The comforts of home: More fleets using in-cab TV to recruit, retain drivers

CCJ Digital

Aug 25, 2015

One of the great joys of the modern age is relaxing in front of the television set after a hard day at work, or catching the big game on the weekend.   Until recently, television has been a rare treat for drivers on the road. It’s mostly been enjoyed in drivers’ lounges – where program choices are dictated by majority vote as opposed to individual tastes – or on rare evenings when a driver checks into a hotel.   But new advances in reliable high-quality satellite TV systems are allowing more drivers to catch their favorite shows in the privacy of their sleeper cabs. Also, more progressive fleets are viewing in-cab television as a shrewd way to attract new drivers and keep good ones.  

Why now?

  The adoption rate of in-cab satellite TV entertainment has grown significantly over the past couple of years, says Lance Platt, chief executive officer of EpicVue, an in-cab satellite TV provider. Platt says the overall market for live television service in trucking is dominated by the long-haul segment.   “Long-haul drivers that are away from home for extended periods are most affected by quality-of-life issues that EpicVue is targeting,” he says. “Prior to EpicVue, there was not a formalized program for fleet companies to provide live satellite television to drivers, and therefore, very few drivers were able to benefit from the service Full Report.”   Nelson Roberts, director of fleet accounts for King Controls, says lower prices and more reliable service have reshaped the in-cab television market. “Much like any high-technology product, the cost of the hardware has fallen significantly in the past 10 years,” Roberts says.   Drivers and fleets now can get a complete system for about $1,000, which includes a high-definition television, mount, mobile auto-aiming satellite TV antenna, HD satellite TV receiver, interconnecting cables and remote control.   Perfecting the auto-aiming satellite antenna has allowed providers to offer a high-definition picture and sound in a sleeper cab at a reasonable cost, Roberts says.   “Today, the satellites actually ‘speak’ to the antenna and tell it where the satellite is located, some as high as 22,000 miles in the sky, with pinpoint accuracy,” he says. “This allows for the strongest possible signal combined with the best high-definition picture anywhere in the lower 48 states.” While satellite TV has been available for years, the equipment never was designed specifically for the transportation industry until recently, Platt says. EpicVue worked with a satellite dish manufacturer to reduce the size of the dish by more than 40 percent and increase its lifespan by several multiples as a result of more ruggedized equipment.   But the real key, Platt says, has been the ability to deliver meaningful content at an attractive price point. Television service is typically north of $100 per month for the average user, but with a bulk purchase arrangement, EpicVue is able to deliver more than 100 channels of content – including premium channels such as HBO and Showtime, as well as NFL Sunday Ticket – for $49 per month. The package includes all necessary equipment and a support team to help drivers with technical issues.  

How long to install?

  System installation typically is handled at the fleet level and generally averages about two hours. Fleets can install the system themselves or work through a certified installation partner such as Velociti. EpicVue provides onsite training complemented by training videos and written installation instructions.   King Controls offers auto-aiming DirecTV or Dish mobile satellite TV antennas that weigh 8 pounds, plus a couple of pounds for the anti-vibration permanent mounting bracket. The company’s standard 22-inch high-definition television, plus the satellite receiver and accessories, can add an additional 10 pounds, “giving a total of less than 20 pounds installed in most average installations,” Roberts says. Installation, when using King’s MB150 anti-vibration mounting bracket, takes about 45 minutes to an hour per rig, he says.   Many satellite providers provide a financial subsidy for the needed hardware to get fleets rolling with in-cab entertainment, Roberts says. The subsidy depends on the fleet’s number of satellite receivers; discounts can begin at 25 trucks or more.  

Recruiting and retaining

  According to Platt, early-adopter fleets report that in-cab television has given them a competitive advantage for attracting and keeping drivers.   “Most of our customers are reluctant to share specific data on driver numbers,” he says. “That said, many of these same fleets have reported anywhere from a 50- to 200-percent increase in retention with those drivers using EpicVue. This is such a crucial component of our service that when a fleet signs up with us, they are provided a press kit to help promote their use of EpicVue in their recruiting efforts. ”   Roberts says many of King’s customers use in-cab television in different ways, often as rewards for high fuel economy numbers or reaching safe mileage milestones.   “Each of our fleet clients has a different approach to how they use the reward of a King satellite TV system,” he says. “But one thing is certain – once a driver becomes used to the TV programming in their rig, they will go to great lengths to retain that benefit for sure.”   See Original Article   Image Credit: CCJ Digital  

The new EpicVue+ includes live and on-demand TV, a fleet-centric channel, and more ways to educate and engage with drivers while on the road.

  In-cab trucking entertainment and communications provider EpicVue unveiled a new platform that combines DirecTV with fleet communications and driver training solutions—without the need for satellite hardware installation.   The new EpicVue+ was announced here at the Truckload Carriers Association’s annual conference at the Gaylord Palms Resort outside Orlando. EpicVue+ delivers DirecTV’s live and on-demand premium content, a dedicated fleet channel, and includes an interactive training platform that can be branded by carriers to provide exclusive content to their drivers.   See also: Making drivers feel at home on the road  

“With EpicVue+, our popular EpicVue experience has evolved, eliminating expensive hardware and lengthy contracts—and includes far more than just TV,” said Lance Platt, EpicVue CEO. “Our revolutionary new platform, designed specifically for truck fleets, is unlike any other available to the industry because it lets drivers enjoy the comforts of home entertainment while also keeping them connected with their carrier.”

 

Platt said that EpicVue+ is easy to install in tractors. He added that the solution promotes “job satisfaction and stronger employee connections while enhancing their ability to attract and retain drivers through entertainment, education, and engagement.”

 

Previous EpicVue on-the-road entertainment offerings required a satellite system to be installed on the back of cabs and a five-year commitment from fleets, Platt told FleetOwner. The new version relies on internet connections through mobile, WiFi, or broadband and a less-expensive system that connects to in-cab TVs.

 

As a bonus, Platt noted, drivers don't even need to set a DVR to make sure they don't miss their favorite shows. "Instead of forcing drivers to think about what they are going to record, we provide 100 channels of content," Platt explained. "We record every one of them for them. So now they can stop at any time and  go back and watch that game or that news event or whatever it is. And they don't ever have to worry about missing something because they were doing their job."

 

What EpicVue+ offers fleets and drivers

Platt broke down more details on EpicVue+ offerings:

 

Entertainment: EpicVue+ allows drivers to watch TV in their trucks with more than 100 channels of live programming from DirecTV’s Advanced Entertainment Platform with premium content from networks such as Showtime and Music Choice and a library of on-demand content. Drivers also can watch content on-demand, so they won’t miss their favorite shows because EpicVue automatically records every channel it offers.

 

Education: EpicVue+ provides a portal dedicated to training and education to help implement best practices and reinforce compliance. Fleet operators can easily manage content distribution or enable access to online driver training from partners such as CarriersEdge.

 

Engage: EpicVue+ includes a custom home screen branded for each carrier and a dedicated fleet channel to distribute company announcements and fleet news, promote incentives to reward drivers for performance, and acknowledge standout employees.

 

EpicVue+ can be self-installed, but the company also offers professional installation options. EpicVue also handles technical problems. The system and service are available without a term commitment and on a per-truck rate.

 

Platt said he’s most excited about the dedicated fleet channel on the EpicVue+ service. “The ability to engage drivers and showcase your company culture is invaluable, and it’s something we have been working on at the request of our customers,” he said. “We’ve been dedicated to the process of putting this package together, so needless to say, it's with great pride that we are able to finally offer it.”