Dayton Freight Lines takes on drowsy driving

Dallas. Omnitracs Analytics, a business unit of Omnitracs LLC, announced this morning that Dayton Freight Lines, Inc. has implemented Omnitracs Analytics’ Sleep Management program to help improve the safety and health of its drivers by tackling the problem of driving while fatigued.

Fleet Owner Staff

Feb. 9, 2015

2 min read

DALLAS. Omnitracs Analytics, a business unit of Omnitracs LLC, announced this morning that Dayton Freight Lines, Inc. has implemented Omnitracs Analytics’ Sleep Management program to help improve the safety and health of its drivers by tackling the problem of driving while fatigued. The news was shared here at Omnitracs Outlook 2015 in Dallas, TX, where Omnitracs has recently relocated its headquarters.

“Drowsy driving is a major concern affecting highways nationwide and we applaud Dayton Freight for its commitment to safety,” said Omnitracs Analytics’ vice president, Dean Croke. “Dayton Freight is putting their drivers at the center of the safety equation by leveraging electronic hours of service (HOS) compliance data and predictive models to better manage sleep and prevent fatigue-related accidents. Drivers can be 100% compliant with hours of service regulations and still be sound asleep at the wheel. It’s only by understanding the real drivers of fatigue-related risk through predictive analytics and education that the solution presents itself.”

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Croke, who has an extensive background in sleep management, has been using electronic log data and fatigue modeling software to help educate Dayton Freight’s drivers on proper sleep techniques while on the road, including strategic timing of naps mid-trip to improve alertness through the critical sunrise period.

According to Omnitracs Analytics, Dayton Freight Lines has reported that more than 90% of the drivers who have attended the workshops said they experienced increased alertness behind the wheel, an improvement in the quality and the length of their sleep and in their overall lifestyle after participating in the Omnitracs analytics process.

At Dayton Freight, driver safety and satisfaction are top priorities,” said Derek Kirby, director of safety at Dayton Freight Lines. “Since the rollout of Omnitracs Analytics’ Sleep Management program and the use of predictive models to show the value of sleep and napping strategies, we’ve received extremely positive feedback from our drivers who have utilized the program’s tools to change their sleeping habits for the better. In fact, since the start of the program, we have not had any major accidents that can be attributed to driver fatigue.”