Smith System has launched a comprehensive Driver Risk Management (DRM) program aimed at helping fleets turn safety technology data into actionable driver coaching and long-term behavior improvement.
The Arlington, Texas-based company said the fully managed program is built around its Smith5Keys methodology, a behavior-based driver training framework that has been used by commercial fleets for decades. The initiative is designed to bring together training, monitoring, analytics, and reinforcement into a single process focused on reducing risk behind the wheel.
According to Smith System, many fleets have invested heavily in telematics, in-cab cameras, and driver scorecards, but continue to struggle with collision reduction because technology alone does not change driver behavior.
“Technology observes behavior. It doesn’t change it,” explained Derek Dunaway, Chief Executive Officer, Smith System. “Devices flag events; people coach behavior. The fleets that win aren’t replacing training with dashboards. They’re building a system where data, coaching, and training all speak the same language, and that’s what the 5Keys make possible.”
The DRM program uses information from multiple sources, including telematics events, speeding violations, harsh-braking incidents, and behind-the-wheel observations. Those findings are then connected to specific driving behaviors through the Smith5Keys framework, allowing managers to focus coaching efforts on targeted areas of concern.
Smith System said the program follows a continuous cycle that begins with behind-the-wheel training, followed by ongoing monitoring, coaching, corrective actions, and performance measurement. The company believes this closed-loop approach allows fleets to evaluate whether interventions are producing measurable improvements rather than simply identifying risky behaviors.
The company also reported results from a deployment involving more than 2,000 drivers across 22 distribution centers. According to Smith System, the program reduced preventable accidents by 38 percent over a two-year period while generating a return on investment ranging from 2.9 times to 9.5 times, with payback periods of three to eight months.
“Crashes aren’t accidents; they’re predictable and preventable,” Dunaway added. “Manage driver risk as a continuous program instead of disconnected events, and you stop reacting to the last crash and start preventing the next one.”
As fleets continue to balance safety goals with productivity demands, companies are increasingly looking for ways to turn large amounts of vehicle and driver data into practical actions that improve performance and reduce risk. Smith System's latest offering is intended to bridge that gap by connecting technology-driven insights directly to driver development and coaching strategies.
Founded in 1952, Smith System specializes in professional driver safety training and driver risk management solutions for commercial fleets. Its Smith5Keys to Safe Driving program is widely recognized as a behavior-based crash-prevention methodology, and the company provides in-person training, digital learning programs, analytics tools, and mobile-based resources designed to help organizations improve safety performance and reduce operating costs.
For more information, visit www.smith-system.com.