Fleetsafer - Product Review UPDATE II
FleetSafer® by Cogosense is a software solution for smartphones and tablets that automatically detects driving status and enforces compliance with corporate safe driving policies.
Review of app Updated 11/5/2017
I recently tested Fleetsafer for possible use in my company vehicles. Mostly delivery drivers.
App photos and screenshots:
https://fleetsaferbycogosense.shutterfly.com/
The app has worked very well at doing what is described. The main purpose of the app is to reduce distracted driving and report driver status records. This is where Fleetsafer excels over other apps. Its reporting is robust.
I've included photos to detail the reporting features. The administrator/manager is able to drill down into the detail of single team driver and pinpoint 'events' with the cell as they occur. Each single event can be drilled into - even to the detail of a map showing the exact location and timestamp of the event.
Review:
Testing the app involved communicating with Cogosense and expressing my interest in trying out the app. I run a business that maintains drivers on every level…from manager vehicles to delivery trucks, to semi-trailers and pups. We are certainly a target company for the product.
Communication with Cogosense was easy and very professional. All of my questions so far have been answered promptly and fully. I have communicated with sales, management, and tech. All levels proved professional and thorough. I received documents detailing all steps.
I am not new to OBD devices and driver tracking, but at this point we have not used anything that controls the drivers personal cell device and blocks any apps.
There are two ways to run Fleetsafer. GPS mode and OBD connection. They are both equally accurate, but they vary in desired use. Since my employees use their own cells and we provide stipends, my method of use would likely be an OBD connection. Otherwise, the app will control the device in every vehicle they ride in. Easy enough to switch to passenger mode, but for simplicity, best to run on OBD in that case. If an administrator provided company cells, then the safest, best method would be GPS mode.
That said, I tested bSafeMobile in OBD mode and Fleetsafer in GPS mode. Both work as they should.
Update II:
I have now tested Fleetsafer in OBD mode as well. It works with the same beacon as bSafeMobile. In fact both apps will connect to the same beacon. The basics of the beacon is to provide context engine info from the vehicle back to the device.
Fleetsafer operated in a similar way to bSafeMobile (or I should say the other way around, since Fleetsafer has been out for much longer – far more updates as well, so likely fewer glitches at this point in time). Like many apps, installing requires allowing the app admin control over certain cell functions;
a. Enable Device Management
b. Control Volume Muting
c. Disable Touch Screen
d. Use Current Location
e. Make Phone Calls
f. Send Text Messages
g. Search Your Contacts
h. Apps That Can Appear On Top
If you don’t allow admin, you can't install. Likewise, removing the app takes an additional step. You must go to security settings and disable Fleetsafer as an administrator before uninstall. This is clearly explained in the administrator’s info. I believe that’s where some of the online comments of ‘can’t uninstall, this is a virus’ come from. Lack of knowledge on the user’s part – perhaps downloading from store without knowing what the product is.
Testing the app came with a 3 page install guide, a 2 page uninstall guide, a 3 page quick reference guide, and a 31 page detailed administrator manual. The reporting features are quite robust.
When the FleetSafer app is installed you will notice the location icon on the top left hand corner of the screen and also the FleetSafer icon on your desktop.
Certain apps can still be performed (approved), such as navigation, where it allows the user to toggle back and forth between the curtain and the nav screen. No driver penalties for using approved apps. For devices running Android 6 and below, Fleetsafer will still have the curtain screen with approved application tiles on it (if the approved application is configured). The latest update (requires android 7) has an option for a transparent screen such that the user can still see the approved application running on the foreground. It is important that the Android 7 user to launch the approved application prior to driving detection. The transparent screen allows the user to see what is running on the foreground but the touch screen will be non-responsive if the user touches it. I did not test the transparent screen, but plan to do so.
Once the safe curtain screen is activated, the driver can not text or use the phone, outside of approved apps. Trying to close the app will pop the screen back up in 2 to 3 seconds and records an event in that specific driver log. Drivers can click on ‘Passenger’ and confirm to close the curtain. This action is also indicated in the driver log, along with the map location of the event. When the vehicle has been stopped for a while, the curtain displays ‘End of Drive?’. The driver can click and close the app by ending the drive. However, if the vehicle begins motion again, the event is recorded in the driver log as prematurely ending drive. It all works pretty smoothly.
Handsfree devices may be used, unless the administrator has disabled handsfree for that particular driver. Lots of admin level control over each specific driver. I can certainly see differing levels based on driver grade.
I would highly recommend use of this app wherever team driver monitoring and grading is applicable.
Update II:
Shutting down the app is as simple as clicking twice. Once on 'PASSENGER' and once to 'CONFIRM" you are a passenger. This event detail gets logged and reported, with time stamp and map location. So, it's not that you can't shut down the app, it's that you can't get away with shutting down the app. The admin/employer will know what is being done.
I see this as a very effective way to encourage good driver behavior and save money at every level. Insurance reductions would be a prime use. I could even see structuring bonus pay based on driver performance scores. And on the flip side, the removal of drivers with low scores.
On4 Communications owns 100% of Cogosense and the Fleetsafer app, its patents, and technology.
