AutoSense has appointed Steve Fielding as Chief Revenue Officer, strengthening its leadership team as the fleet safety provider accelerates its growth across Australia and New Zealand.

A driver's alertness starts unravelling days before they get behind the wheel — and half a billion kilometres of data are showing us why. AutoSense's Charles Dawson on why fatigue management needs to move beyond the rulebook and into the human factors behind it.

By Charles Dawson, CEO, AutoSense Australia For a long time, fleet safety has been built around compliance. Logbooks, policies and procedures all have their place. But they’re designed to show rules are being followed, not whether risk is actually being managed in real time. That gap is becoming harder to ignore. A driver can be fully compliant on paper and still be operating in a state of significant impairment. Poor sleep, disrupted routines, or underlying fatigue can all i

Easter travel, disrupted sleep and shifting daylight hours are set to collide in a perfect storm on New Zealand roads this long weekend - a period already associated with heightened road trauma.

Eighty-two per cent of work-related fatalities in New Zealand’s transport and warehousing sector involve vehicles[1], underscoring what safety leaders describe as one of the under-governed workplace risks. AutoSense CEO Charles Dawson says that while vehicle incidents remain one of the most common causes of workplace death[2] in New Zealand, for many organisations, it is a health and safety blind spot. “Driving is the work activity most likely to result in serious harm[3], ye

AutoSense, a leading New Zealand provider of fleet and driver safety solutions, is strengthening its presence in Australia with the launch of LifeSaver Mobile, a first-of-its-kind app designed to stop distracted driving before it starts.

Mobile-phone distraction remains one of the biggest risks for drivers, with Waka Kotahi data showing that in the past three years, 283 drivers in fatal or injury crashes were distracted by a phone....

As schools return for term one, New Zealand roads are about to re-enter their most dangerous daily window - and it’s not late at night or on long-haul routes.

Greg Murphy still remembers the moment his life changed behind the wheel. Driving late at night, tired, and with alcohol still in his system, on a road he’d driven “heaps of times before,” he lost control of his Datsun 1200 – spinning 180 degrees, sliding down a bank and hitting trees, one of which struck just inches behind the passenger seat.

Building on the success of the Transport Leaders Forum, AutoSense presents the newly named NZ Fleet Forum — returning to Auckland and Christchurch in February 2026 with a powerful agenda that puts driver wellbeing firmly in the spotlight. Hosted by AutoSense and proudly sponsored by NZI, the Fleet Forum equips fleet managers and business leaders with practical tools and insights to support both light- and heavy-vehicle drivers. The focus this year is on the critical link betw

In the Driver’s Seat with Greg Murphy reveals driving confessions Greg ‘Murph’ Murphy is hitting the streets with In the Driver’s Seat, a bold new podcast that’s part carpool confession, part cautionary tale and 100% homegrown. Launching this September and backed by fleet and driver safety leaders AutoSense, the ten-part series invites high-profile New Zealanders to take Murph for a spin in their own cars while opening up about the lives they’ve lived — and the roads they’ve

As daylight saving begins this Sunday, Kiwis may welcome the brighter evenings and promise of summer BBQs, but the switch comes with a darker side. Health data shows the sudden disruption to body clocks has measurable consequences: hospitals in Michigan, US found heart attacks spike by 24 percent on the Monday immediately following the spring shift[1], while a 2024 review of 12 studies confirmed a four percent increase in risk across the two weeks that follow[2] setting clock

AutoSense Vision Focus provides reassurance for drivers and fleet managers For more than five years, Guardian by Seeing Machines cameras have become the standard across the entire Foodstuffs North Island fleet, including all company-owned trucks and owner-driver units, and even overflow vehicles. The driver safety system is proven to detect driver fatigue and distraction. Fleet Safety Manager Blair Inglis, says since April 2025 the business has doubled down and started introd

L->R: Santiago Aon (Fonterra, Director Global Supply Chain), Deena Clarkson (CE, Coda Group), Charles Dawson (AutoSense CEO), Lee Thorburn (Fonterra - Commercial Network Manager Global Supply Chain) We’re proud to share that Coda Group has been recognised with the Leadership Award at the 2025 New Zealand Workplace Health and Safety Awards. The award, which AutoSense had the honour of nominating them for, acknowledges Coda’s exceptional commitment to tackling driver fatigue an

