RVR launches new surveillance-based service protects lone delivery drivers

Remote Video Response, (RVR) launched a new electronic surveillance service to help protect Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV) drivers

Gloucester-based Remote Video Response, (RVR), has launched a new electronic surveillance service with remotely operated CCTV cameras to help protect Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV) drivers who make multiple deliveries at night. RVR is part of UTC Fire & Security, a unit of United Technologies Corp.

The new service, known as ‘Driver Minder', has been introduced specifically to ensure that deliveries to remote locations outside normal working hours are safer for drivers.

How it works is simple: the driver seals the vehicle's container at the base depot, before phoning through a seal number to RVR's control room where an operator enters it into RVR's ‘MASterMind' management and control system.

Once the driver arrives at his first delivery, the RVR operator confirms the accuracy of the seal number and verifies both the driver's and vehicle's credentials. Upon verification of the seal number by RVR, the gates to the depot can be opened, intruder alarms disarmed and designated doors and roller shutters accessed, all carried out remotely by the RVR control centre.

Using existing surveillance cameras, a dedicated operator at the RVR control centre will undertake regular checks to observe the safety of drivers. The RVR control centre also provides further security at the site by maintaining contact with and monitoring lone workers.

If at any point RVR fails to locate the driver, it will contact a site key holder or third-party security company. "In the event of the driver using a ‘duress password' - to indicate that he is in trouble - the police will be dispatched immediately to attend, whilst our operator continues to monitor the situation using the technology available," says Colin Walters, General Manager of RVR.

Once the driver has completed his delivery, RVR arms the alarm system, closes the gates and secures the site again. The driver then phones through his new seal number to RVR (where it is re-entered into MASterMind), before moving on to his next delivery.

"Driver Minder was originally designed to meet the needs of one particular retailer," Colin explains, "but it proved to be so successful that we have decided to roll the service out as part of our core offering to all our customers."