problems and take corrective action. Besides dreading having to give negative feedback, even if it’s constructive criticism, it also can cause them to worry the driver will get angry and quit. When you factor in that a driver shortage continues to be a problem, it can put undue stress on the person who has “lost” more than one driver after delivering some feedback.

By coaching drivers to be more efficient and safer through praising positive driving behaviors, carriers can reduce fuel costs, improve safety, and minimize the risk of accidents. In addition, they can single out examples of positive driving behaviors and proper responses during tricky situations when training other drivers. This creates an overall atmosphere where drivers will feel good about the training. The driver being used as a positive example for others will probably feel some pride, and drivers seeing this in training will probably expect positive reinforcement rather than criticism as they go about their work.

In short, positive reinforcement can go a long way towards fostering a culture of safe driving practices as well as eco-driving. Offering incentives for achieving safety goals or staying within established parameters can help motivate drivers to drive responsibly.

The right tools make any job easier

While there is a difference between eco-driving aimed at fuel savings and overall sustainability, and driving behaviors geared towards safety and avoiding accidents, there is an overlap between the two. Technology plays a vital role in both. Specifically, the right in-cab technology can offer the ability to monitor driving behavior in real time and provide ongoing training and coaching that reflects well on the drivers and the fleet as a whole.

As part of ISAAC’s in-cab solution, the ISAAC Coach is specifically designed to provide the tools to encourage the best driving habits. It also allows two-way communication and remote connection from the back office to individual trucks. Having the ability to connect remotely onto any vehicle tablet in your fleet, to see exactly what the driver views and to provide immediate help is a blessing for everyone. It allows for instant coaching opportunities that foster a positive environment that makes for happier drivers and safer, more efficient fleets.

To learn more about how this technology can put your fleet on the best possible path, read our white paper Technology Improves Driver Training.

Technology in trucking is bringing about many innovations. Ongoing driver training thanks to in-cab coaching powered by sophisticated telematics is a prominent example. A new white paper, Better Driver Training Using Technology, provides the details.

Read the white paper

Driver Training Is Changing

In the past, the training of truck drivers only took place while people entering the field were earning their commercial driving licenses and, in many cases, when a driver was hired to a particular fleet. Those methods continue to play their roles, but they have been joined by new approaches that focus on continuous training throughout drivers’ careers.

Fleets are increasingly looking to improve their safety records and reduce the risk of accidents by delivering customizable training individualized to each driver, new and experienced alike. Hand-in-hand with such training, these fleets are also incentivizing driver excellence. The key is for fleets to use the right in-cab technology and telematics to build state-of-the-art training programs and add incentive programs that focus on safe driving habits.

The Benefits of Effective Safety Training

In both the US and Canada, governing bodies have put various programs in place that have changed the landscape of road transportation safety. Individual drivers and fleets are tracked and scored, with some results made available to the public. In fact, potential freight haulage clients in the US can compare the safety records of fleets they are considering doing business with.

Beyond maintaining clients and winning new ones, a solid safety record has a positive effect on fleet insurance rates. So, when fleet managers learn that upgrading the electronic logging technology they are using can potentially pay for itself through increased revenues or substantial cost savings, they often become quick adopters.

The cost savings are not limited to insurance rates, however. A cutting-edge truck logbook that supports all Canadian and US regulations and that is loaded with advanced communications and telematics features can also help:

• Avoid fines due to compliance violations
• Save fuel costs via eco-driving
• Protect against the legal pitfalls that can follow accidents

How Ease and Reliability Influence Driver Retention

What role does in-cab technology play in driver retention? It’s more influential than you may initially imagine. Fleet owners must always look at the big picture. Adding some new technology may save some costs, or make dispatchers’ jobs easier, but what about the drivers? Everyone knows that good drivers are hard to come by, and dissatisfied drivers don’t stick around very long.

Often, people who love tech and who enjoy playing with the latest electronic toys do not become truckers. Or, if they do, they may not stay in that career for very long if their passion for technology is better served sitting behind a computer screen rather than a windshield.

So, if most truck drivers are not typically tech enthusiasts, it makes sense that the easier to use and more intuitive any in-cab technology is, the less troublesome your drivers will find it. In fact, if that technology makes some of the less “fun” aspects of their jobs (managing their HOS, maintaining documentation, inspections, etc.) quicker and easier, allowing them to focus on driving, they will embrace it.

