Trimac Transportation recently completed a six-week pilot program testing hands-free communication technology aimed at enhancing driver safety and operational efficiency.
Conducted in Fairburn, Georgia, the pilot evaluated a third-party, voice-activated messaging application enabling drivers and dispatchers to communicate without manual device interaction. The pilot involved 15 drivers using the technology to send and receive text messages via voice commands. This hands-free solution eliminates the need for manual device interaction, enhancing real-time communication, route adjustments, updated arrival times, and responses to unexpected conditions—all without drivers taking their eyes off the road.
Trimac’s team of professional drivers in the pilot program found benefit in the tool, the carrier reported.
“I like that you can communicate without texting or pulling over—it’s just safer than a phone call,” Trimac driver Shelton Davison said in a news release. Billy McDonald, another company driver, echoed the sentiment. “You’re not taking your eyes off the road,” McDonald said. “You are staying focused. In my opinion, it’s just a lot safer doing it this way.”
Dispatchers also reported improved communication efficiency.
“Using the software has been fantastic because it allows me to communicate with drivers while they are in their cabs, eliminating concerns about their safety during those interactions,” Braxton Johnson said. “It has also improved communication with some of my less tech-savvy drivers, enabling me to quickly relay important information to them. This is a significant step forward in implementing safety.”
The technology requires no additional hardware or software and integrates with in-cab electronic logging devices installed across Trimac’s company-owned and operated fleet. Trimac approved a phased rollout of the technology, beginning with regional implementation before expanding to the local level. Hands-free communication solutions represent a significant step toward reducing distractions and improving safety and real-time connectivity—reinforcing Trimac’s desire to drive meaningful change within the transportation industry.