T
oday, the Department of
Transportation (DOT) considers the
act of sending or receiving informa-
tion on a tablet or smartphone while the
driver is behind the wheel of a commer-
cial motor vehicle to be texting – which is
prohibited for holders of commercial
licenses.
Luckily, the DOT specifically excludes
GPS devices from this restriction. Today's
in-vehicle technology does so much more
than provide turn-by-turn directions. More
sophisticated telematics and mobile com-
munications capabilities are easily replac-
ing mobile phones as the primary com-
munications and dispatch platform for
tow operators across the industry.
Smartphones vs. Telematics
We've established that, though they
are great for communications, and even
have GPS capabilities, using a mobile
phone while behind the wheel is danger-
ous. No one wants a distracted driver
behind the wheel of one of your trucks –
putting other people at risk, and opening
up your business to liability issues.
By permanently installing a telematics
system, businesses gain complete visibili-
ty into where their vehicles are and what
they're doing. With a steady stream of
data on location and driver behavior, tow
operators can ensure that their vehicles
are being driven appropriately.
100 Percent Compliance
Another important benefit of telem-
atics systems is their reliability.
Workers can turn off, forget or ignore
their handheld device. But a hardwired
telematics system ensures you are
always in touch with your trucks. More
importantly, a smartphone can't monitor
driver behavior or PTO usage. Imagine sit-
ting in the passenger seat next to every
driver, every day. Suddenly, you'd have a
fleet of vehicles that
26
Tow Professional | Volume 4 • Issue 2 | www.towprofessional.com
Telematics: Tools for Reducing Liability
By Matt Gunzenhaeuser