DTNA, Lytx to Partner on Factory-Installed Dual Camera Module

Ordering for the Lytx dual camera option will begin later this fall, with the first Lytx-equipped trucks to be built in February for the Freightliner Cascadia and in March for the Western Star X-Series line. (Lytx)

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Daimler Truck North America announced plans to offer a complete factory-installed dual camera module from video telematics provider Lytx on its Freightliner and Western Star trucks, calling such an installation a first in any truck.

Separately, Daimler Truck Financial Services announced it partnered with Chicago-based High Definition Vehicle Insurance to offer a safety-driven insurance offering exclusively for commercial fleet operators called Freightliner Dynamic Insurance.

The Lytx camera is capable of both road- and driver-facing digital video recording. The factory install will lead to reduced upfit time and quicker speed to truck in-servicing, according to Portland, Ore.-based DTNA.

Ordering for the Lytx dual camera option will begin later this fall, with the first Lytx-equipped trucks to be built in February for the Freightliner Cascadia and in March for the Western Star X-Series line of 47X, 49X and 57X models, DTNA reported.

Visit booth #13071 during @TRUCKINGdotORG's ATA conference to learn more about using technology to protect fleets and save lives on the road. https://t.co/g3c6oUlgeK pic.twitter.com/FoyTFTZEwA — Lytx (@lytx) October 21, 2022

In addition to video capture, the dual camera system incorporates machine vision and artificial intelligence to help improve unsafe driver behavior, including distraction detection and alerting technology. A subscription with Lytx is required to use its system and access video footage. Subscription service billing will be handled by Lytx.

The camera enclosure uses the footprint of the already-installed Detroit Assurance system used by Freightliner and Western Star. This minimizes use of windshield real estate and preserves driver line of sight. The Lytx system works well alongside active safety systems also available as options for trucks manufactured by DTNA, according to the truck maker.

“The new camera offering from Lytx is a direct response to fleets’ requests for integrated and factory-installed solutions that contribute to greater safety while also reducing the time and inconvenience associated with aftermarket installations,” Mary Aufdemberg, DTNA’s general manager of product strategy, said in a release.

DTNA noted Lytx technology, including the dual camera system, is used by more than 4,800 fleets worldwide.

Meanwhile, using telematics-based technology, dynamic insurance starts with competitively priced insurance featuring broad coverage, flexible payment terms, enhanced forms of coverage and no hidden fees. The service expands with tools that let fleets set safety goals and benchmark metrics and engage with drivers seamlessly. Customers benefit from a combination of their drivers’ safety and technology, which can result in a reduction to their monthly premiums, Fort Worth, Texas-based DTFS noted.

DTFS is highly attuned to the small- to medium-fleet market, “which has been particularly challenged by insurance premium hikes and more stringent underwriting,” Tobias Waldeck, DTFS vice president sales and marketing, said in a release.

Dynamic Insurance marks the second dynamic product from DTFS — the lending institution for Daimler Truck North America — joining its dynamic lease product based on telematics data.

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