Plastic Express is boosting roadway safety by improving driver behaviors and reducing severe driving alerts with new camera and telematics technology through a new multi-vendor partnership with Netradyne, Geotab, and Gridline.
To advance safety in its fleet of 250 trucks, the California-based dry bulk hauler first turned to Gridline, which helped Plastic Express implement Geotab telematics, enabling “robust analytics and effortless systems integration.” The carrier then tapped Netradyne for driver and road-facing cameras to bolster driver safety and effectiveness, the companies reported.
“We have elevated safety to a value as part of our I-ACT-Safe initiative, and the Gridline, Geotab, and Netradyne team is the driving force behind our driving safety program,” David Edgarton, Plastic Express AVP of environmental health and safety, said in a news release. “Gridline analytics allowed us to combine Geotab and Netradyne systems at a technology and customer service level. Following the seamless adoption of these technologies, it's hard to remember what it was like ever dealing with paper logs.
“With Netradyne and Geotab dashboards, our terminal managers now have next-level visibility into driver activity and the benefit of a short feedback loop. They can provide real-time coaching through the Driveri mobile app which allows drivers to quickly correct behavior, improving safety for themselves as well as other vehicles on the road.
“Our drivers have also found Geotab’s tablet interface incredibly helpful for efficiently managing hours of service, DVIRs, and other inspections.”
Plastic Express, a veteran-owned and -operated company founded in 1970, specializes in moving, packaging, and storing plastic resin. Its nationwide operation includes 4.2 million sq. ft. of warehouses and 30 bulk truck terminals. Integrating Netradyne’s driver and road-facing cameras has proved “invaluable” for exonerating drivers and promoting improved driving behavior, Plastic Express said. Combining Geotab technology and Netradyne’s AI-powered GreenZone Score offered crucial insights into following distance, driver drowsiness, and distracted driving.
“We’re incredibly proud of the safety and efficiency gains Plastic Express has achieved with Netradyne’s technology,” said Adam Kahn, Netradyne chief business development officer. “The positive feedback from their drivers on how the GreenZone Score pushes them to do better underscores the critical role our solution plays in protecting lives on the road.
“Everything we do at Netradyne is rooted in a driver-first approach with a mission to make every mile safer.”
Gridline combined data insights about idling, MPG, and HOS violations from Geotab with driver information, like driver safety data from Netradyne, to deliver a “holistic, single-pane view” of the performance of Plastic Express drivers. As a result of this collaboration, in three to six months, Plastic Express reduced severe driving alerts by 13% and saw declines in speeding, stoplight violations, and stop sign infractions, the company reported.
“At Geotab, we believe that collaboration is key to unlocking the full potential of fleet safety and operational efficiency,” said Stephen White, Geotab AVP of business development. “By working alongside industry leaders like Netradyne and Gridline, we’ve helped Plastic Express integrate advanced telematics solutions that not only safeguard their drivers—their most valuable asset—but also streamline their operations.”