Centrad has revealed that conversations at this year’s Tow Show point to a growing shift in how recovery operators view vehicle CCTV, with increasing interest in technology that can identify risks in real time and support preventative action before an incident occurs.
Tow Show highlights growing role of technology in helping vehicle recovery operators manage risk
The connected vehicle technology specialist reported a particularly positive response from visitors to its stand.
Conversations highlighted how technological solutions designed to improve visibility, identify driver risks and address the practical challenges of vehicle recovery are becoming increasingly necessary due to the demanding environments both operators and drivers work in and the wide variety of vehicles and loads they handle.
Centrad 360 Camera Systems
For recovery operators, vehicle size and the environments in which they work can make visibility a significant challenge. Vehicles are regularly manoeuvring in confined spaces, attending roadside incidents and operating around other vehicles, people and equipment.
As such, Centrad’s 360° camera systems attracted interest for their ability to provide a clearer view around the vehicle, with predictive warnings also helping drivers identify potential blind-spot hazards before they become incidents.
AI-Powered Camera Technology
AI-powered camera technology was another major talking point at the show, demonstrating the industry’s growing interest in how CCTV can play a more active role in road safety.
Centrad's Bridge Strikes Solution
Centrad’s bridge camera solution generated some of the strongest reactions on the stand, addressing a particularly familiar challenge for recovery businesses. Unlike many other commercial vehicles, recovery vehicles can carry a wide range of vehicles and loads, meaning their overall height may change significantly from one job to the next.
A bridge camera is able to provide a straightforward way to help drivers assess such height-related risks and avoid collisions with low bridges – a practical solution to a potentially costly and dangerous problem.
For fleet operators, a bridge strike can mean far more than vehicle damage and repair costs, with knock-on effects including vehicle downtime, disruption to scheduled work and potential liability for damage to infrastructure.
Built from the Operator's Side of the Desk
Discussions also covered the value of remote access to footage and fleet visibility through the Centrad Platform.
“A clear takeaway from the show was that it’s evident that the industry is now looking to take proactive steps to reduce incidents, rather than simply relying on technology to understand what happened afterwards.
“Whether that’s improving visibility around a vehicle, identifying potential signs of driver risk or helping to prevent a bridge strike, there’s fundamentally a growing awareness of how the technology available today can actually support operators before something goes wrong. It was really positive to see that first-hand.”
