Argus Carriers reduces high-risk driving behaviors with Motive AI Dashcams.

Challenge

A Canadian fleet based in British Columbia, Argus does a lot of cross-border work between the United States and Canada. “Going into the U.S., where transportation companies are often the target of lawsuits, we needed AI dash cams to protect ourselves,” says Andrew Hockley, Fleet Safety Manager at Argus Carriers. 

Before Motive, Argus was using Geotab as their technology provider. However, without dash cams, Argus Carriers lacked the real-time visibility and coaching solution they needed to boost driver safety in order to reap the business benefits that would follow. The absence of such a solution ultimately became a liability.

“I remember two or three instances where we got the details of the incident from our driver,” Hockley says. “The accident happened in the U.S., so we weren’t really in contact with the other party. We had to go exclusively on what our driver told us. And while we trust our drivers, we really needed concrete evidence to make the strongest case possible.”

Relying on drivers’ accounts underscored the need for concrete evidence. The frequent occurrence of minor accidents and misdemeanors highlighted the necessity for a reliable system to efficiently manage and review incidents.

The introduction of intelligent dash cameras and auto-coaching features promised to reduce the hours needed to sift through video footage, offering a proactive solution to mitigate these costly incidents and enhance the company’s ability to defend against false claims.

Solution

In their search for fleet management solutions, Argus Carriers found Motive to be the standout choice, particularly for its intuitive driver app interface. This was crucial for a workforce with varying levels of technological proficiency. Andrew Hockley noted, “Functionality wise, Motive won out” due to its user-friendly design, which eased the transition and reduced resistance to change. The ability to customize the driver app to fit daily needs further enhanced its appeal.

The high-quality cameras were another compelling feature, enabling Argus Carriers to capture detailed footage, including license plates, and accurately track distances, essential for monitoring driver behavior and improving safety standards.

The clarity provided by Motive’s dash cameras allows for immediate access to clear, factual evidence, streamlining the process of incident verification.

This capability is particularly beneficial for cross-border incidents, where swift exoneration from responsibility is crucial. By reducing the need for extensive manual review and providing a clear picture of events, Motive enables Argus Carriers to focus on proactive measures to prevent future incidents.

The fleet operates with much more ease knowing they have Motive’s real-time alerts and HD video evidence to protect them. Hockley likes that they’re able to see even the most minute details, like license plate numbers. Serdar Alkan, Fleet Administrator at Argus Carriers, agrees.

“The high-definition picture we get from the Motive AI Dashcam is one of its best attributes,” he says. “The quality is perfect.”

With Motive’s reliable system, Argus can efficiently manage and review every incident that occurs. The introduction of automated coaching for the company’s drivers is reducing the staff time necessary to sift through video footage, offering a proactive solution that gives Argus more power to defend itself from false claims.

“Motive’s automated coaching has been a godsend,” Hockley says. “It makes us safer, and saves me so much time. Without the automation we get from Motive, I would be the one sitting there, combing through video footage for hours a day. Obviously, I’d rather be spending my time on more high-value projects.”

Now when unsafe driving behavior occurs, Argus drivers are automatically alerted in real time, before an accident happens. At the same time, self-coaching tips are sent to them directly through the Motive Driver App, so they can coach themselves on safer habits once their route ends.

​​“The Motive Driver App is really intuitive and so easy for our drivers to use,” says Hockley. “That was a big selling point. When you introduce that much change into a company, you get push back. The Motive Driver App made the transition that much smoother. Drivers open it up and know exactly what they need to do.”

It also helps that Motive’s menu navigation is clear and clickable, with customized features. In fact, Argus is using a customized version of the Motive Driver App – tailored specifically to Argus’s needs.

“Customization has been a game-changer for us,” says Alkan. “With Motive, we can zero in on our most important goals and adapt the technology to our day-to-day needs.”

Motive flexibility goes beyond the Driver App, to customized driver Safety Scores that evaluate driver performance over time. Motive Safety Scores accurately measure driver risk across more than 15 unsafe and positive driving behaviors. All of this helps Hockley determine whom he should be coaching, and on which behaviors.

Hockley has also adjusted the weighting of some of the behaviors, including close following, hard braking, and speeding. “I’ve changed the weight of hard braking. Some drivers would lose up to 15 points from just one hard braking instance. If a driver did a hard brake and they prevented an accident, then I don’t think they should lose points for that action.”

While Hockley has reduced the impact of hard braking events, he’s increased the impact of speeding, especially excessive speeding. “Speeding is far more dangerous than excessive hard braking,” he reasons.

Results

Overall, Motive AI Dashcams are a big advantage for Argus, Hockley says. “They’re a life saver, because we’ve got the footage, we’ve got the clear picture right there. That’s the part that really saves us. With Motive cameras, we can exonerate ourselves from responsibility and move forward.”

Though drivers were initially somewhat hesitant to adopt AI dash cams, that’s starting to change, especially as driver Safety Scores and performance improves. Argus’s average safety score stands at 88. Some drivers have achieved a perfect score of 100 for four consecutive months. Drivers are even starting to enjoy the friendly competition that’s emerged as they vie for higher Safety Scores.

“If a driver holds a perfect score for a whole month, they get a gift card,” Hockley says. “They’re really gunning for it now. Momentum is building.”

Safety is up and high-risk behaviors are down. Argus has seen a 96% drop in hard cornering, an 86% drop in hard braking and a 92% drop in rolling stop signs in less than one year after adopting Motive.

Argus Carriers’ experience with Motive has been overwhelmingly positive. Serdar Alkan stated, “I really like the platform and speak highly of it to our sister companies.” This level of confidence reflects the broader potential for Motive’s adoption across the Mullen Group.

Looking ahead, Argus Carriers is poised to enhance its competitive edge in the dynamic landscape of urban logistics, serving as a model for other companies within the Mullen Group network and the broader industry.

The testimonials, statements, and opinions presented on this webpage reflect the real-life experiences of individuals and/or companies who have used our products and/or services. Individual results may vary and past performance is not a guarantee of future results. The testimonials presented on this webpage were voluntarily provided and not paid.