A search for the right Electronic Logging Device (ELD) system has transformed into incorporating Artificial Intelligence to boost driver safety for STEP Energy Services.
Based in Calgary, Alberta, STEP Energy Services provides coiled tubing, hydraulic fracturing, cementing, fluid and nitrogen pumping solutions to oil & gas exploration and production companies across Canada and the United States.
The company operates 24 hours a day. Drivers spend hours on the road, making it essential for the business to keep drivers safe, manage their hours of service and prevent fatigue.
About five years ago, STEP began looking for automated technologies to help ensure compliance with Canadian ELD regulations automatically for its fleet of about 600 trucks. STEP selected Motive’s compliance system, which “dramatically” enhanced operations in terms of faster reporting and tracking hours of service.
“We now have real-time data every day. Before, we had to wait for paper logbooks to come in. Now we can see how our drivers are complying automatically,” said Jayme Borgstrom, STEP Energy Services’ DOT Manager.
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After successfully integrating Motive’s ELD system, STEP incorporated Asset Gateways to track their equipment. Motive’s Asset Gateway is a tracking device for high-value assets, giving fleets visibility into location, utilization and movement. It can provide location updates, geofence alerts, theft-recovery support and asset matching, helping fleets know where equipment is located.
“Often, trailers get left on the side of the road somewhere, and someone’s supposed to go pick it up. So, it’s really nice to know where it is actually located,” Borgstrom said.
About two years ago, STEP began equipping its trucks with Motive’s dash cameras. In January, the company began adding dual-facing AI cameras to its fleet.
“For oil field companies operating on high-risk roads, like out on the lease roads, it’s just really nice to have that kind of extra set of eyes,” Borgstrom said.
STEP started its dual camera expansion with 80 cameras installed on its logistics trucks.
“They’re always on the road. They’re the 24-hour on-the-road operation,” Borgstrom said.
Motive’s dual-facing AI Dashcam is designed to give fleet managers a view of what happens on the road and inside the cab. Unlike dash cameras that records traffic conditions in front of the vehicle, the dual-facing model includes one camera aimed at the road and another aimed toward the driver.
The system uses AI to identify unsafe driving behaviour and provide real-time in-cab alerts. The AI Dashcam can detect numerous unsafe driving practices from tail gating to mobile device use to smoking to seat belt violations. The system can warn the driver of their unsafe behaviour and notify management if needed.
“It alerts the driver first before it would flag a manager. It gives them a chance to correct themselves,” Borgstrom said. “Then after three times, it flags on manager and lets them know.”
For commercial fleets, that added visibility is aimed at both prevention and protection. Driver-facing footage can help identify distractions or other risky habits, while road-facing footage provides context such as traffic, weather, road conditions and the actions of surrounding vehicles.
An AI co-driver
At STEP, the dual facing cameras are used as a co-driver, rather than a notification system for management.
“It’s not supposed to be thought of as like a negative thing,” Borgstrom said. “I always say to the drivers, ‘think of it as your little angel on your shoulder. What if you actually were falling asleep?’ It’s not here just to rat you out. It’s not here to get you in trouble.”
The system is also able to prove the driver was paying attention and following the rules of the road using the camera’s recorded video if a vehicle is involved in an infraction.
“It’s definitely helped in some insurance-wise cases,” Borgstrom said. “Before you could have the conversation with the guy, and you would basically have to believe a story. Now we can just pull up that footage.”
While management doesn’t actively monitor drivers in the cab, the notifications have a preventative effect as drivers know unsafe behaviours are noted by the system.
“With tailgating and stuff like that, the guys are aware we are going to get an alert,” Borgstrom said. “I do really feel it has changed the driver’s perspective of being safer on the road.”
The dual cameras and Motive’s safety scoring system are also earning buy-in from STEP’s drivers. Borgstrom will receive calls from the company’s fleet driver’s asking to see their reaction to wildlife on the road, so they can judge their own reaction time. They’re also asking how they able to improve upon safety scores.
“What I tell the mangers is this is actually a positive, because I heard from like 20 guys last week that wanted footage, or they cared about their safety scores,” she said.
Global innovator
This year, STEP was recognized with Motive’s Global Innovator Award (Canada) for its safety achievements. STEP has decreased safety events by 18 per cent and held their collision rate to 1.2 per million miles.
STEP is also celebrating the acquisition of Sanjel Energy Services, which creates one of the largest and most diversified oilfield services providers in Canada.
While Sangel’s 180-truck fleet is already equipped with Motive Cameras, Borgstrom said STEP plans to continue outfitting its remaining trucks with the system.
“It’s just to help our professionals be better drivers and be safer on the roads. It’s about data-driven awareness: good or bad, you just have to turn it into a positive, and that’s what we like,” Borgstrom said. “We’re all learning this whole AI world, but it’s really cool.”
