Telematics: Safer fleets and a stronger insurance profile

A Quick Summary

No time to read the full article? We get it!

Here are the top take-home points that you’ll want to know about:

Telematics offer a source of data about driving and fleet performance that can help you find efficiencies and improve driver training.
By using telematics, you’re not just protecting trucks — you’re proving to insurers that you’re managing risk in real time – something that will come in very handy in your next renewal meeting.
Dash cams are a great place for smaller transport companies to start when it comes to telematics.

How Telematics work for your business

Telematics are fast becoming an essential data point for modern freight businesses. They provide a wealth of information that can be converted into business efficiencies, training improvement, or even to determine fault in an accident.

Telematics can record and monitor all kinds of road behaviour, from harsh braking, cornering, and speeding, all the way through to detecting fatigue-related behaviour. Some of this can be accessed in real-time, providing warnings to the driver, and others can be taken and analysed in order to help optimise your operations. From monitoring individual machine or driver behaviour, through to providing visibility of road conditions, they’re a powerful tool.

How it works

Telematics systems record data like speeding, harsh braking, cornering, and fatigue-related behaviour. Another of their key roles is to plan fuel (and time) efficient routes, so your drivers can do their jobs without unnecessary and frustrating time spent in traffic. Some even include dash-cams that show what really happened during an incident, which can be a lifesaver when it comes to claims disputes. Once you have it, you won’t want to do without it.

“Telematics may reduce fatigue-ridden driving and improve claims incidents, while dash cams provide the same and [can] also reduce fraudulent claims.”
Kerensa Bourke | Head of Portfolio

Why it’s worth it

The hype around telematics isn’t just novelty or a bit of fun – it’s helping create more efficient, safer roads for all of us. Here are just a few reasons that telematics are worth the investment:

So, where do I start with telematics?

By using telematics, you’re not just protecting trucks — you’re proving to insurers that you’re managing risk in real time – something that will come in very handy in your next renewal meeting. Here’s our quick-start guide for telematics: what’s the top priority and what really matters:

Start with dash cams (forward-facing at least): this can help give you and your insurance company clear visibility in the event of an accident.
Our senior claim executives recommend dash cams for every vehicle in your fleet, not just a select few, describing dash cam footage as “invaluable when it comes to determining liability.”
Monthly telematics reviews: Each month, take some time to dissect and share the results of your telematics learnings. What can you do better? What were you doing well? Are there efficiencies that could save drivers time and fuel? Discuss as a team if you can.
Store data securely: Make sure your data is backed up, safely stored, and ready to share with your broker. There’s nothing more frustrating than putting together a file from three hundred different data points, only to lose it. Let this be a friendly reminder to save your work, so that you can share it!

The final word

Telematics is no longer just a trend or something only big fleets need to invest in. To have detailed performance and safety discussions with your team and with insurers, it’s a near-essential tool. And, because these telematic devices are designed to help you find efficiencies, it might not be too long before they pay for themselves. Lower premiums, fewer accidents, more in-depth training – all of this awaits when you bring your fleet into the present with telematics.