AutoSense backs Street Smart to close the youth driver safety gap They’re driving less, but crashing more. Globally Gen Z’s licence numbers are down – yet their crash stats keep climbing. Ride-sharing, environmental concerns, urban living and financial barriers are causing young drivers to delay getting their driving licence. In the US, licence holding among 16-year-olds dropped from around 46 percent in 1983 to just 25 percent in 2022[1]. New Zealand youth make up only 13 pe

Entries now open to celebrate road safety excellence Entries are now open for the 2025 Australasian Fleet Champions Awards, and organiser, road safety charity Brake, is pleased to announce fleet and driver safety solutions provider AutoSense as the headline sponsor for this year’s awards. The awards, run through Brake’s Global Fleet Champions initiative, recognise organisations and individuals committed to improving fleet safety across Australasia. Caroline Perry, Brake’s N

How policy can prevent the next tragedy. When a driver sent 45 Snapchat messages from behind the wheel of her truck before ploughing the 30-tonne truck and trailer unit into a stationery ute last year, the driver of the ute was killed[1]. New Zealand vehicle safety and training experts AutoSense says the tragedy underscores the importance for businesses to have safeguards in place to protect their workforce from more preventable harm on our roads. The safety business has inst

Fatigue and sleep health expert Kat Aubrey leads World Sleep Day talk To mark World Sleep Day on Friday 14 March, vehicle safety and training experts AutoSense will host a free webinar, Make Sleep a Health Priority presented by fatigue expert Kat Aubrey. Date: Friday, 14 March 2025 Time: 12:00 - 12:45 pm Online via Microsoft Teams Kat says an astounding 59 driver fatigue events per day* were recorded last year by Guardian cameras installed by AutoSense in New Zealand vehicles

Freezing your pillowcase, putting ice in your water, and eating a green apple at 3 pm may not be the norm for most truckies,

By popular demand, AutoSense brings sell-out event to Christchurch on 21 February 2025 AutoSense is excited to announce the return of the NZI-sponsored Transport Leaders Forum, giving South Island-based transport decision-makers their first chance to attend the event at the Christchurch Town Hall on Friday, 21 February next year. The sell-out breakfast event debuted in Auckland in 2024 with a line-up of inspirational speakers. Life coach and BBM Founder Dave Letele, motorsp

These are the essential features NZ transport companies need In the demanding world of New Zealand transport, where long hours and challenging road conditions are a constant, ensuring driver and freight safety is more than just a priority - it’s essential. With the ongoing risks of driver fatigue and distraction, businesses need a solution that goes beyond basic monitoring. Driver Monitoring Systems (DMS) are designed to track behaviour and intervene when needed. A DMS reduce

Ashley Taylor - National Support Manager, Mainfreight Australia Mainfreight Australia is powering up their driver safety efforts with the installation of nearly 600 MiTAC units from AutoSense in their rigid, local fleet vehicles. With around 180 Guardian by Seeing Machines cameras already installed in their line haul (interstate) trucks, Mainfreight Australia National Support Manager Ashley Taylor says adding MiTAC to their arsenal is an obvious next step for their local flee

Dr Angus McKerral to speak in NZ next week Dr Angus McKerral Inside Seeing Machines’ Canberra headquarters, an alarm has been sounding every thirty seconds for the past forty hours. Unlike a noisy suburban house alarm often ignored by neighbours, Seeing Machines Human Factors Research Scientist Dr Angus McKerral, is paying close attention to the high pitched chime. McKerral and his research colleagues are designing a new alert for the company’s driver safety technology, Guard

Company safety priority is a lifeline for drowsy drivers ‘Safe work, safe home’ is the motto of Hilton Haulage, the nationwide transport business that places driver wellbeing firmly in the front seat. A three-month trial of Guardian by Seeing Machines cameras in six of its truck and trailer combinations identified instances of driver fatigue, leading the company to implement the technology across their entire fleet of over 200 vehicles. In an AutoSense podcast hosted by Greg

Dave Letele tightens the belt on obesity in the transport sector If you can only do one thing to look after your health, stop drinking fizzy drinks. That’s the advice of Dave “The Brown Buttabean” Letele, a former professional boxer, ex-rugby league player, and founder of life-changing community weight loss programme BBM. Once clocking in at 210kgs, Dave knows first-hand the risks associated with obesity, and he is urging Aotearoa New Zealand’s truck drivers to heed his call.

