One of the biggest hazards in landscaping is also the easiest to overlook until it’s too late - driver safety. Getting our crews and equipment to and from the job site doesn’t get the focus it deserves.
But when you think about all the miles traveled by large trucks, hauling materials and landscaping equipment, the picture becomes clearer. Driver safety is as important as any other safety practice. It matters to property owners, people commuting to and from work, and even children on school buses we share the road with.
39% of all occupational fatalities are due to transportation incidents (OSHA).
At Yellowstone Landscape, we’ve heard from clients who appreciate our newest driver safety initiatives because their families are on the roadways too.
That’s why we’re going to discuss how our in-cab cameras are keeping roadways safer. The cameras are also adding protection for our employees while highlighting our teams’ professionalism and extensive training. Today’s in-cab cameras are no longer just recording devices. The technology is constantly adding new capabilities.
Transportation Safety is the Massively Overlooked Risk
Landscaping vehicles are on the road more hours than most vehicles. This is especially true in the early morning and late afternoon. Why are those times more hazardous?
- Tired drivers
- Heavier traffic
- People are in a rush
- Sun position low in the sky impacts visibility
Large landscaping trucks can be more challenging to drive too. After all, they are larger and heavier. Additionally, heavy-duty commercial lawn mowers add to the vehicle weight.
And even the most experienced driver is subject to an exhausted mind. Especially after a long day of work in the heat of summer. These are just some of the reasons Yellowstone Landscape puts such focus on driver safety. And it’s why our company is continually investing in new driver safety technology.
Here are a few more stats to put a finer point on the need to protect families and property in the regions we serve.
- Over 5,100 lives are lost, and over 125,000 people are injured annually in crashes involving commercial vehicles.
- In 2024, industry-wide collision rates for fleet vehicles surged by 24% (Lytx).
- The most dangerous drive times are 7-9:30 AM and 4-7 PM (National Safety Council).
Those statistics reveal the reasons our company is utilizing in-cab camera technology in all our vehicles. These innovative cameras provide chances for driver coaching. And they offer risk alert warnings and reduce distractions.
Yellowstone Landscape Safety Specialist Q&A
Are certain regions or times of year more prone to incidents?
Yes. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety showed 41% of motor vehicle crash deaths in 2023 occurred in rural areas. The states with the highest percentage of crash deaths on rural roads were Vermont, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Maine. Thanksgiving and the 4th of July are the most dangerous holidays for driving.
The Power of Visibility is Why We Use Cab Cameras
Yellowstone Landscape presently uses the Lytx cab camera system. They’re designed to enhance landscape fleet safety, capturing crucial facts when things go wrong on the road, while still protecting privacy for drivers and the public.
Interestingly, our cameras don’t record constantly. They are triggered by risky driving, such as hard braking, swerving, or phone use. This footage is stored temporarily. Employees appreciate this because their every movement isn’t being micromanaged.
Does it take time for drivers to become comfortable with cab cameras?
The data shows this to be true and we can say that from personal experience it’s a big change for your team members. But in a few short weeks, the number of accidents begins to drop dramatically. Here are a few reasons why:
- Video with machine vision and AI provides situational awareness for drivers and managers.
- It collects data on risky intersections.
- Gives options for upcoming detours.
- Can provide weather updates.
- Provides low bridge warnings.
Furthermore, drivers become more accountable.
The reason? Because they have access to the Lytx Driver App. This lets them review video of any behavior the system flags. Without video, they could be unaware that they’re prone to distractions such as the truck radio or looking away from the road while talking with teammates.
The same would be true for all of us who’ve been driving for years. We settle into poor habits without realizing it.
Yellowstone Landscape employees have families and friends they want to safely go home to each day. And they want their families safe when they’re on the road. So, the Lytx cameras have heightened focus on safety behind the wheel.
Yellowstone Landscape Safety Specialist Q&A
What were initial hesitations (if any) around camera usage?
Across all industries, drivers don’t want to feel like they’re under a microscope. Employees also have privacy concerns. Explaining the technology and the purpose of cameras helped alleviate these concerns for our team members. The most effective thing was when our CEO had a Lytx camera installed in his personal truck. It sent a great message that we’re all in on driver safety and technology that protects our people and other drivers.
What training or orientation do drivers get about in-cab camera benefits and features?
We have some great training materials to get drivers started. We explain the benefits not just to the company but to individual drivers who, obviously, want to avoid hurting themselves, co-workers, or other drivers. Drivers can use the Driver App to review their driving habits and having this data in their pockets is a nice feature.
Turning Data into Safer Roads
Yellowstone Landscape has always made driver training part of our landscaping company safety standards. With in-cab cameras now in 100% of our trucks, management can reinforce the importance of driver safety protocols.
Video footage keeps complacency from creeping in by using the process below.
- The safety team reviews footage that contains risky driving.
- They look for patterns.
- Practical feedback is given to drivers in team coaching sessions.
- One-on-one conversations happen when retraining is needed.
- Good driving is recognized and applauded.