$ONCI
thanks to breezerunner for this review
FleetSafer® by Cogosense is a software solution for smartphones and tablets that automatically detects driving status and enforces compliance with corporate safe driving policies.
Review of app Updated 11/5/2017
I recently tested Fleetsafer for possible use in my company vehicles. Mostly delivery drivers.
App photos and screenshots:
https://fleetsaferbycogosense.shutterfly.com/
The app has worked very well at doing what is described. The main purpose of the app is to reduce distracted driving and report driver status records. This is where Fleetsafer excels over other apps. Its reporting is robust.
I've included photos to detail the reporting features. The administrator/manager is able to drill down into the detail of single team driver and pinpoint 'events' with the cell as they occur. Each single event can be drilled into - even to the detail of a map showing the exact location and timestamp of the event.
Review:
Testing the app involved communicating with Cogosense and expressing my interest in trying out the app. I run a business that maintains drivers on every level…from manager vehicles to delivery trucks, to semi-trailers and pups. We are certainly a target company for the product.
Communication with Cogosense was easy and very professional. All of my questions so far have been answered promptly and fully. I have communicated with sales, management, and tech. All levels proved professional and thorough. I received documents detailing all steps.
I am not new to OBD devices and driver tracking, but at this point we have not used anything that controls the drivers personal cell device and blocks any apps.
There are two ways to run Fleetsafer. GPS mode and OBD connection. They are both equally accurate, but they vary in desired use. Since my employees use their own cells and we provide stipends, my method of use would likely be an OBD connection. Otherwise, the app will control the device in every vehicle they ride in. Easy enough to switch to passenger mode, but for simplicity, best to run on OBD in that case. If an administrator provided company cells, then the safest, best method would be GPS mode.
That said, I tested bSafeMobile in OBD mode and Fleetsafer in GPS mode. Both work as they should.
Update II:
I have now tested Fleetsafer in OBD mode as well. It works with the same beacon as bSafeMobile. In fact both apps will connect to the same beacon. The basics of the beacon is to provide context engine info from the vehicle back to the device.
Fleetsafer operated in a similar way to bSafeMobile (or I should say the other way around, since Fleetsafer has been out for much longer – far more updates as well, so likely fewer glitches at this point in time). Like many apps, installing requires allowing the app admin control over certain cell functions;
a. Enable Device Management
b. Control Volume Muting
c. Disable Touch Screen
d. Use Current Location
e. Make Phone Calls
f. Send Text Messages
g. Search Your Contacts
h. Apps That Can Appear On Top
If you don’t allow admin, you can't install. Likewise, removing the app takes an additional step. You must go to security settings and disable Fleetsafer as an administrator before uninstall. This is clearly explained in the administrator’s info. I believe that’s where some of the online comments of ‘can’t uninstall, this is a virus’ come from. Lack of knowledge on the user’s part – perhaps downloading from store without knowing what the product is.
Testing the app came with a 3 page install guide, a 2 page uninstall guide, a 3 page quick reference guide, and a 31 page detailed administrator manual. The reporting features are quite robust.
When the FleetSafer app is installed you will notice the location icon on the top left hand corner of the screen and also the FleetSafer icon on your desktop.
Certain apps can still be performed (approved), such as navigation, where it allows the user to toggle back and forth between the curtain and the nav screen. No driver penalties for using approved apps. For devices running Android 6 and below, Fleetsafer will still have the curtain screen with approved application tiles on it (if the approved application is configured). The latest update (requires android 7) has an option for a transparent screen such that the user can still see the approved application running on the foreground. It is important that the Android 7 user to launch the approved application prior to driving detection. The transparent screen allows the user to see what is running on the foreground but the touch screen will be non-responsive if the user touches it. I did not test the transparent screen, but plan to do so.
Once the safe curtain screen is activated, the driver can not text or use the phone, outside of approved apps. Trying to close the app will pop the screen back up in 2 to 3 seconds and records an event in that specific driver log. Drivers can click on ‘Passenger’ and confirm to close the curtain. This action is also indicated in the driver log, along with the map location of the event. When the vehicle has been stopped for a while, the curtain displays ‘End of Drive?’. The driver can click and close the app by ending the drive. However, if the vehicle begins motion again, the event is recorded in the driver log as prematurely ending drive. It all works pretty smoothly.
Handsfree devices may be used, unless the administrator has disabled handsfree for that particular driver. Lots of admin level control over each specific driver. I can certainly see differing levels based on driver grade.
I would highly recommend use of this app wherever team driver monitoring and grading is applicable.
Update II:
Shutting down the app is as simple as clicking twice. Once on 'PASSENGER' and once to 'CONFIRM" you are a passenger. This event detail gets logged and reported, with time stamp and map location. So, it's not that you can't shut down the app, it's that you can't get away with shutting down the app. The admin/employer will know what is being done.
I see this as a very effective way to encourage good driver behavior and save money at every level. Insurance reductions would be a prime use. I could even see structuring bonus pay based on driver performance scores. And on the flip side, the removal of drivers with low scores.
On4 Communications owns 100% of Cogosense and the Fleetsafer app, its patents, and technology.
$ONCI
thanks to breezerunner for this review
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