Cardiff Council makes 'easy transition' to Fleetclear Connect

A long-standing working partnership

Matt Long, Depot & Infrastructure Manager, who began his career with the council 22 years ago as Recycling & Education Officer, has developed a long-standing partnership with Fleetcear over the past decade:

“Fleetclear have proven to be very reliable, not just their products but also the support they provide. They take ownership and resolve any problems.  When we asked them to fit the same camera systems as our refuse collection vehicle to our heavy plant they were very happy to do so. This kind of flexibility has helped us keep consistency with the technologies we use across our fleet.”

In the early days Matt worked with Waste Safety Groups who were engaged by HSE and the WSH group to help improve safety guidance for waste and recycling collections, part of which was a recommendation to fit CCTV cameras.

Matt said: “We initially had cameras fitted to around 40 vehicles and then we adopted the Cyclear cyclist safety system and reverse radar.  We immediately found that the number of accident claims made against us significantly reduced. We used to be an easy target and it was difficult to defend ourselves. With the camera systems we now have evidence to prove that we are not at fault and our insurance premiums have reduced as a result. We’ve also been able to support people in the local community and the police by supplying recorded footage relating to reported damage or incidents.”

“Because the public are now aware that our vehicles are equipped with cameras, we have noticed a reduction in the number of incidents of anti-social behaviour towards crews.

“Vehicle damage costs have also come down, as drivers have better visibility and awareness thanks to the cameras. We can also use real life footage to help train drivers and crews.”

A powerful tool to manage vehicles and drivers

Historically Cardiff Council has opted for an automatic download system to retrieve recorded footage from vehicles, without the need to physically remove the hard drive, taking the view that it didn’t feel ready to handle a LIVE feed system.

However, the council has now decided to adopt Fleetclear Connect for faster access to vehicle footage and data, and to consolidate information from its vehicle technology onto one platform for easier analysis, reporting and management.

Matt explained:

“We want to move with the times and make the most of the technology that’s available. The team at Fleetclear are very diligent and exacting when developing new products and services. Everything is ultra tried and tested, and we are happy to evolve with their new product developments.”

A web-based fleet software system, Fleetclear Connect is a powerful management tool encompassing all aspects of vehicle and driver safety, operational efficiency, and compliance. Suitable for all vehicle types it provides a simplified, user-friendly way to manage vehicles and drivers.

An end-to-end solution Fleetclear Connect brings together all vehicle safety hardware in one place, and combines it with GPS tracking, telematics, advanced data analysis and processing techniques. The system features easy reporting and administrative controls.

“We are currently trialling 7 vehicles using Fleetclear Connect, which gathers all the data from our vehicle technology, in one place. Feedback from our supervisors is very positive. They find the system very user friendly with a simple, customisable format that means tracking vehicles and gathering valuable data about routes is effortless.

“The geofencing tool is invaluable and allows us to search for specific footage from a particular vehicle, in a specific location at a certain time of day, within minutes. We are keen to analyse footage to identify trends, to help us optimise our routes and deal with any issues proactively.”  

All data is displayed on a dashboard and stored on Fleetclear’s cyber secure servers, where it can be accessed via the internet. Therefore, there are no issues regarding access to the council’s network; any authorised person can access the information they need.

One number to call

Matt concluded: “We benefited with Fleetclear as they were able to provide the same solution for the integration of cameras and equipment across every different make and model of vehicle and plant, including our fleet of electric RCVs. For continuity its crucial for us to have the same system across our entire fleet operation, especially as some team members have limited experience with operating different software systems. Fleetclear are happy to come in, train supervisors and educate our staff. They have even helped us develop policies around the use of cameras.”

“Making the transition to Fleetclear Connect is easy as we know everything is on one system. Tracking is integrated and as we are managing thousands of collections each day it’s great to have just one number to call if there are any issues.”

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