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Cheat Sheet on Data Driven Fleet Management & Fleet Safety Analytics
Jun 17, 2021

If you’re ready to expand your trucking operation beyond a simple owner/operator model, it might be time to consider some technological support. Employers of all kinds are turning to predictive analytics, and the transportation industry is no different. Fleet management analytics provide an in-depth look into your fleet and your individual drivers, enabling you to make the right decisions and lead a successful, efficient, profitable business.

What Do Fleet Safety Analytics Do?

Fleet analytics analyze a vast array of data, digesting the information and generating actionable insights based on that intel. The intention behind all kinds of analytics—from fleet safety analytics to predictive analytics for other types of employment—is to make processes more efficient. In the trucking and transportation industry, predictive analytics also improve safety, reduce collisions, and reduce costs associated with accidents.

What Type of Fleet Safety Analytics Are There?

In-vehicle driver scorecards evaluate the real-time driving of your drivers. Much like the apps many of our insurance companies use to monitor our driving and offer lower premiums to safe drivers, these scorecards will look out for risky behavior, like speeding or sudden breaking.


To go one step further than driver scorecards, you might consider adding in-vehicle cameras to your trucks. Managers can use this information to get a sense of your drivers’ behavior, but it can also be used in the event of an accident to prove fault (or disprove fault). In the event that poor behavior is found, managers can use the recordings for re-training purposes.


Much like you have systems that alert you to upcoming registration expirations or necessary background check re-screens (link to “Your Guide to DOT Background Check Requirements for Drivers”), your data driven fleet management strategy isn’t complete without a tool for predictive maintenance. If you have several trucks, this system helps managers keep ahead of necessary maintenance. Ultimately, the system pays for itself because it lessens the frequency of pricey, unscheduled downtime when a truck is unexpectedly in need of maintenance. 


Finally, consider a fleet safety analytics tool that helps you remain in compliance with driver hour regulations. These tools will help you monitor driver hours, preventing the risk of accidental non-compliance.


An important note? You don’t have to buy separate systems to collect each of these data points. Many all-in-one platforms for fleet management exist, and they’ll include components like hour regulation, dash cams, scorecards, and truck maintenance.

What Are the Benefits of Fleet Safety Analytics?

The biggest benefit of fleet safety analytics is that they allow you to get ahead of a problem before it happens. For example, fleet maintenance management technology empowers fleet managers to proactively address upcoming maintenance issues before they become large-scale breakdowns that cost money, time, and manpower.


Driver behavior is also improved by the use of these tools. Your management team can use the data to correct at-risk behavior before it leads to an accident or other loss. Lawsuit protection is yet another benefit of fleet safety analytics. With an excess of data at your fingertips, particularly if you install video technology, you can provide an objective view of any accidents.

Let Gold Star Help

If you’re looking to expand your business, Gold Star is your go-to partner. Our extensive experience consulting with trucking companies of all sizes means we can help you grow your company. Let’s chat about your needs, and we can see which of our consultative services or mentorship programs is right for you. All set but looking for a new dispatcher? We can help there, too. Gold Star is standing by to help you become the best you can be.

Your Guide to the Amazon Delivery Service Partner Program

17 Jun, 2021
It’s impossible to think of the trucking industry without considering Amazon. In 2019, the company delivered 4.5 billion packages in the United States . Their Amazon Delivery Service Partner Program enables anyone with some startup capital the opportunity to get involved in their massively successful business venture. There are pros and cons to becoming an Amazon DSP, but the steady stream of work is certainly eye-catching to start-up trucking companies. Amazon lays out some of the most important information , but let’s take a look at some frequently asked questions.

Your Guide to DOT Background Check Requirements for Drivers

17 Jun, 2021
A thorough, compliant background screening program for your drivers should be the backbone of your hiring strategy. Background checks ensure that your new drivers have all of the qualifications necessary to do the job well and to best represent your company out on the road. Background checks also, of course, weed out any drivers with disqualifying criminal histories, a history of driving violations, and substance abuse problems. That’s why they should be a standard part of your fleet safety program anyway (link to “Fleet Safety Program: 4 Important Things to Remember”). In our regulated industry, a DOT background check is required. Here’s how DOT background check requirements differ from standard employment screening.

Will Truck Driving Be Automated?

17 Jun, 2021
It’s the question on the minds of truck drivers, owners, and delivery companies everywhere: will truck driving be automated? Automated trucks have been a conversation point for years now, with many worrying that technology advances will put millions of people out of work. Despite these concerns, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 5% growth for trucking employment in the coming years. While other industries struggle to adapt to new technology, the trucking industry is greatly benefiting from it. There are a range of opinions when it comes to this question, though most truck drivers seem confident that their jobs can’t (or at least won’t) be done by machines any time soon. Before getting into the trucking industry, it’s important that you take a look at the landscape and make an educated decision about it—but remember there will always be a need to move goods from one place to another, and the explosion in online ordering suggests that need is only going to expand. Let’s take a look at the current state of automated trucks as we dive into the question: will truck driving be automated?

What Is Carbon Neutral Shipping & How Do Companies Become Carbon Neutral?

17 Jun, 2021
Trucking and logistics is no longer just about getting materials from point A to point B. Much like consumers want to buy their products from socially responsible corporations or boycott businesses that don’t align with their beliefs, many companies want to work with trucking companies that prove they care about the environment. Whether due to their personal beliefs, to the corporate responsibility goals they’re mandated to meet, or to a desire to please their own customer base, you’re serving clients who will ask about your carbon neutral shipping practices sooner rather than later. Now is the time to start taking this topic seriously. Do you find yourself asking “what is carbon neutral shipping anyway?” Are you wondering why carbon neutral shipping might be a benefit? Curious to know how companies become carbon neutral? Keep reading to discover the answers to all of your questions about this climate-responsible approach to business.

What Do I Need to Start a Trucking Company?

17 Jun, 2021
The trucking industry landscape is largely made up of small businesses—with over 90% of companies operating fewer than seven trucks—so there is room for you if you’re considering starting a small trucking business. Whether you’re a professional truck driver already or you’re just a prospective business owner looking to cash in on the projected growth in the industry, you can get on the road toward a successful business with our help. What do you need to start your own trucking business? Just a little bit of insight from Gold Star’s experts.

The Facts & Figures: How Much Does it Cost to Start a Trucking Company?

17 Jun, 2021
Are you ready to work for yourself? Find yourself wondering how much does it cost to start a trucking company? Some estimates anticipate between $10,000 and $20,000 to get started with a small trucking company, assuming you don’t have to factor in the average cost of a semi truck. What goes into the cost of starting a logistics company? Let’s take a look.
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