SmartDrive Debuts Solution to Recognize and Retain Quality Drivers

SmartDrive Systems, a leader in video-based safety and transportation intelligence, announced the availability of the SmartDrive SmartIQ Driver Scorecard, which provides fleets with industry-proven, data-driven insights, enabling them to create and manage an effective driver incentive program.

Combining the SmartDrive video-based data with interactive analysis capability, the new analytics solution delivers a complete, unbiased view of driver performance in a format that is built to improve driver retention.

Here’s the challenge: Fleets of all sizes struggle to retain quality drivers. American Trucking Associations (ATA) has reported a shortage of more than 50,000 commercial drivers, with a potential to rise to 174,000 by 2026.

What’s more, the costs can be significant: The average cost to replace each truck driver is approximately $12,000, which makes retaining drivers a key factor that positively impacts a fleet’s bottom line. Many fleets are turning to safety-driven driver incentive programs to maintain steady driver capacity, while demonstrating the company values its drivers and safe performance—ultimately resulting in higher driver retention rates.

Unfortunately, most fleets do not have actionable data based on real-time driving performance. Instead, they must rely on summarized information or historical data, such as the absence of citations or collisions, which do not measure actual driving skills. This practice can lead to rewarding drivers with hidden risks rather than those who are truly driving in a way that is safe and fuel-efficient.

“Today’s fleets struggle with recruiting and retaining experienced drivers. This challenge is magnified by an inability to quickly distinguish top performers from those who are actually costing the fleet money,” said Steve Mitgang, SmartDrive CEO. “To address this growing problem, many fleets are realizing the financial impact of a safety-based rewards program on driver recruitment and retention. Not only is this an effective way for managers to identify their best drivers, as well as reward and incentivize performance based on metrics that matter, but it also helps drivers make more money—and chasing higher pay is the number one reason drivers leave a job. With the Driver Scorecard, SmartDrive enables fleets to pay for performance based on real-time driving data, delivering a powerful competitive advantage while also making the fleet safer and more profitable.”

SmartDrive SmartIQ Driver Scorecard is a purpose-built interactive scorecard that brings key driver performance metrics across safety and operations into one dashboard. This complete, real-time view of driver performance enables fleet managers to measure their drivers across vital metrics, including safe driving, MPG, miles driven, coaching and more so they can quickly recognize and reward top-performing drivers. To help fleets easily integrate the Driver Scorecard into daily operations, SmartDrive is offering the SmartDrive SmartIQ Driver Incentive Starter Package. This solution is ideal for fleets looking to jump start a data-driven driver incentive program within days and includes best practice metrics and the tools necessary to start a performance-based driver incentive program. Also available is a new eBook, Highly Effective Secrets to Building a Successful Data-Driven Driver Incentive Program.

“Using data to create a program that incentivizes our drivers gives me confidence in knowing that we’re reinforcing safe driving and protecting the motoring public. As a result, I’m happy to pay out for safety. In fact, I hope 100% or more of our drivers qualify for our quarterly safety performance bonus!” Matthew Penland, VP Risk Management, Cypress Truck Lines.

Understanding that each fleet is unique with distinct safety concerns, SmartDrive has designed the Driver Scorecard to be customizable—based on more than 70 video-based driving performance observations—to meet each fleet manager’s specific needs and goals. Additionally, managers can easily integrate data from other vehicle systems and combine this data with other analytics solutions from the SmartDrive SmartIQ product family to meet their evolving needs. Unique to the Driver Scorecard is its ability to be tailored to the requirements of specific departments within a fleet: For example, the safety manager can save a different view than the director of operations, based on each department’s specific priorities.

The Driver Scorecard directly benefits drivers by giving them a clear view of how their hard work and good driving can bring them additional monetary and non-monetary rewards. Leveraging the Scorecard and the SmartDrive Driver Application for mobile devices, drivers gain real-time visibility into how their driving performance affects their standing in their company’s incentive program. The Driver Application puts actionable insights—including how certain risks such as speeding, short-following and mobile device use impacts their score—at drivers’ fingertips, encouraging them to self-manage their performance improvement.