Sir John Kirwan shares his Triple-A Battery tips for keeping drivers on top Breathing, walking slowly and savouring your morning coffee may not sound like a revolutionary medical treatment, but if you’re a truck driver struggling with your mental health, it may just be the lifeline you need. In an AutoSense podcast hosted by Greg Murphy, former All-Black and mental health advocate Sir John Kirwan (JK) says transforming ordinary tasks like these into daily rituals can help saf

AutoSense hosts Transport Leaders Forum in Auckland on 22 February 2024 AutoSense is excited to announce the NZI-sponsored Transport Leaders Forum at the Due Drop Events Centre in Auckland on 22 February next year. The breakfast event’s keynote speakers include life coach and BBM Founder Dave Letele, motorsport legend and road safety advocate Greg Murphy, and Coda Group CEO Deena Clarkson, to address the important issues facing people in the transport industry. Autosense CEO

Did you know the highest number of fatigue-related events are recorded in November? AI-powered tech company Seeing Machines has released its inaugural 2022-23 Guardian Insights Report (for the 12 month period to 30 September 2023), highlighting November as having the highest number of driver fatigue-related events in New Zealand and Australia. Using Guardian technology to monitor driver fatigue and distraction, the report captured a staggering 653,048 risky driving events fr

At least 125 fatigue sleep events occur daily on NZ roads A national roadshow, hosted by motorsport legend Greg Murphy and neuroscience educator Nathan Wallis, to improve truck driver safety in the transport sector by highlighting the dangers of driver fatigue and distraction on our roads, will visit eight New Zealand cities this year. The #EYESUPNZ workshops are being delivered by vehicle safety and training provider AutoSense, who have analysed the data of 4,600 cameras ins

Nigel Moffiet, Editor - TransportTalk A national roadshow highlighting the dangers of driver fatigue and distraction rates in the road transport industry has kicked off. Hosted by motorsport champion Greg Murphy, neuroscientist Nathan Wallis, and road safety expert Kelly McLuckie, the the Eyes Up NZ workshops are visiting eight New Zealand cities with the goal of improving commercial vehicle driver safety. The first sold-out event took place in Auckland on March 14 with over

Transport is the backbone of the country, and with so much going on there isn’t a lot of time for businesses to share knowledge, successes, stories or just chew the fat. So, the good people at AutoSense created The Depot – a podcast hosted by Greg Murphy, who will talk to key people in transport, find out more about them and delve into some of the current topics. “It’s a great concept”, says Murph. “There is so much happening in transport but not a lot of time for people in t

In a pioneering move, Dynes Transport has implemented driver fatigue cameras across its entire fleet. Dynes also has a dedicated staff resource specifically for managing fatigue, so that we are proactively managing fatigue events. This puts Dynes at the forefront of the industry when it comes to managing driver fatigue. People often think driver fatigue means falling asleep at the wheel. Falling asleep however is an extreme form of fatigue. Why is fatigue a problem for driver

Covid has meant a change of career for many people, but sometimes it’s hard to visualise what it would be like working in a new industry without hands on experience. Driver training and safety solution experts AutoSense, are changing the game for anyone looking at a future in bus driving; their ultra-realistic AutoSense Heavy Vehicle simulator means people can actually feel what it’s like to be out on the road in a vehicle that size. And it’s working. In October, the AutoSens

Autosense NZ offers safety solutions for heavy and light vehicle commercial fleets through online driver training modules, in-cab simulator training and real-time management of fatigue and distraction using Guardian by Seeing Machines technology. AutoSense began distributing Guardian in 2015 and with exclusive distribution rights in New Zealand, Autosense has built up a steady pipeline of clients installing Guardian into their fleets, hitting the 3,000 milestone of Guardian u

Ensuring safety on the road for TIL’s drivers and other road users is a priority for leading New Zealand transport business, TIL Logistics Group (TIL). The company invests significantly in technology and training to support its road safety culture and has recently signed an agreement with driver safety solutions provider, AutoSense. The agreement will see AutoSense providing induction, ongoing online driver training and in-cab simulator training to TIL drivers as well as ins

Greg Murphy – former professional racing car driver and now road safety advocate has partnered with AutoSense in an effort to promote road safety with a particular focus on distraction and fatigue. AutoSense aims to improve safety on New Zealand roads, through driver training programmes and technology to Heavy and Light vehicle commercial fleets. Charles Dawson, AutoSense CEO says “With Murph’s background in professional racing, he’s the perfect person to help promote our r

NZ Herald | www.nzherald.co.nz An in-vehicle camera technology that analyses the slightest drooping eye or swaying head could be a lifeline for Kiwi truckies nodding off behind the wheel. A pioneering brand of Australian driver fatigue alert systems is aiming to have about 4000 units on New Zealand roads by the end of the year. However, some are questioning to what extent such technological advances actually address the underlying working conditions in an industry that saw

