Industry experts and researchers to present new ideas during FatigueHACK
The Australian Trucking Association (ATA’s) annual conference this year will host a technology event centred on driver fatigue management.
FatigueHACK aims to create new technologies, designs, products and partnerships that can, in turn, influence policy moves in this area.
Part of Trucking Australia 2018, the event will host software developers, designers, industry experts, researchers, regulators and truck drivers.
ATA Chair Geoff Crouch says the event aims to disrupt current thinking around the way driver fatigue is managed.
“The industry and our regulators must keep ahead of technological change,” Crouch says.
“The hackathon participants will look to create something new in a competitive team environment.
“The current system minutely prescribes the hours and minutes that drivers can work, but we know that 58 per cent of fatigue related crashes occur within 500 kilometres of the point of departure, well before the end of a driver’s shift.
“We want the HACK to be the most important development in truck driver fatigue policy since paper-based work diaries were introduced.
“Flexibility in fatigue management through the voluntary use of technology will not only result in better outcomes for road safety but will also enhance productivity, which is vital to our industry.
“It’s time to find a tech solution that can help drivers recognise and manage their own personal fatigue, as a voluntary alternative to written work diaries.”
Teletrac Navman vice president transport Andrew Rossington says the company was delighted to sponsor FatigueHACK.
“Teletrac Navman, the ATA and the trucking industry are passionate about safety, slashing red tape and finding genuine solutions to this intractable issue,” Rossington says.
“A hackathon is the best way to generate creative and innovative solutions, as participants develop, refine and test innovations and ideas over two days.”
The top three teams will then pitch their solutions to delegates at the ATA event as part of a freewheeling session that will decide the industry’s way forward on driver fatigue.
The prizes for the best solutions will total over $10,000.
CBR Innovation Network CEO Petr Adamek, who is a hackathon and business growth expert, says the CBR community will provide support to the winning teams.
“The participants in FatigueHACK will have access to Trucking Australia delegates who nominate as mentors and rapid innovation workshops that will accelerate their progress throughout the two days,” Adamek says.
“In addition to the hackathon prizes, CBR Innovation Network will work with the winning teams to get them acceleration and incubation ready and provide them with post program support.
“This support includes fully sponsored access to lean innovation workshop programs and space alongside other entrepreneurs and innovators in CBR Innovation Network.”
The event will be held at Canberra’s National Convention Centre from April 18-20.
It is sponsored by Teletrac Navman and facilitated by the CBR Innovation Network.