Drivewyze launched Drivewyze Free, a free service that uses telematics devices, tablets and smartphones to deliver in-cab safety alerts and advisories to fleets and drivers.
“This is a monumental day for our company, our safety partners, and the industry,” says Brian Heath, CEO of Drivewyze. “In collaboration with our telematics and transportation agency partners, we are excited to be giving this essential safety service to the trucking industry at no cost. There are no strings attached. We’re a safety-driven company joined by like-minded agencies and telematics partners to leverage vehicle-to-infrastructure networks to improve highway safety for everyone. We know many of our Essential Alerts and Advisories modify behavior – drivers slow down and apply less hard braking. It makes them safer behind the wheel. We’re hoping all fleets will utilize this free offering to give their drivers technology that can truly make a difference to their safety.”
Key takeaways:
- Drivewyze is said to operate one of the largest connected truck network in North America, with over 125 telematic service provider partnerships and the largest cross-platform deployment of in-cab, always-on, software in the trucking industry.
- The core message sets are available across North American freight corridors and include a Drivewyze-sponsored set of alerts and advisories, including heads-up warnings for high-rollover risk areas, low bridges, mountain alerts (steep grade ahead; chain-up/brake check stations; and runaway ramps), and rest area information (truck parking availability).
- Drivewyze Free includes access to agency-sponsored real-time traffic slowdowns and other safety alerts generated in partnership with select state transportation and enforcement agencies through the Drivewyze Smart Roadways highway safety program for connected trucks. Participating DOTs include New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Georgia, Delaware, Connecticut, Ohio, Texas, Arkansas, and Virginia. In addition, the Pennsylvania Turnpike is participating, as is the Colorado State Police, and Wyoming Highway Patrol.
“Advance notice for routes experiencing sudden or unexpected traffic slowdowns give truck drivers time to prepare,” says Heath. “In North Carolina, where we partnered with the North Carolina DOT, studies found that 70% of drivers that received an alert slowed down ahead of an incident. And the slowdown was significant, on average by 11 mph compared to 2 mph in a control group.”
