California Department of Conservation Sees 100% Improvement in Driver Behavior
Choosing and implementing vehicle telematics software can be a long, drawn-out process, particularly for an government agency managing complex infrastructure requirements. So, when a team needs to make a switch, it can be even more challenging. The California Department of Conservation faced such a scenario in early 2020, but by choosing Sawatch Labs, they were able to make the switch quickly—resulting in 100% improvement in driver behavior and efficiency.
The Challenge: Making a Telematics Switch
While the California Department of Conservation (DOC) had an existing telematics solution in place, the system failed to meet the specific requirements of their field operations. Inaccurate reporting, particularly regarding speeding, did not reflect the reality of the off-road work performed by drivers. These data gaps, combined with hardware malfunctions and administrative friction, created significant discrepancies between the recorded data and the fleet's actual performance.
The department also encountered recurring billing issues that proved difficult to rectify and disrupted the state’s internal systems. Furthermore, an ongoing hardware problem caused vehicle battery drainage, a technical issue the previous vendor was unable to resolve. Perhaps the most significant limitation was the vendor’s inability to set driver reminders for vehicle reporting, start times, and location tracking—data points crucial for monitoring driver behavior and ensuring operational safety.
Our Solution: Geotab & Custom Driver Technology
After careful evaluation of their needs and pain points, Sawatch Labs decided that Geotab would be the best telematics software for their situation. Geotab offers better equipment, better reporting, and an increased potential for increased safety.
The switch to Geotab happened quickly, primarily due to Geotab being on California’s statewide approved vendor contract. With Geotab’s real-time reporting, department leaders are notified of incidents immediately — previously it may have been hours after an incident occurred. With audible warnings, drivers can also be cued — and self-correct their behavior — related to seatbelt usage and speeding.
In addition, Sawatch Labs took analyzing driver behavior even further. They not only coordinated the installation of 125 devices, including driver ID technologies, but they also developed a custom project that allowed drivers to view their driving behaviors and techniques. This allows drivers to take an active role in reducing their risky driving behavior, which ultimately contributes to cultivating a more sustainable fleet. Also, to ensure DOC drivers and fleet managers stayed informed, Sawatch Labs provided year-round troubleshooting support as well as annual training sessions that covered all the latest software information and strategies for optimal fleet performance.
The Results: 100% Improvement
In the few months the California DOC partnered with Sawatch Labs, they have seen significant improvements. “What I noticed out of the gate was drivers were fobbing 100% of the time — and it’s being remedied by the employees not their managers,” says Paula Hutchinson, California Department of Conservation Fleet Administrator. And it’s not just fobbing that’s seen significant improvement. Drivers are safer. Previously, they had 30 to 40 violations per month, which resulted in lots of research to figure out what happened. Now, they’re averaging only one or two violations; and for the month of November, they had zero violations. In addition to cutting down violations, Hutchinson notes this will result in even few public complaints about drivers. “We have a better image as a whole,” she says. With Geotab technology, the DOC was even able to solve the mystery of the drained batteries using engine data to prove that it wasn’t related to the Geotab devices, but driver behavior. Improvements aren’t just related to driver behavior. Thanks to Sawatch Labs and Geotab, the department is in the process of automating its monthly mileage reporting, which must be completed every month. The impact will be “huge,” according to Hutchinson.