The same considerations apply to the reliability of in-cab technology. No driver appreciates being sidelined by malfunctioning equipment. Whether it’s a mechanical issue with the rig itself or something such as a connectivity signal that repeatedly gets dropped or some other ELD-related failure, it can easily ruin a driver’s day. By ensuring your drivers have in-cab technology that is consistently dependable in all conditions, as well as being easy to learn to operate, you give them one more important reason to stay.

Fairly Rewarding Good Driving Performance

An additional aspect of driver retention is, unsurprisingly, compensation. Innovative fleets are increasingly looking at ways to reward drivers who achieve high marks on safety and fuel-efficient driving.

Incentive programs tied to additional compensation can be very powerful for this purpose, but they are not always easy to implement in a fair and transparent way. Sophisticated telematics and in-cab technology that monitors driving behavior in real time—and that takes into account conditions out of a driver’s control—can solve this challenge.

The quality data that sophisticated systems collect can filter out incontrollable factors from the equation to help ensure that drivers’ scorecards are fair. These factors include:

• The trucks’ aerodynamics and engine type
• Load weight
• Road slope
• Wind

Facilitate Training and Driver Development with the Right Tools

The right technology, both in-cab and tying back to the dispatcher’s office, can deliver major benefits when it comes to leveraging new approaches to driver training. This includes incentivizing desired driver habits around safety and eco-driving. It’s also important to consider overall usability when you evaluate such technologies.

It is important that drivers welcome the changes or at least rapidly come to appreciate the new tools you want them to use. So, ease-of-use and reliability are as important as the actual features of any solution.

Find out more in our new white paper.

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Truck wheel separation can create deadly projectiles on the highway. These incidents happen unpredictably, giving drivers a split second to react. Separated truck tires are heavy objects that travel rapidly, creating high-energy collisions that can cause serious injuries to people behind the wheel. The consequences of wheel separation are serious, so fleets must ensure proper wheel retorquing for their trucks and trailers.

Preventive maintenance is the best way to prevent wheel-off incidents. Fleets that install new wheels on trucks and trailers must perform wheel retorquing after the newly attached wheel travels a predetermined distance. Managing wheel retorquing for an entire fleet of trucks and trailers can become extremely complex and time consuming.

Carriers with fleet management solutions can digitize wheel retorquing workflows for drivers, fleet managers, and maintenance workers, simplifying and optimizing the process for everyone involved.

Watch the Webinar – Risk Mitigation Using a Fleet Management Solution

How Does Smart Wheel Retorquing Work?

Managing wheel retorquing and compliance with digital systems connects everyone involved into a seamless workflow. Each step of the process can be tracked with the help of an in-cab solution that supports clear communication between drivers, fleet managers, and maintenance, including third-party shops.

After a wheel has been removed and reinstalled on a truck or a trailer, the mechanic or person in charge can create a retorque work order through the ISAAC web portal. This is similar to using tags and attaching them to gladhands on a trailer, or inside the cab on the steering wheel or a brake button. Using an online portal to create this type of maintenance task removes the risk of losing or misplacing tags.

Drivers can receive smart wheel retorque notifications from their in-cab solution, pointing to specific wheels on the tractor or trailer. Mechanics and maintenance managers can set a retorque reminder for the appropriate distance determined by the original equipment manufacturer (OEM), for example, between 50 km/30 miles and 160 km/100 miles.

The ISAAC in-cab tablet will remind drivers that they must stop to complete a retorque. This notification provides clear information without distracting the driver.

After the truck stops at a maintenance shop and the wheel has been retorqued, the driver can use the ISAAC tablet to quickly fill out a form. The system is automatically updated with the latest retorque information, providing visibility to fleet managers on the retorquing activities completed.

This process ensures that drivers complete the retorquing process consistently while fleet managers track the progress of all required retorques across the fleet. Instead of filling out paperwork and using physical tags for retorquing, the driver taps the tablet screen a few times to fill in a form that keeps the home office updated.

Optimized Fleetwide Wheel Retorquing

Fleet management tools also help to simplify and optimize wheel retorquing management in the office. When retorque work orders are created on the ISAAC InRealTime portal, the person in charge of managing them can filter the information as needed. The information tracked in the system includes:

• Work order status (completed or not)
• Wheel to be retorqued
• Dates of the work order
• Amount of torque to be applied

Regular updates are provided for how many kilometers or miles that trucks or trailers travel with the active retorque task assigned. Fleet managers and maintenance departments can see the total distance traveled before the retorque happened, when it was completed, and who performed the task.

Digital retorquing management gives maintenance and fleet managers a transparent view into wheel retorquing across the entire fleet. The office also benefits from staying connected with updated data for trucks and trailers.

