Another bulk carrier is singing praises for SmartDrive Systems.
J&M Tank Lines, a family-owned carrier of industrial-grade products, is the latest tank truck transporter to credit the video-based safety and transportation intelligence company—which now is part of Omnitracs—for helping it strengthen its safety culture.
Specifically, J&M reports achieving a “significant reduction” in drivers following too close since installing SmartDrive’s video-based safety program. As a result, its fleet has experienced fewer near misses, positively impacting the carrier’s annual insurance premium.
“With a strong safety culture, we’ve always been an early adopter of technology,” said Dave Edmondson, vice president of safety and compliance at J&M. “Although we’ve had safety technology in some of our trucks, we wanted to ensure coverage on all our vehicles. This created the perfect time to reassess our safety program and test multiple programs, and we found SmartDrive to be far superior to other solutions we tested.
“From its fully managed service and the ability to customize the program—with road-facing cameras now and the option to add cab-facing and cameras around the vehicles (SmartDrive 360) later—to remote coaching and extended recording, SmartDrive met our needs at every level.”
Headquartered in Birmingham AL and operating since 1948, J&M has operations strategically located across the Southeast. It ships a variety of dry bulk materials, including calcium carbonate, cement and sand, as well as food grade products. J&M has received multiple awards for its safety performance, including recognition by the Alabama Trucking Association for lowest accident frequency in the tanker division, and the Georgia Motor Trucking Association’s Grand Champion award for safety.
“I’ve worked for many companies, but J&M Tank Lines is the only one where leadership looks at safety as an investment, not a cost,” Edmondson said. “Although some companies may think a simple dash cam will make them safer, safety is not where you want to cut corners. SmartDrive’s managed service provides us with the opportunity to coach drivers without being buried in unnecessary videos and false alerts. Extended recording provides information when something happens to the side of the vehicle or when the vehicle is parked. And the driver scorecard helps each driver see how they are performing over time, along with specific areas for improvement.”
Since deploying the SmartDrive program, J&M has seen an impact on its insurance rates, the two companies maintained.
“The insurance climate is tumultuous,” Edmondson attested. “Fleets across the country are facing 30%-40% increases and if they have one major claim, rates are increased so high, companies can’t afford to stay in business. We just renewed our policy and the rate we received is far below what other fleets are experiencing. I attribute this to our safety culture and the SmartDrive program.”
Linden Bulk Transportation, a subsidiary of Odyssey Logistics & Technology, reported similar success with SmartDrive in November 2019, after deploying the program for one year, and Linden Bulk president Michael Salz—a passionate SmartDrive supporter—recently detailed his company’s experience for Bulk Transporter.
Groendyke Transport deployed the SmartDrive system across its entire fleet over the summer, and Southern Tank Transport said in September it has achieved “significant safety improvements” after six months with SmartDrive.
“J&M is one of a growing roster of fleets to experience not only measurable safety improvements, but also favorable insurance rates, thanks to their investments in video-based safety,” said Matt Brunelle, senior vice president of customer success at SmartDrive. “Dave and his team have done a remarkable job across the board—it’s clear company leadership prioritizes the safety of its drivers, and we’re thrilled to partner with J&M to continue to drive operational efficiency gains.”
Edmondson added that, when it comes to video, one exoneration will pay for the system, but the benefits go beyond exonerations.
“Video reinforces our safety culture by providing the opportunity to coach drivers and retain them, rather than simply release them or let them walk away,” he said. “Drivers want to improve, so when you can focus your efforts on where they need to improve, you're creating safer drivers and building a trusting relationship.
“SmartDrive has allowed us to do that.”
