The transport industry is increasingly willing to invest in telematics and in-cab monitoring, with fleet operators hailing some big insurance savings.

Gallagher says such systems may be expensive to install, but can reap a range of cost benefits for large fleet operators, including in insurance.

Roz Shaw, the broker’s Head of Transport, says truck operators are facing increasingly tight margins, so adopting new technologies makes sound commercial sense.

“Telematics have been gaining traction for some years, but in-cab driver monitoring systems in particular have been gathering pace and take-up this year,” Ms Shaw said.

“Telematics systems can play a pivotal role in reducing fuel use and tyre wear, and assist with establishing reliable cost/kilometre ratios, while in-cab monitoring systems can influence positive driver behaviour and minimise the risk of fatigue or distraction-related accidents.”

Ms Shaw says that as well as the obvious human element, reducing heavy vehicle accidents makes good business sense.

“This technology can be expensive and as a result some transport companies are reluctant to make the investment. However, we have been able to facilitate productive conversations between our clients and insurers to offset some of these costs.

“Insurers may even be willing to share costs with transport operators, or reduce insurance premiums for those who have installed in-cab monitoring systems.

“It’s certainly a question transport operators should raise with their broker if they are weighing up whether to implement the technology.

She says fully autonomous trucks are still years away, so in-cab monitoring systems “represent a tangible means of improving safety records and fleet efficiency. Everyone wins in that equation.”