Connect Drivers and Dispatchers with Real-Time Data

Connecting fleet departments with real-time data helps to reduce the administrative workload for drivers and dispatchers. This saves time, increases efficiency, and lowers the risk of human error. Dispatchers also receive fewer calls for support because drivers have the information they need—including details about wheel retorquing.

Find out more about the benefits of smart compliance technology that boosts overall fleet efficiency.

Watch the Webinar – Smart, Efficient Compliance Technology

Drivers must be ready to successfully pass roadside inspections and trained to produce flawless driver vehicle inspection reports (DVIR). Trucking companies should prepare drivers to fulfill safety and compliance requirements efficiently. Doing so helps keep drivers safe and avoid costly delays and non-compliance issues.

Multiple types of roadside inspections can take place and drivers must be ready for them. Fleets should emphasize safety as the primary goal of inspections and must set a high bar for safety and compliance while empowering drivers through training, tools, and team support.

Watch Our Safety & Compliance Webinar: Maintaining Good CSA & CVOR Scores

What is a roadside inspection?

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) defines a roadside inspection as “examinations of commercial motor vehicles and/or drivers” by an inspector. In the U.S., these examinations are carried out by state inspectors funded by the Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program (MCSAP). In Canada, inspections are performed by provincial organizations that must meet Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) requirements.

How many levels of roadside inspections are there?

There are eight different levels of roadside inspections, each with a different objective, focus, or inspection method.

Level I – North American Standard Inspection

The Level I roadside inspection is the most thorough for standard shipments, with a 37-step procedure that covers:

• Credentials for a motor carrier and driver
• Record of duty status
• Mechanical condition of the vehicle
• Hazardous and dangerous goods on board

Level II – Walk-Around Driver/Vehicle Inspection

A Level II inspection consists of a vehicle examination that can be performed without having to physically get underneath a vehicle. It also includes a driver examination that looks at their commercial driver’s license (CDL), Medical Examiner’s Certificate, Skill Performance Evaluation (SPE), the presence of alcohol and drugs, hours-of-service (HOS) compliance, and the driver’s record of duty.

Level III – Driver/Credential/Administrative Inspection

The Level III inspection should not include the mechanical equipment violations that a Level I or Level II focuses on. Instead, it concentrates on the driver, including:

• Driver’s license & Medical Examiner Certificate
• SPE certificate
• Record of duty status & HOS compliance
• Carrier identification and status
• Vehicle inspection reports and more

Level IV – Special Inspections

The CVSA describes a Level IV inspection as “a one-time examination of a particular item” to support a study or gathering data that supports or refutes a suspected trend.

Level V – Vehicle-Only Inspection

A Level V inspection consists of a vehicle examination without a driver present. It can take place at any location and includes the same vehicle inspection items as a Level I inspection.

Level VI – North American Standard Inspection for Transuranic Waste and Highway Route Controlled Quantities (HRCQ) of Radioactive Material

This inspection involves truck shipments that carry radioactive materials and transuranic waste products. A Level VI inspection includes many parts of a Level I inspection, enhanced to include requirements for HRCQ radioactive materials.

Level VII – Jurisdictional Mandated Commercial Vehicle Inspection

A Level VII inspection includes jurisdictional requirements that aren’t found in any other level of inspection. Good examples are inspections for school buses, taxis, rideshare vehicles, limos, hotel shuttles, or other intrastate and intra-provincial operators. As such, trucks are typically not involved in this level of inspection.

Level VIII – North American Standard Electronic Inspection

This type of CVSA inspection takes places electronically or wirelessly while the vehicle is in motion. Items in an electronic inspection include:

• Electronic validation of the vehicle operator
• Driver license, license status, and/or endorsements
• Valid Medical Examiner’s Certificate and SPE
• Record of duty status and HOS compliance
• USDOT or NSC number
• Unified Carrier Registration (UCR) and more

4 key aspects for a successful roadside inspection

1. In-depth training program

Correctly training new drivers helps to get them up to speed on vital aspects of safety and compliance, including roadside inspections. Seasoned drivers can also benefit from training that brushes them up on fundamentals. Training must cover the minimal requirements needed to complete a daily DVIR. Drivers also need to be trained on transferring their record of duty status (RODS) using their electronic logging device (ELD). Fleets must ensure drivers possess all required in-vehicle documentation, and drivers must know where to find it.

