Company's tech noted as shining example during TMR, QTA tour
In the midst of current truck safety technology trials in Queensland, Rockhampton-based Rocky’s Own Transport has been singled out for its best-practice fleet equipment advancements.
Rocky’s Own in-cab safety technology was the subject of a Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) and Queensland Trucking Association (QTA) tour of the company’s depot.
CEO Bryan Smith welcomed TMR director-general Neil Scales, who says he visited “to talk about the safety and fatigue monitoring technology Rocky’s Own are using in their fleet [and] get a live demo of the technology in action”.
“Gary Mahon [QTA CEO] came and had a look in the past at the technology we’re running and asked if we’d be interested in hosting Neil the next time he was here,” Smith tells ATN.
“He was impressed by the capabilities and safety outcomes of what the technology is doing.
“Lots of people in the industry are heading in the right direction and the regulator is also taking keen interest and keeping abreast of advancements in this space.”
Smith explains that his company’s uptake of in-cab technology has been a “steady progression” after first dipping its toes in the water about a decade ago.
The fleet of 150 is now fitted with custom-designed safety and fatigue-monitoring technology of various sorts, including SkyNet satellite tracking, Seeing Machines and DriveCam monitoring.
The benefit of the latter, Smith adds, is that it is G-force activated, so the company can proactively respond to an event as it happens, and drivers don’t feel as though the monitoring is too intrusive.
He also believes the technology has changed driver habits and behaviour for the better.
“There is passion for the potential, and the potential is there to see significant safety improvements,” he says.
The visit was backed by the Queensland Trucking Association (QTA), which has been a big driver of its own Heavy Vehicle Safety Around Ports Project involving SmartCap technology.
Read more about the Safety Around Ports project, here
“The opportunity to showcase the latest fatigue and safety monitoring technology in one Australia’s leading fleets to the director general of Queensld Department of Transport and Main Roads increases our argument to have this technology reflected in the law,” QTA membership service manager manager Lisa Fraser tells ATN.
“Mr Scales was impressed by the impact the data feedback is having on how it is influencing positive driver behavioural change and how fatigue is able to be actively managed during a trip.
“Fleets that are installing fatigue monitoring technology are making a significant impact on the reduction of incidents by being able to address near miss events by having immediate access to incident response data.”
Mahon’s continued advocacy for a complete overhaul of the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL) is to shape laws that are modern reflective of the uptake and integration of innovative technology being used in heavy vehicle fleets to manage risk and improve safety, QTA adds.
Scales tells ATN that fatigue “is a part of the fatal five and needs to be taken seriously”.
“I was lucky enough to visit this progressive operator and see first-hand the practical application of new technology, which can alert drivers to the onset of fatigue.
“The clever use of CCTV for overall safety was very encouraging.”