Safety technologies for truck drivers have been in use for several years. 

Are they helping?

The answer is yes and no. 

A recent article from the University of Arkansas Sam M. Walton School of Business found that these technologies can improve driver behavior, but that depends on how they are implemented and managed.

If a company is using technology to assist in coaching safe behaviors through better decision-making, then they are effective. However, if not managed well, drivers react by either avoiding the technology or, on the other end, over-relying on the technology. Another outcome is reduced vigilance over time if not managed properly. 

The business school conducted interviews with 25 managers as well as interviews with drivers on how monitoring systems, automation, and feedback mechanisms shape safety compliance.

The researchers came to the following conclusion:

The findings suggest that these technologies can both improve and undermine safety outcomes. Drivers may resist systems they perceive as intrusive or misaligned with real-world conditions, while overreliance on automation can reduce situational awareness and judgment.

However, when managers use technology to provide clear, constructive feedback and proactive coaching, driver engagement and safety performance appear to improve. Overall, the research indicates that safety outcomes depend less on the technology itself and more on how organizations integrate it into training, communication, and driver relationships.

Looking specifically at using video to monitor data, Rajiv Sabherwal, Department of Information Systems, Walton College, notes: “Video evidence changes safety conversations from debate to diagnosis. Drivers can see the moment clearly, without relying on memory, assumptions, or blame.”

Satabdi Hazarika, former Walton College doctoral student, now at Grand Valley State University, adds: “When technology provides clear, credible evidence, safety coaching becomes a shared learning moment, less debate about what happened, more focus on what to do differently next time.”

The researchers point out that the industry needs to continually focus on the overarching aim of technology. “At its best, truck technology isn’t just about compliance; it’s about protection," said Brian Fugate, Department of Supply Chain Management, Walton College "Real-time visibility can enable rapid response and materially support driver well-being when minutes matter.”