Margate's garbage hauler recently gave the city commission a rundown on some of the technology they started using in 2013, including cameras to monitor driving behavior of the truck drivers, and starting the process of switching their fleet of trucks to compressed natural gas for fuel instead of diesel.
"We are always looking for ways for technology to help us improve," said Waste Management representative Louigi Pace.
The cameras, which are mounted to the windshield of each truck, have both forward- and backward-facing cameras to see outside and inside the truck. The recording is erased every 12 seconds, according to Pace, unless a "triggering event" happens, like slamming the brakes, fast acceleration or turning a corner too fast. If any of those happen, the recording will be sent to a manager for review.
"We use this to pinpoint unsafe driving habits, which we use for training in the district, and we use it to recognize safe driving habits," Pace said. "It's actually to promote and give a pat on the back to our drivers that are doing things right. It's very impactful because it's not a safety video where you are watching an actor in scripted scenes that show them doing all the right things. These are drivers that work with each other and see [each other] doing the right things."
Another new piece of technology for the drivers is a tablet which has GPS and their route assignments for the day. According to Pace, the company used paper route sheets up until last year. The drivers are able to log their progress in real time, so managers know exactly what customers the drivers are servicing at a given time.
"If a truck has a mechanical issue or a driver can't finish a route, we have to make sure that all of his customers are taken care of," Pace said. "Now, with a click of a mouse, we can move all of that work to another driver's tablet. I used to have to run around with photocopies of the route sheets; now it's just a click of a mouse. It helps us be more efficient and saves everyone's time."
Source:http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/broward/margate/fl-mcf-wastetech-0423-20140424,0,3091619.story
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