If you try to list some of the most dangerous jobs, a truck driver is probably not at the very top. But Delta LV‘s experience suggests otherwise – congested roads and careless drivers increase the risk of accidents, filling drivers’ everyday lives with dangerous situations.
Delta LV is doing everything it can to make drivers’ everyday lives safer by monitoring the road with Mapon fleet cameras. They ease information exchange with the road police because they record evidence of dangerous situations and help monitor events in real time. But how does the day-to-day work with the cameras look? Read on and find out what Delta LV logistics specialists Kristīne Ektermane and Artis Lasmanis shared with us.
Life Before Mapon Cameras
Delta LV has been a Mapon client since 2015, but they started using our camera solution in October 2024 because they realised that the existing one was not reliable enough. Before that, drivers had to manage the cameras themselves. There were times when the driver had erased the accident recordings or when the data was not retained due to full memory, so the old camera platform was not completely reliable.
The company opted for the Mapon camera solution because it:
1) provides a live stream
2) allows remote access to the full camera recording
3) stores the full camera recording on a memory card with the option to download needed clips
4) automatically records dangerous situations and stores the footage in the Mapon cloud, which can be used as training material for new drivers
A Simple Installation Process
Given that Delta LV wanted to equip at least 100 vehicles with cameras, it was important to find a convenient and flexible way for the company to do this. With the help of the client manager Mārtiņš, we came up with the best approach – a Mapon technician went to the Delta LV service centre and showed their electrician how to install the cameras. The company gradually completed the rest of the installations based on vehicle availability, priorities, and the electrician’s capacity.
Currently, it takes a Delta LV electrician about 30 minutes to equip a vehicle – the same time as a Mapon technician.
When the installation of the cameras started, the company informed drivers about the changes. In general, employees were positive about the process – there were no drivers who were totally against the new camera solution. However, some were sceptical at first because they were concerned about privacy and assumed that the cabin of the truck would also be filmed. But then the logistics experts showed what the footage looks like – it has no sound, and only the road is filmed. This was enough to convince the doubtful employees.
Improvements in Driving Culture
Since the implementation of the solution, logistics professionals have noticed improvements in the driving culture. Kristīne comments: “This is because drivers know that we can view their driving at any moment and catch them doing something improper, such as dangerous overtaking or breaking other traffic rules.”
The live stream function is useful when a company is recruiting new employees. Logistics professionals can monitor the new employee’s driving style in real time and make sure, for example, that they make dangerous turns correctly, stay within the speed limit, and obey other rules. The video footage can then also serve as a learning tool – both as a good and bad example.
Fuel Savings with the Help of Mapon
In the long term, the installation of cameras and improvement in driving culture could be reflected in reduced fuel consumption. The company already measures fuel consumption with sensors on some vehicles: “We have put in fuel rods as a control mechanism.
Before, people could tamper with the fuel, but now that doesn’t happen anymore. We noticed that some people had shortages every month, but we put in a rod, and there are no more shortages,” says Artis.
Safety on the Road and Evidence of Dangerous Situations
There is no shortage of dangerous situations on the road – every second or third day drivers call the logistics specialists about minor incidents on the road, and around every two weeks report high-risk situations.
“For example, last week, there was a crazy, dangerous situation – one lorry overtook another without assessing the safety of the manoeuvre. As a result, a very serious accident almost happened involving three lorries. At least we can try to catch such incidents with cameras,” says Artis.
After the incident, Delta LV logistics specialists received a panicked call from the driver and allowed her to rest for the rest of the day. Delta LV sends recordings of such serious incidents to the road police so that they can take further action in the hope that together, they can improve the overall driving culture. The company’s logistics specialists add that the police have given positive feedback on these types of submissions, as they are accompanied by clear evidence of what happened on the road.
When we asked Kristīne and Artis about their overall experience with the cameras, they said: “We would definitely recommend installing the cameras; we can only give positive feedback. One company already approached us with interest – we told them about Mapon, and their eyes lit up because they liked our experience.”
If you would like to join the ranks of our customers who are committed to road safety and driving culture, please contact one of our client managers by filling in the form.
