Problem
- Drivers were often blamed for collisions due to lack of evidence
- Incident rates were growing and impacting their bottom line
- Risky driving behaviors fleet-wide could have harmed the company’s reputation for safety
Solution
- Implemented a successful rollout of the Lytx DriveCam® safety program
- Educated managers, coaches, and drivers to encourage active participation
- Maintained open communication about the DriveCam® safety program to create a culture of willingness
Results
- Exonerated drivers after certain collisions by having an objective eyewitness
- 65% reduction in driver and vehicle incidents
- Experienced a complete ROI within just 6 months
The DriveCam difference
Based in Folsom, California, Waste Connections claims safety as one of its top differentiators and an integral part of its brand reputation. Waste Connections drivers make 400 or more stops throughout the day—considerably more than other drivers on the road. And each stop creates another opportunity for an incident.
To better protect its drivers and its reputation, the company chose to implement the DriveCam program.
Waste Connections Executive Vice President and COO, Darrell Chambliss, explained: “Because we look to technology to help our customers, employees, and shareholders, we wanted a high-tech video solution to reduce risky driving behaviors fleet-wide.”
He added, “We started with the DriveCam program by installing it in 100 vehicles. Based on the success and outcome of this project, we quickly moved to expand the program.” In fact, Waste Connections went from 1,200 event recorders to nearly 3,000 over a two-year period.
Gaining driver acceptance
Waste Connections experienced some initial opposition from its drivers after installing the DriveCam program. But thanks to a thoughtful and well-executed rollout plan, drivers quickly began to understand the program and the benefits of having an event recorder in their vehicles.
The company also spent time educating managers and coaches, realizing that the program’s success hinges on their active participation.
Maintaining open communication about the program created an atmosphere of willingness. And instances of driver exonerations grew acceptance levels exponentially.
Prior to having the program in place, drivers were sometimes blamed for collisions because there was no evidence to prove what happened. DriveCam event recorder video clips provide an objective eyewitness to help prove that they did everything right.
“The news spread and soon everyone was willing to give it a try,” explained Chambliss.
The bottom line
“Without a doubt, the DriveCam program is having an impact,” Chambliss said. “We know we are changing driver behavior, and incident rates are going down where the program is in place. It has assisted us in claims where we otherwise could have been found at fault.”
Chambliss concluded by reiterating the importance of safety to the company, and explained how the DriveCam program fits into their safety culture “like a hand in a glove.” Speaking to the impact it can make, he said:
“Once the DriveCam program becomes the hub of anyone’s risk management program, and it’s used religiously, it will change driver behavior and have a tremendous impact on your bottom line. We have not found a better system for doing this than the DriveCam program.”