Fleet Management is an important job where you have to calculate both foreseen and unforeseen risks. Many factors can affect the transit time for a fleet. However, effective planning can help to avoid the majority of these risks.
The most common problems faced by a fleet include traffic, accidents, and other related events. In such cases, both fleet management and its drivers can be held accountable. Generally, drivers are under more pressure as they have to optimize their schedules according to the company.
As a result, some of them try to scam the management by filing false insurance claims or through work negligence. These issues are easily fixable by installing a camera system in the fleet.
Top Benefits Of Installing A Camera System
Most camera systems act as a tracking system for the truck. With this device, the entire journey covered by the fleet is captured and stored as a video in the internal memory card.
More importantly, it captures details like GPS, stand-alone time, and any event that occurs in between in the form of video. The recorded events are stored separately in the memory card.
Some systems also manage truck operations like brake checks, operating truck doors, and proximity alerts. As a result, they can help both drivers and fleet management. Here are some other reasons to install a camera system in your fleet.
1. Protection From Insurance Scams
Truck theft, accidents, and other events are a regular occurrence in the trucking business. However, insurance scams are one of the main reasons to install a camera system in your fleet. These can be either orchestrated by the driver or by some third party.
Most individuals claim fraudulent insurance by damaging the trucks themselves. Third parties can claim insurance by playing the victim card after purposely crashing into the trucks.
With this tactic, drivers can demand excessively high amounts of insurance money. As a result, both insurance money and the company’s credibility are affected.
Therefore, it is necessary to get protection from these events by installing a camera system. It can record events and provide evidence against the perpetrators. It also helps to teach drivers how their actions were wrong and illegal.
2. Tools For Evidence
As mentioned earlier, a camera system is a great tool for assessing an event. It helps to ascertain the blaming party in case of an accident. It also helps in finding out the culprit in case of damage or theft of the truck.
Generally, demanding insurance money is only possible if you have some proof of mishap. Hence, your camera system will come into play. It becomes handy in such situations as it can prove if you’re at fault or not. Besides, the camera system helps you even when you are not present on the site.
3. Speed Up The Process Of Insurance Claims
Claiming insurance is a very lengthy process. Several factors come into play to acknowledge your approval. Sometimes, difficulties arise due to lack of evidence, misleading or confusing statements, lengthy paperwork, and questioning eyewitnesses if needed.
Therefore, the process of insurance claims becomes quicker if the vehicles have a camera system. The events recorded on these cameras help to identify the responsible party and act accordingly. Additionally, it can clear up the First Step Notification of Loss (FNOL) as well.
4. Cost Savings For Insurance Premium
As a rule, fleet management requires each vehicle to be insured before being used for business. However, insurance premiums can be costly if there are repeated cases of accidents or claims.
Installing a camera system will help keep false claims in check and help save on insurance premiums. Moreover, most insurance companies offer discounts if the vehicles have a camera system. You can easily ask for a rebate if they do not provide it to you.
5. Monitor Driver Behavior
Another use of cameras in your vehicles can assist in monitoring the driver’s behavior throughout the route. It can also help to find irregularities like deviating from the planned path. As a result, you can save on fuel usage and plan according to your budget.
Setting up two lens cameras inside the vehicle will help you to collect evidence regarding improper road behavior. As a result, you can penalize or ban the drivers accordingly. It also makes the driver aware that they’re under surveillance. Therefore, they will be more alert while driving and keep their behavior in check.
6. Act As A Guide For Other Drivers
The camera-recorded videos can be collected and used in training classes for beginner drivers as well. It will help them to get a first-hand experience of any events that you may suffer on the road. Hence, it will help them to be better prepared to do their job effectively. It also provides an insight into unforeseen incidents.
Cost Analysis Of Camera Systems In Fleet
The trucking industry growth has been constant during the past few years. Hence, the cost of a camera system may vary according to its function and features. Usually, the starting price of the cameras installed in trucks or fleets will be somewhere between $30 to $150 approx.
The security camera system with the dual-lens and high-end visuality cost around $100 or $400 approx with the coverage rotation of 360-degree visuals.
Video quality is a particularly important factor when choosing a camera system. However, higher-quality can cost you more money but provide better visibility. Please note that these cameras will act as proof during insurance claims. Generally, the cheaper version comes with 720p and 1080p, while expensive versions come in 2k and 4k.
Setting up a camera system is also easy as most of them involve suction pads or sticking pads. Most of them are required to be connected to vehicle charging points as well. However, if the installment system needs wiring, make sure to stay on your budget.
Conclusion
To summarize, installing a camera system in a vehicle helps to protect the driver and the company. It also helps to get discounted insurance premiums, speed up the processing time for claims, improve driving habits, and many more. More importantly, it helps to prevent insurance scammers from claiming money.