And we know safe driving programs must include positive feedback. Good drivers should be acknowledged. Studies back this up as 92% of employees say they’re more likely to repeat actions when they receive recognition for it.
How do in-cab cameras help beyond the safety aspect?
Cameras are a powerful shield for professional drivers in any industry. Footage can quickly exonerate the commercial truck driver after incidents where they aren’t at fault.
That’s critical because staged crashes have become a top insurance fraud scheme. So, in-cab cameras can protect business owners from this criminal activity. A recent case study supports this.
As a property owner, it makes sense to have providers that care about driver safety and accountability. After all, you want to ensure your employees, tenants, and guests are not put in harm's way due to risky driving.
Yellowstone Landscape Safety Specialist Q&A
What patterns have we identified that helped us improve driver training?
Looking away from the road while talking to co-worker passengers is a pattern. It’s a natural thing even for non-commercial drivers. We are reducing this bad habit by daily reminders during our Tailgate Talks.
Do we share this commitment to driver safety in our bids or client meetings?
Yes. It’s crucial for Yellowstone clients to know why we take the steps we take. Any communication that reduces property owners’ concerns about service providers, we want to give them that information.
Why Should Commercial Landscape Clients Care About Driver Safety?
It’s a good question. “Why should clients care about their landscaping provider’s in-cab cameras and driver safety initiatives?”
Three reasons immediately come to mind.
- Lowering your risk is the main reason it matters to property owners. Drivers being coached on safety and learning from seeing their bad habits makes people on your property safer.
- We’ve all seen near misses on highways, sidewalks, and parking lots. Reducing the odds of those incidents reduces your worries.
- We’ve all seen near misses on highways, sidewalks, and parking lots. Reducing the odds of those incidents reduces your worries.
- Another reason is professionalism. Yellowstone Landscape takes pride in hiring reliable, experienced landscaping professionals. We offer continuing education and training for our employees.
- Creating better drivers is part of that process. It benefits our company and the customers we serve to have higher standards for team members.
- Fewer project delays and better performance is vital for our clients. Vehicle accidents can mean reassigning crews and losing equipment, including the landscape truck itself.
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- And if an accident happens on your property, you could be called in to talk to insurance adjusters or law enforcement.
At Yellowstone Landscape, we aim to get our workers home safely every day. That goal extends to any person in the vicinity of our work trucks and landscaping equipment.
We’re in the business of creating and maintaining attractive outdoor areas. However, without continual safety program enhancements, we cannot complete our core mission.
“When dash cam footage is available, it makes it obvious who’s at fault in those accidents.” ~State Trooper with 20 years on the job.
What’s Next in Fleet Safety at Yellowstone?
There’s no question that everyone at Yellowstone Landscape loves getting their hands on the newest landscaping equipment. The same goes for testing new vehicle innovations.
That’s why we’re so excited about recent driver safety developments and those on the horizon, such as:
- Built-in telematics
- Electric fleet upgrades
- AI-assisted driver alerts
- Fuel and route efficiency
- Fleet maintenance alerts
- Driver data transparency
- GPS-powered collision avoidance
- Film breakdown for driver coaching
- Monitoring driver reaction times and squinting
New technologies allow our company to enhance efficiency. Technology is making driving large service trucks safer too. This also keeps our costs down and protects our most valuable asset - our people.
What about autonomous landscape trucks?
By now, you’ve probably seen video clips of our autonomous lawn mowers. Yellowstone Landscape has implemented this technology on properties where it fits the client’s needs. But how far away are we from autonomous fleet vehicles?
The following statistics show how likely this is for many industries using large trucks:
- The Autonomous Commercial Vehicle Market, valued at 10 billion dollars in 2025, is projected to grow exponentially, reaching 50 billion dollars by 2034 (Yahoo Finance).
- The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety anticipates 3.5 million self-driving vehicles on U.S. roads by this year’s end.
- Fully driverless commercial freight runs (trucks) are already operating in several states.
Yellowstone Landscape Safety Specialist Q&A
What driver safety upgrades are on the horizon?
Innovations such as GPS-enabled collision avoidance, predictive maintenance systems, and training tools using augmented reality.
Conclusion
No matter which landscape provider you choose, safety should be a core focus of the company’s culture. Of course, you want a provider with superb landscape design skills, quality staff, and comprehensive landscaping programs. But without a focus on safety, those other skills don’t mean much.
In the landscape industry, even when safety is a priority, it’s easy to only focus on obvious safety measures like:
- Safety vests
- Eye protection
- Mower training
- Hearing protection
- Heat exhaustion prevention
Advanced driver training often gets ignored. That’s a huge problem because service trucks are part of every single landscaping project and daily maintenance routines. Safety should begin the moment a landscaper enters their branch’s yard.
The same focus should continue during the entire route. From highway traveling to entering and exiting HOA communities, retail parking lots, and municipal areas.
If safety, professionalism, and superior landscape services are qualities you appreciate, get in touch with Yellowstone Landscape for a consultation.
