When the gravity of COVID-19 was becoming more recognizable last March, telematics provider Samsara sought to aid trucking industry customers with new tools to help them manage the pandemic. At first, they focused on sanitizing, safe distancing, emergency hours of service exemptions and enabling remote work. Recently the company tackled how to provide safer training and coaching, for both in-person or virtual scenarios, with the addition of three Samsara AI Dash Cam features.
These include:
Mask detection: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends truckers wear masks in public spaces, such as at the fuel pump, restaurant counter, and customer sites, as well as when sharing the cab with other workers and/or passengers. The optional AI-based Mask Detection feature uses advanced artificial intelligence and dual-facing Samsara AI Dash Cams to automatically detect if a driver is not wearing a mask. The dual-facing camera model (CM32) is required for Mask Detection.
This gives safety managers peace of mind that employees are in compliance and will be at less risk for spreading or contracting the coronavirus. Fines may also be levied for drivers who do not wear a mask. This feature can send alerts to the safety manager if a driver is not wearing a mask, and the auto-uploaded footage can be used for training purposes. It joins Samsara’s suite of AI-detected events and behaviors that includes Tailgating Detection and Distracted Driving Detection.
Live streaming: This feature allows Safety managers to perform virtual ride-alongs and training by accessing live video of vehicles on the road from the safety of a remote workspace. They will have access to streaming real-time road-facing video, inward-facing video, or both from Samsara AI Dash Cams to their Samsara dashboard. Samsara also incorporated driver-centric features with a “privacy by design approach.” In-cab alerts let drivers know when any time the live streams start and stop.
Driver video share: Safety managers can also share event videos directly with drivers for remote self-coaching. The driver receives a notification with a link to the event details and video, providing them evidence-based, self-guided coaching via a mobile device. This virtual training can occur at a driver’s own pace and when convenient.
Samsara noted the importance of keeping up with training even when the trainer cannot be physically with the driver, citing a 2018 Gallup poll that found companies with more engaged employees have 48% fewer safety incidents.
