Brenntag North America, specializing in full-line ingredient and chemical distribution, recently signed a multi-year contract to continue using SmartDrive Systems’ video-based safety program, according to the companies.
With more than 180 distribution locations and a nearly 1,500-vehicle fleet, Brenntag says its decision is aligned with its aim to set industry standards for safety, striving for zero accidents and incidents worldwide.
“We began to see results immediately after partnering with SmartDrive,” said Matt Fridley, corporate manager of safety, health and security at Brenntag. “Not only did our drivers change their habits by driving more carefully, but we witnessed a cultural shift throughout the company. In all aspects of their work, employees throughout the company became safer. We attribute 100% of this companywide impact to SmartDrive.”
Since originally deploying the SmartDrive program in 2014, Brenntag maintains it steadily recorded improvements across a number of leading safety indicators. Given the hazardous nature of Brenntag’s cargo, video-based safety offers fleet managers the crucial insight needed to reduce risk. As a result of these advances, Brenntag’s drivers now rely on SmartDrive’s feedback and video capture, refusing to drive a vehicle not equipped with the SmartDrive platform. In addition to the exonerations that have saved the company money and its drivers’ CDLs over the years, Brenntag has:
- Increased proper seatbelt use by 75%
- Reduced use of mobile devices while driving by 50%
- Decreased instances of unsafe following distances by 83%
- Improved SmartDrive Safety Score upwards of 73% in regional companies
“Throughout the course of our collaboration, Brenntag has experienced remarkable improvements to its bottom line and, most importantly, the safety of its employees,” said Steve Mitgang, chief executive officer at SmartDrive. “Building and expanding on success to date, we are excited to continue driving measurable safety and operational gains across all divisions of Brenntag North America.”
When it came time to renew its video safety program, Brenntag, like many of today’s fleets, required a solution that would complement its existing ELD technology footprint. The SmartDrive team took the lead in developing a program that merges data from SmartDrive and the ELD solution to provide Brenntag’s fleet managers with an integrated understanding of driving performance from a single user interface. SmartDrive also implemented a driver ID solution using driver schedule data from the ELD provider. While many transportation technologies operate in isolation, the SmartDrive Transportation Intelligence Platform boasts a “one-of-a-kind ability” to merge data from third-party systems, empowering customers to employ the best solution for their unique needs.
“Hands down, SmartDrive is the best safety program we’ve implemented in the last decade. With every new acquisition, one of our first actions is to implement the program because of the value we know it will deliver,” Fridley said. “Based on exonerations alone, it has paid for itself over and over. Our habits, our behaviors, our safety scores—everything the SmartDrive program encompasses has been worth every dollar we’ve spent.”
To hear more SmartDrive customer success stories, go to smartdrive.net/why-smartdrive/customer-success.