Cypress Truck Lines Transforms Driver Safety Through Innovative Video Program

How a Florida-Based Flatbed Carrier is Thriving with SmartDrive’s Dual-Camera System

Cypress Truck Line, a family-owned flatbed carrier in Florida, has seen remarkable improvements in safety since implementing the SmartDrive dual-camera video system in 2014. Just weeks after starting the program, Cypress noticed a 57% improvement in its overall safety score, with 58% fewer speeding incidents and a 48% reduction in distracted driving.

Over the past three years, Cypress has further benefited from the SmartDrive system, achieving an 80% overall improvement in safety scores and completely eliminating instances of exceeding maximum fleet speed.

Matthew Penland, Vice President of Risk Management at Cypress, emphasized the value of the SmartDrive system in their operations. “As a family-owned company, it was crucial for us to find an efficient solution that produces significant results with minimal time investment from managers,” he said. “The SmartDrive analytics team has partnered with us throughout, providing actionable data to improve driver safety and prevent collisions.”

Penland also highlighted how the SmartDrive program has been instrumental in managing the safety of a constantly changing driver base. It has enabled the company to quickly bring new drivers up to speed with stringent safety standards. “We owe it to the public to ensure our drivers are safe on the road, and we take this responsibility very seriously,” he added.

The SmartDrive program uses an open platform that captures video, vehicle data, audio, and driving information, automatically offloading footage for expert review. This comprehensive analysis often helps exonerate drivers who aren’t at fault in incidents.

Cypress has developed a substantial coaching program for its more than 530 drivers, utilizing the real-time actionable data provided by SmartDrive. This allows the coaching team, spread across Cypress’ service areas, to give individualized feedback as needed.

“With both in-cab and forward-facing cameras, we can proactively coach our drivers to enhance their safety skills,” Penland explained. “The driver-facing cameras offer insights into driver behavior during incidents, enabling our safety team to promptly address and correct dangerous habits.”

Fostering a culture of safety, Cypress has introduced a safety bonus program based on individual safety scores. Drivers receive specific feedback from management and can track their personal scores on mobile devices, fostering self-improvement. Those demonstrating consistently strong driving skills or notable improvement are rewarded accordingly.

Thanks to SmartDrive, Cypress has not only boosted overall safety but also achieved impressive improvements in several key areas: seatbelt use increased by 89%, handheld mobile phone use dropped by 96%, and unsafe following decreased by 78%.

Steve Mitgang, CEO of SmartDrive, praised Cypress for their innovative approach. “Forward-thinking fleets like Cypress are seeing the powerful impact of the SmartDrive program on driver recruitment and retention. We’re proud to be long-term partners and thrilled with their safety improvements as they’ve grown their business. Video insights after incidents are a powerful tool,” he said.

SmartDrive Systems is headquartered in San Diego, California.