Integrated Technology Empowers and Protects Drivers on Waste Routes

Walking the halls and reading through WasteExpo's conference program makes one thing clear: technology is still very new. It’s growing rapidly, and it’s shaping how the industry works. In an opening-day panel at WasteExpo, industry experts explained how technology is empowering drivers and helping with customer interaction to provide the best service possible.

During the session, How Municipalities are Evolving Operations in the Face of Emerging Technology, attendees learned how companies utilize technology to make life easier for garbage truck drivers through digital tools. Brenda Haney, Solid Waste Director, Lubbock, Texas and Tyler Bandermer, Solid Waste Manager, City of Loveland, Colorado, spoke to the effects of digital tools that allowed them to empower their drivers by offering tools that allowed them to report on missed pickups, reasons for missed stops, and added accountability for fleets.

Just like I talked about in my Smart Cities article a few weeks ago, cities are installing digital tools that help drivers while they complete their routes. For Haney and Bandemer, their fleets are outfitted with cameras to back up driver claims when issues arise effectively. Say, a trash can was not put out by a resident, a car was too close to collect waste safely, or another driving-related incident occurs, their fleets would have instant evidence of each issue thanks to the onboard 360-degree cameras.

“The great part about technology is all parts are connected now. My back office, my field supervisors, my field crews, everyone is seeing this as we’re going through our day. We don’t have to wait for a route sheet at the end of the day. It’s already built-in and baked in there,” said Haney.

“It just goes to show what the drivers see every day now versus having them come back into the office and try to describe what happened. We get to see it now, again, virtually,” said Bandemer.

Technology in vehicles has many different impacts on drivers. Some drivers may see it as Big Brother stepping in to monitor everything they do, but it’s not that in the slightest. It helps them in the long run, creating evidence that backs up their stories and further protecting companies down the road.

Other impacts technology offers to drivers include helping drivers feel heard now that they have visual evidence for issues on the road, decreased stress for similar reasons by knowing they won't have to fight or convince anyone of their story, and a sense of ownership and pride, seeing that work and having teams review routes, commending drivers for doing a good job.

Bandemer and Haney, as well as moderator Mark Fournier, Director – Solutions Engineering, Routeware offered a presentation that confidently explained the benefits and importance of technology on the road. Hearing the success of each of their program’s utilization of technology just furthers the point that technology is making the waste industry a safer, clearer, and more efficient industry.