In the most recent State of Connected Operations Report: “Behind the Wheel: Distracted Driving in Physical Operations,” conducted by Samsara , 1,550 operators from seven different countries were surveyed, 150 of whom were in Mexico. It was found that eight out of 10 were at risk of an accident due to operating mobile devices while driving.
“Cell phone use alone is one of the main risk factors, which shows us that employers have a responsibility and an opportunity,” said Brendali López, Marketing Director of Samsara in Mexico.
From the executive’s perspective, Samsara identifies an area of opportunity in the processes that can be implemented and the security policies that can be outlined, based on the use of cameras as a support tool for operators, who sometimes have to deal with instructions via mobile phones, which can become a risky situation.
Among the findings of the State of Connected Operations Report is that operators have already accepted the use of cameras in the cabs of tractor-trailers, precisely because they have realized the benefits to their operations that this entails, “and not just that they are monitoring me or that they want to audit me ,” López emphasized.
In addition to the above, greater awareness and sensitivity are also being generated regarding the responsibility of sharing the roads, and technological tools are key to achieving safer operations.
In the latter, the study conducted by Samsara identified that when drivers view video captured by cameras and see their driving habits , it helps them improve and adjust their driving.
One element highlighted in the Samsara report is that the use of technology, and dash cams in particular, contributes to driver retention efforts, as 87% of drivers in the study stated. According to the International Road Transport Union (IRU) , the driver shortage represented 99,000 jobs in Mexico by 2024.
Brendali López emphasized that for companies that leverage the data generated by technology, it allows them to move from penalizing drivers to fostering better driving habits, “by extracting videos and generating training flows that translate into better processes and, consequently, better service.”
When seeking to identify what is the motivating factor for the incorporation of this type of technology in trucking companies today, Brendali said that from her perspective it is a holistic solution, where although it has a productivity effect that helps operators want to work in this company because it translates into income, “but also if we talk about safety , it results in accident prevention, which more than material savings, impacts lives . “
In addition, it has an impact on work culture, enabling better training processes and leveraging technology to achieve better results, as already mentioned regarding retention.
These results have also contributed to the operator’s voice being heard more and have even become a decision-making factor in the purchase of this type of technology.
“The study shows us that (operators) are already an influential factor in organizations’ decisions, because they are a strong, powerful voice, which also keeps these physical operations moving,” Brendali López emphasized.
Findings from the State of Connected Operations Report: “Behind the Wheel: Distracted Driving in Physical Operations,” regarding Mexican operators:
- 83% are often distracted by their personal mobile devices.
- Within the 83% percentage:
- 33% make calls.
- 28% check social networks.
- 28% read messages.
- 80% of them have experienced a “near miss.”
- 71% of drivers have to use their mobile device for work tasks.
- 95% of operators receive training and advice through the implemented technologies.
