Dennis Eagle, a global leader in the design and manufacture of refuse collection vehicles, has installed advanced dashcams on 112 vans as part of a video-enabled driver protection solution. The fleet and video telematics system from SureCam has been integrated with Peoplesafe’s lone worker service to achieve the highest level of safety both in and outside the vehicle for its team of service engineers.
“Our main priority is the welfare of our service engineers when they are working remotely and at high-risk locations,” explains Dave Nicholls, Service Operations Manager at Dennis Eagle. “By bringing together our vehicle camera, tracking, driver behaviour and lone worker protection requirements into an integrated technology solution, we can safeguard our team, while achieving a host of secondary efficiency, productivity and cost improvements.”
Dennis Eagle undertook an initial trial at two sites for 28 service engineers to measure the effectiveness of the integrated telematics solution. The company has since rolled out the technology to 112 vans, made-up of maintenance and breakdown response vehicles, that operate nationwide from a network of 18 sites. Each Depot Manager receives video upload alerts of collisions, near misses and harsh driving events, with scheduled reports providing an overview of driver behaviour performance. Meanwhile, the operations team is using location-based data to better coordinate and respond to customer maintenance needs.
The integration with Peoplesafe’s lone worker service provides drivers with a quick and easy way to request assistance. When an alert is raised, controllers at the alarm receiving centre (ARC) can access audio communication and incident data, along with supporting video footage captured from the dashcams. The added audio and visual insight ensures that Dennis Eagle can proactively manage any emergency situation, taking the most appropriate action, with immediate access to emergency services if required.
“We have been using vehicle tracking and lone worker technologies for a number of years, but we have now recognised the huge potential of an all-in-one, video-enabled solution to enhance driver protection and management. The support we have received from SureCam has been first rate, which has made the entire process from trial through to full roll-out simple and stress free. We are now focusing on embedding the solution into our operation, so we can make the most of the genuine opportunities it provides,” adds Nicholls.
Sam Footer, Partnership Director at SureCam commented: “We have created a video-enabled telematics ecosystem, underpinned by our industry-leading dashcam solutions, that brings together complementary products and systems to streamline fleet management while mitigating the impact of vehicle and driver risk. Dennis Eagle is the latest fleet operator to take advantage of this comprehensive range of integrated technologies, working closely with us and Peoplesafe to overcome the safety and operational challenges they face.”