NZ Trucking | www.nztrucking.co.nz AutoSense is taking their driver training simulator on a road trip around the country, in an effort to provide better training for heavy and light vehicle drivers. The AutoSense Mobile Truck Simulator is the only one of its kind in New Zealand, with training based on the SAFED style and training customised to suit a company’s common driving situations. Driver awareness levels, responses to failures, emergency situations, and fuel efficien

Brittany Keogh: Stuff Auckland Transport is trialling "eye-monitoring" technology in a bid to stop bus drivers falling asleep at the wheel. Some New Zealand trucking companies already use similar devices, which sound an alarm and shake the driver's seat after a camera facing the driver detects that the driver has become distracted or closed their eyes for too long. One truck driver previously told Stuff the technology saved his job - and possibly his life. But a union whic

Amanda Cropp, STUFF It's every motorist's worst nightmare – rounding a corner to find a fully laden 50 tonne truck and trailer unit hurtling straight at you with the driver asleep at the wheel. Fatigue is a major issue for the transport industry and one it is taking more seriously. Quite apart from human casualties, accidents are costly when vehicles are written off and precious cargo destroyed. As well as teaching drivers how to manage fatigue, transport companies are get

Jared McCulloch, NEWSHUB https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2018/09/how-artificial-intelligence-is-saving-kiwi-truck-drivers-lives.html As the number of fatal crashes involving truck drivers increases, one company believes artificial intelligence (AI) could help. It may look like a standard mini-tanker, but a small camera in the truck's cab could be a lifesaver. The AI device scans the driver's eyes to detect signs of fatigue and distraction, and if their eye lids c

Robert Barry, NZ Autocar Fatigue and distraction are becoming the major contributors to road deaths in New Zealand but in-cab driver facial monitoring technology developed by a group of PhD students at Australia National University in Canberra is now making a difference for 27 Kiwi heavy commercial fleets. A seminar for transport industry stakeholders in Auckland yesterday has learnt how the Guardian driver monitoring system developed by Seeing Machines for use in the cabs o

Michelle Dickinson, NZ Herald Driving laps around the neighbourhood at 4am is a technique many parents have used to help their restless baby fall asleep. Now scientists believe they might understand how cars can make us drowsy and their research shows it's not just limited to babies. Head out on any long road trip with children in the back, and the chances are they will fall asleep for some of it. Previous research has found the low frequency vibrations produced by trains ca

Nigel Moffiet, Trasporttalk.com.au Face tracking software is being deployed in a bid to tackle driver fatigue and distraction in the commercial vehicle industry. Canberra-based technology developer Seeing Machines has created the Guardian driver monitoring system. It has been introduced into 27 New Zealand fleets over the last 18 months and has the backing of insurance provider NZI. ERoad fleet management is also set up to integrate with the software which is distributed in

Trevor Toohill, TruckSure There has been plenty of chatter in the press and on trucking blogs about truck crashes over the past year. I have written extensively about this and included truckies own discussions and thoughts. There is no doubt that there is plenty of awareness out there and it would be fair to say that you all know how to fix the problem – but here’s the thing, the problem is not getting fixed. Still the crashes happen. The subject has been bashed around and

Iain MacIntyre, FTD Magazine New Zealand’s trucking industry appears to be embracing an enterprising NZI safety initiative that entails the country’s largest commercial motor vehicle insurer itself paying for the installation and first six weeks’ application of the Guardian in-cab, eyetracking system. Developed by Seeing Machines initially for the Australian mining industry, the system is understood to have subsequently gained wide acceptance in larger road transport operatio

Dave McCoid, Editor - New Zealand Trucking Watching the trucking industry start to genuinely twist, contort, adapt and readapt under the rapidly changing technology that’s bombarding it currently, I can’t help but think on a regular basis about areas, able to benefit hugely from technology, that appear to be dragging their knuckles through the sand. One that stands out is driving hours. The absurdity of telling a person when they will and when they won’t be tired based on a

By Warren Dalzell, CFInstD HSWA, PCBU and Primary Duty of Care, Officers and Due Diligence – of course we know this acronym soup! Are we becoming blasé? Do we wish Worksafe would just go away? Fat chance! As directors or senior managers, readers are probably Officers as defined by the Health and Safety at Work Act. Independent directors are probably Officers of several businesses or undertakings concurrently. We Officers have significant obligations requiring continuing due