Introduction
Driver safety has always been a critical focus for companies with field teams. But, as accidents, insurance costs, and liability risks continue to rise, companies are looking for better options to meet employees where they are and that have a greater impact on training and the bottom line. Motus recently expanded its Motus Protect suite with Road Smart, a driver safety training solution designed to fit into employees’ everyday workflows through short, in-app microlearning lessons.
To learn more about how Road Smart came to life and why it’s changing the way companies think about driver safety, we caught up with Jonathan Steele, Director, Product Management, at Motus.
Q: How are companies building risk mitigation into their vehicle reimbursement programs overall?
A: The companies taking risk mitigation most seriously aren’t just checking one box; they’re layering protections. We see customers combining continuous motor vehicle record (MVR) monitoring, regular insurance checks, and now driver safety training through Road Smart. That combination helps them identify high-risk drivers faster, ensure compliance all year, and put safer drivers on the road. It’s a more holistic approach that protects both employees and the business.
Q: Why is driver safety such an important topic for companies right now?
A: For many businesses, success depends on field teams, like sales reps, service techs, marketers, and medical staff getting behind the wheel every day. Even when employees are driving their own vehicles, accidents and violations don’t just impact them personally. They increase insurance premiums, create liability claims, and take employees off the road. Companies are feeling those costs directly, so safe driving has become a critical business issue, not just an employee responsibility.
Q: What challenges do companies face with traditional driver safety training?
A: Traditional training has been valuable, but it often doesn’t deliver the outcomes that companies need. Long, one-size-fits-all lessons can make it difficult for busy field employees to stay engaged, and they don’t always reflect the specific situations that drivers encounter in the field. That can limit knowledge retention and make it harder for employees to put what they’ve learned into practice. Companies are looking for approaches that are more flexible, more relevant, and easier for employees to adopt in their day-to-day routines.
Q: How is Road Smart designed to solve those challenges?
A: We built Road Smart with direct input from field employees and customers. The feedback was clear: training needs to be quick, accessible, and relevant. Road Smart lessons are under two minutes and focused on one specific risk at a time, things like speeding, distractions, or fatigue that are informed by powerful statistics, practical solutions, and clear impacts of risky decisions. And, because it’s built right into the Motus app and web portal, employees can complete training where they already track and submit mileage. That kind of convenience drives adoption.
Q: What makes Road Smart unique compared to other microlearning solutions?
A: Microlearning training formats have become a popular approach in corporate training because it’s quick and effective, but not all microlearning is created equal. What sets Road Smart apart is the context and integration. It’s part of the Motus Protect suite and fully tied into Motus Reimburse, so training doesn’t sit off to the side as another system for employees to manage. It’s built directly into the daily workflow that drivers already follow. On top of that, companies can enable accountability controls, which require employees to complete lessons before submitting mileage. That combination of accessibility and accountability makes Road Smart uniquely positioned to improve adoption, retention, and compliance.
Q: What’s the impact companies can expect for using Road Smart?
A: When employees build safer habits, they avoid the tickets and repairs that increase their costs and eat into reimbursement dollars. For companies, putting safer drivers on the road reduces accident risk, lowers insurance exposure, and shows due diligence. And, because the training is quick and accessible, employees are more likely to complete it, which improves compliance, productivity, and ultimately retention.
Q: What excites you most about Road Smart?
A: For me, it’s seeing how this bridges the gap between compliance and employee experience. We’re not just adding another check-the-box training. We’re creating something that works for employees and delivers measurable value for companies. That’s what makes Road Smart such an exciting step forward for Motus Protect.
Want to learn more about Road Smart? Check out the virtual tour.