2. Planning and setting goals

Carriers should have a complete plan in place that includes training, structured feedback, and a system that automatically updates to reflect the latest compliance rules and best practices for safe driving. Set the bar high for safety and compliance goals and prepare drivers for common inspection scenarios.

3. Emphasis on safety

Fleets should emphasize safety beyond the minimum requirements for roadside inspections. Drivers should perform a complete pre- and post-trip DVIR. Give drivers a clear and concise procedure for inspecting vehicles and equipment beyond minimum safety standards. If an issue arises, drivers should be able to quickly contact the office and get help from maintenance, dispatchers, and fleet managers.

4. Efficient compliance and safety equipment

Equip drivers with tools that support efficient compliance and safety. For example, the ISAAC solution gives drivers a complete DVIR inspection system that allows sending images and notifications with the tablet. Drivers can easily remove the tablet from the secure mount inside the cab to perform a walk-around inspection or hand the tablet to the roadside inspection officer. The system also helps to verify compliance and arrange the best time to conduct repairs.

Full supporting drivers for compliance and safety

Fleets must support drivers to operate safely and remain compliant with rules and regulations. Drivers should be confident that they have the correct tools and assistance before hitting the road. If something pops up during DVIR inspections, fleet managers should work hand in hand with all departments to notify the customers that a load might arrive late. A strong safety culture implies prioritizing safe deliveries.

Discover how the ISAAC solution simplifies safety and compliance for drivers and fleets.

Ask a trucker and they’ll agree: finding a safe, legal place to park is a serious problem. In fact, 98% of drivers reported problems finding truck parking, according to a recent American Trucking Association (ATA) survey.

The issue is clear. There’s simply not enough parking for truckers. The ATA calculates that there are 11 truck drivers for each truck parking spot. Infrastructure for the trucking industry hasn’t kept pace with the growing number of drivers on the road.

Drivers deal with safety issues, legal concerns, and lost compensation due to a lack of parking. The industry struggles with driver retention, and accessible truck parking greatly improves driver happiness. The U.S. House of Representatives recently advanced a $755 million truck parking bill. Passing this bill should help to build the parking infrastructure needed to support truckers and fleets.

Download: Driver Retention & Satisfaction Guide

Lack of parking creates difficult choices for truckers

Many truck drivers have faced a difficult choice because of a lack of parking. Often, the best available parking will be an unauthorized spot. 58% of drivers admit to parking in an unauthorized place three times per week.

This is a better option than parking in an unsafe place, which has resulted in tragedy. Jason’s Law was championed by Hope Rivenburg after she lost her husband. Jason was attacked while parked at an abandoned gas station. His destination—only 12 miles away—was closed and without a nearby place to park.

At the same time, drivers must either find their parking space within their work shift window, or risk violating hours of service regulations. Juggling these mission-critical issues creates stress for drivers, forcing them to make difficult decisions instead of focusing on the road.

Parking issues significantly impact the bottom line

The ATA reports that drivers spend an average of 56 minutes of driving time per day to find parking, which translates into a 12% pay cut and an average annual loss of $5,500 per driver. This shows how drivers deal with financial consequences due to a lack of parking.

Trucking companies lose revenue-earning miles when drivers must cut the run short to find a safe parking spot. Fleets also increase the risk of compliance violations when drivers struggle with parking. The industry already faces challenges with driver shortages and retention, so building truck parking infrastructure would be a positive step that contributes to a long-term solution.

Prioritizing truckers’ needs will improve retention

Typically, truckers enter the industry because they enjoy driving and earning a solid income. If working conditions prevent people from keeping the wheels turning, they will go to other industries that offer income opportunities without the frustration.

Driver retention has been a challenge for every fleet in North America for the last decade. The price of driver turnover is expensive. Recruiting, hiring, testing, screening, and training drivers costs trucking companies considerable time and money.

“Washington needs to listen to our nation’s truck drivers and respect their most serious needs,” said Chris Spear, ATA President and CEO. “They are the heartbeat of our economy.”

Prioritizing critical needs like truck parking will be a significant part of a push to improve driver retention. The issue of safe parking has been a top concern for more than a decade, and the House of Representatives hasn’t passed the Truck Parking Safety Improvement Act yet. For many drivers and fleets, new truck parking spots can’t arrive soon enough.

Fleets can make life easier for drivers right now

Fleets can equip truckers with driver-centric tools that make their life easier and let them focus on the road. The ISAAC solution offers automated, single-screen workflows and rugged, easy-to-use tablets that help drivers save time and frustration.

Learn how driver-focused technology can keep them on board.