Drivewyze launched a free service that delivers essential in-cab safety messages to all commercial truck drivers. The announcement was made during the Transportation Research Board (TRB) annual meeting, which is being held in Washington, D.C. 

The new service, called Drivewyze Free, allows fleets and drivers using telematics devices, tablets, and smartphones to receive an essential set of in-cab safety alerts and advisories in advance of potentially risky areas on the roadway.

Participating DOTs include New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Georgia, Delaware, Connecticut, Ohio, Texas, Arkansas, and Virginia. In addition, the Pennsylvania Turnpike is participating, as is the Colorado State Police, and Wyoming Highway Patrol.

According to a release, Drivewyze operates the largest connected truck network in North America, with over 125 telematic service provider partnerships and the largest cross-platform deployment of in-cab, always-on, software in the trucking industry. The core message sets are available across North American freight corridors and include a Drivewyze-sponsored set of alerts and advisories including:

• Heads-up warnings for High-Rollover risk areas.

• Low Bridges. 

• Mountain alerts (steep grade ahead; chain-up/brake check stations; and runaway ramps).

• Rest Area information (truck parking availability).

In addition, Drivewyze Free includes access to agency-sponsored real-time traffic slowdowns and other safety alerts generated in partnership with select state transportation and enforcement agencies through the Drivewyze Smart Roadways highway safety program for connected trucks.

Currently, real-time message sets can include warnings for sudden and unexpected slowdowns, virtual safety signs, and public emergency broadcasts. The Smart Roadways program is expected to grow with additional transportation agencies announcing their participation in the near future.  

“This is a monumental day for our company, our safety partners, and the industry,” said Brian Heath, CEO of Drivewyze. “In collaboration with our telematics and transportation agency partners, we are excited to be giving this essential safety service to the trucking industry at no cost. There are no strings attached. We’re a safety-driven company joined by like-minded agencies and telematics partners to leverage vehicle-to-infrastructure networks to improve highway safety for everyone. We know many of our Essential Alerts and Advisories modify behavior – drivers slow down and apply less hard braking. It makes them safer behind the wheel. We’re hoping all fleets will utilize this free offering to give their drivers technology that can truly make a difference to their safety.”

According to Heath, studies have shown that Essential Safety Alerts and Advisories do foster safer roadways.

“Unsafe driving behavior is a leading cause of truck crashes,” he said. “Messaging delivered in the vehicle, where and when drivers need it most, shows the power of connected truck technology to positively affect driving behavior. For instance, when approaching a high-rollover area, we have data that shows our alerts have reduced speed by an average of 7.3 mph for those that are going more than 5 mph over the posted speed limit. That’s an impactful difference and an example of the power of in-cab messaging to improve driver behavior and highway safety.”

What’s more, a NHTSA study showed crashes on interstates represent nearly 30% of all collisions, and many are secondary incidents where a truck or car rear-ended a vehicle that was in a queue from an initial crash. Forty-six percent of secondary crashes occurred over an hour after the initial crash.

Drivewyze is partnering with individual state transportation and enforcement agencies to tackle this challenge by delivering sudden and unexpected slowdown alerts along freight corridors in participating jurisdictions.

“Advance notice for routes experiencing sudden or unexpected traffic slowdowns give truck drivers time to prepare,” Heath said. “In North Carolina, where we partnered with the North Carolina DOT, studies found that 70% of drivers that received an alert slowed down ahead of an incident. And the slowdown was significant -- on average by 11 mph compared to 2 mph in a control group.” 

Many fleets already subscribing to Drivewyze services, such as the PreClear weigh station bypass service or the Drivewyze Safety+ driver coaching service, have been receiving free in-cab safety alerts as part of an optional bundle called Drivewyze Safety Notifications. That service will now be renamed Drivewyze Free and expanded to include truck parking information and additional Smart Roadway state programs. 

Additional Drivewyze Free features and alerts will be added on a regular basis, automatically, without any interruption to a driver’s in-cab experience, and with no action required from a participating fleet.