San Diego and Minneapolis: PeopleNet will offer new real-time paperless driver/vehicle management workflows that automate driver performance, violation management, DVIR (driver vehicle inspection report) and CSA management.
Making the announcement at the Truckload Carriers Association (TCA) Annual Convention yesterday, CEO Ron Konezny said, “Our new workflows automate repetitive, labor-intensive tasks. They’re tickets to more accurate business processes that improve vehicle and driver performance, compliance, safety and customer service. It all adds up to a better performing fleet and greater profitability.“
EBE has developed these workflows on its SHIPS platform using PeopleNet data that integrates with third-party systems:
- Driver Performance Monitor tracks Vehicle Management data for each driver and assigns points for each driver regarding MPG, idle time, over speed, excessive speed, hard braking, swerving and excessive acceleration. When a driver falls below a fleet-defined performance standard, this workflow initiates and sends a letter via the driver portal, schedules meetings with drivers, suggests training, and recommends suspension and/or removal from service based on subsequent performance over established time periods. The SHIPS software monitors all tasks through completion. Should a task not be completed in an appropriate timeframe, alerts are sent and additional tasks are assigned including the consequence of taking a driver out of active status through dispatch integration.
- Violation Management generates and sends letters through the driver portal to drivers with on-duty time violations and other out-of-standard driver behaviors. If required signatures or acknowledgements are not returned on time, this workflow sends an alert and assigns other corrective actions. Electronic images may be sent to the driver portal for electronic signature or verification that the recipient has opened a document. Interfacing with PeopleNet EOBR and Vehicle Management data, this workflow also assigns and tracks points for each driver’s performance, suggests training, and recommends suspension and/or removal from service based on subsequent performance over established time periods.
- DVIR Management creates an electronic DVIR form based on PeopleNet Vehicle Management data for maintenance to complete and track. Repair status notification is sent to the driver via the driver portal. This workflow can interface with third-party maintenance applications for generating and tracking repair orders. It will also monitor the submission of DVIRs to ensure compliance. Drivers not complying with pre-defined business norms can be sent alerts, assigned points to the their driver scorecard, sent electronic warning letters, scheduled for training and/or recommended for suspension or removal from service when appropriate. An optional interface with chassis.com populates the website with required information when a DVIR with chassis-related items is submitted, and monitors response from the submission.
Zach Santmyer, vice president of SOCISI Petroleum, explained how the new DVIR workflow has helped his company. “We are now able to respond more quickly to DOT maintenance issues. It has allowed us to automatically match the driver confirmation of repair to the repair order. The workflow process has greatly improved maintenance efficiency and helps to minimize possible CSA violations.”
CSA Management, tied to eDriver Logs, monitors each driver’s activities for both positive and negative HOS behavior and trends. When a driver exceeds a specified behavior threshold (percentiles, points or frequency in BASIC categories, violation types or crash incidents), this workflow executes activities based on the identified behavior. This can include training, warning letters or termination. Behaviors such as clean inspections can generate positive activities, such as letters of commendation or notifications to payroll about a bonus. All activities are monitored through completion, and the driver is not removed from the workflow until the activity is completed. Users may choose between a complete CSA dashboard and one for only log violations.
“The challenge carriers face today is not only monitoring all of the data available to them to determine potential problem areas, but in being able to react and take the appropriate action as quickly as possible to ensure they are operating a safe and compliant fleet,” said Larry Kerr, EBE’s president and CEO.
