Managing a fleet of vehicles, especially commercial vehicles loaded with valuable cargo, is a hectic business. The workload is only compounded if you are covering a large number of vehicles that are covering thousands of miles taking trips to all corners of the country. With so much activity happening miles outside of your office, it can get very confusing to keep a tab on everything that is going on. A Vehicle Video Monitoring System will help to make this task easier.
Luckily, dashcams are making the lives of fleet managers and vehicle drivers a whole lot easier. While just a few years ago this was a technology primarily found on cop cars, today they are much more common. With their lower price and increased functionality, this is a definite must-have for any kind of commercial vehicle.
Here are a few important things you should know if you are considering a video monitoring system for your vehicles.
1. Dashcams Cover More Than Just The Dash
Vehicle monitoring systems cover a lot of different products. While dashcams are a popular choice, a lot of other cameras that are used for vehicle monitoring are also colloquially referred to as dashcams. There are a number of different dashcams that you could consider for your fleet depending on the kind of functionality you require. The most basic ones that simply record the road are inexpensive and easy to install. Higher spec models might require you to make some adjustments to accommodate them but the features are very useful.
2. Improve Driver Confidence
Vehicle monitoring systems are great for everyone, not just the fleet manager. It’s common to think that the reason why people avail monitoring systems is to track goods and ensure safety, but it’s more than that. In fact, a good fleet dashcam can play a pivotal role in improving the job experience for the driving staff. Drivers report that with a dashcam installed, they feel a lot more confident and secure in their job. Even if they aren’t constantly connected to headquarters through a live feed, knowing that they have evidence of their trip makes them feel more secure.
3. Improve Safety
Road conditions and external factors are always a threat to commercial vehicle drivers, however, their own behavior also influences their safety. Things such as fatigue, stress, and irresponsible driving all play a role in the safety of the vehicle and the driver. While surveillance has downsides, the upside is that drivers are less likely to drive irresponsibly. Moreover, since the vehicle is monitored, they are less likely to digress and waste fuel and time. Dashcams play a psychological role in keeping the driver in check.
4. Offer More Than Just Visuals
The higher-end dashcams offer live transmissions, Bluetooth, app support, audio connectivity, and some even have a built-in GPS. Rather than having to spend on these individual products to get these features, a one-time investment in a solid dashcam could get you all these services. You can also optimize your route and save a lot of time and money on fuel through dashcams.
5. Dashcams and Power
One of the big concerns with people new to dashcams is how they are going to power them. Will they be an added expense as to have to get batteries or will it cause more clutter in the cabin with rechargeable batteries? Dashcams are simple to power. You can either plug a 12V dashcam straight into the lighter socket or hardwire a 24V dashcam to the wiring in the cabin. However, you could also hardwire a 12V system to the wiring behind the lighter socket and not have to deal with any visible wiring at all. They are easy to power and don’t use much electricity at all. However, if you plan on recording while the vehicle is off, you might want to consider a separate power source other than the main starter battery.
6. Dashcams Help The Driver
Getting a view of the entire truck can be hard while you are seated in the cabin, but with a video monitoring system, drivers can easily do this. Moreover, they are extremely useful when you need to reverse and they also connect the driver to headquarters. In a way, they are a complete communication device for the driver. Being able to connect through Bluetooth and also supporting apps, they also double as an entertainment center for the cabin.
While it’s not possible to completely eliminate the possibility of error and damage, technology has made it possible to significantly decrease the chances of an unfortunate event. Dashcams are no longer expensive pieces of technology and you can enjoy all these benefits at a very modest price. If you are shopping for a fleet of vehicles, you could even get a better price on bulk orders. They are easy to use and simple to maintain, so it’s better if you can give them a try today.