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D.M. Bowman Taps SmartDrive Video-based Safety Solution After Head-to-Head Competitive ReviewSAN DIEGO, March 22, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- SmartDrive Systems, a leader in video-based safety and transportation intelligence, today announced D.M. Bowman, Inc., a family owned and operated trucking company, has deployed the SmartDrive® program across its entire fleet of more than 380 trucks. The decision was made after a thorough competitive review and head-to-head pilot program, with company leaders citing superior customer service and responsiveness, as well as the intuitive nature of the platform, as key factors in choosing the SmartDrive system.
"Video allows us to identify and address risks before a collision occurs, and the SmartDrive program proved to be the best solution to support our culture of safety," said Barry Wertz, director of risk management and safety at D.M. Bowman. "The SmartDrive team provided excellent support, making sure the deployment went smoothly and set us up for success. Additionally, the coaching application proved very easy to use and saves our fleet managers significant time, minimizing the impact of change on our teams." D.M. Bowman began seeing results immediately during the pilot program, and the fleet's safety score—an objective measurement of risk based on specific driving habits—has improved 215 percent since deployment. In addition, instances of texting and mobile device use have been reduced by 50 percent. As a result of fewer claims, less vehicle damage and a reduction in the number of collisions, overall fleet costs were reduced by 20 percent in 2017 compared to the previous year. Headquartered in Maryland and primarily serving the East Coast with van, bulk and flatbed transportation services, D.M. Bowman opted to deploy the dual-camera SmartDrive system. Fleet managers recognized the importance of cab-facing cameras to gain full visibility of risk, including some of the biggest dangers in the transportation industry today—disractions and drowsiness. In an effort to strengthen the company's culture of safety, frontline supervisors are responsible for driver coaching as part of typical daily activities, resulting in 97 percent of coachable events being addressed. The SmartDrive program also serves as the foundation of D.M. Bowman's driver safety program, which rewards drivers for safe performance. D.M. Bowman is looking for ways to use the SmartDrive Safety Score in their safety incentive program. The SmartDrive Safety Score, unique to each driver, offers a consistent, unbiased approach to measuring performance, setting fleet-wide benchmarks and encouraging friendly competition among peers. "Video-based safety and analytics solutions are increasingly becoming an essential tool for all fleets dedicated to safety," said Matt Brunelle, vice president of customer success at SmartDrive. "Leveraging the actionable insights served up by the program, D.M. Bowman has made driver coaching part of the daily routine. They are an excellent example of a fleet taking full advantage of the SmartDrive platform, and reaping significant cost savings and safety improvements as a result." D.M. Bowman President and CEO Jim Ward will be speaking at the General Session of the Truckload Carrier Association (TCA) 80th Annual Convention, March 25-28, 2018 in Kissimmee, Florida. As a member of an industry executive panel titled, "Creating a Dedicated Skilled Workforce: The Driver Value Proposition," on Tuesday, March 27, 2018, Ward will provide insights on incorporating technology advancements in effective workforce planning. About D.M. Bowman About SmartDrive Systems For more information on SmartDrive Systems, please visit www.smartdrive.net. Contact or Follow SmartDrive on:
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