To solve this disconnect, the new DRM program establishes a shared language across fleets by linking data directly to targeted coaching. “Technology observes behavior. It doesn’t change it,” Smith System CEO Derek Dunaway said in a news release. “Devices flag events; people coach behavior. The fleets that win aren’t replacing training with dashboards.

“They’re building a system where data, coaching, and training all speak the same language—and that’s what the 5Keys make possible.”

Operating as a continuous, closed loop, the program utilizes initial behind-the-wheel training to establish a behavioral baseline. Risk signals from monitoring tools and observations are then translated via a 5Keys score, guiding managers to specific driving habits that require attention.

According to company data from an enterprise deployment spanning more than 2,000 drivers across 22 distribution centers, the methodology helped cut preventable accidents by 38% over two years. The implementation also yielded a 2.9x to 9.5x return on investment, achieving payback within three to eight months.

“Crashes aren’t accidents; they’re predictable and preventable,” Dunaway added, regarding the system’s focus on proactive intervention. “Manage driver risk as a continuous program instead of disconnected events, and you stop reacting to the last crash and start preventing the next one.”