Eyes on the Road, Data at the Wheel: Sodexo’s Fleet Safety Journey
The Australasian Fleet Management Association (AfMA) proudly recognises Sodexo Australia (Sodexo) as the winner of the 2025 Fleet Safety Award, celebrating an exceptional commitment to road safety, risk management, and creating a proactive, data-driven safety culture.
Through an ambitious multi-year journey that has transformed how safety is prioritised, measured, and embedded in operations, Sodexo, food and facilities management provider, has emerged as a leader in fleet safety — not only within its own business but across the broader energy and resources industry.
“This award reflects years of work, cultural change, and a shared commitment across our teams,” said Scott Leahy, Mass Transport Manager. “We knew early on that we didn’t just want to monitor risk — we wanted to prevent it. And that meant fundamentally changing how safety is understood and practised every day.”
A Fleet Safety Transformation, Driven by Technology and Culture
A key part of Sodexo’s operations take place in the vast and remote Pilbara region in Western Australia, where the transport division manages more than 400 vehicles, covering over 8.6 million kilometres annually. With long distances, extreme environmental conditions, and the responsibility of moving both staff and resource workers, the stakes are high.
Sodexo’s safety evolution began in 2021 with the implementation of the Guardian Driver Safety System (DSS) across its mass transport fleet. By 2025, this was fully expanded to all light vehicles — integrating every driver under a unified fatigue and distraction monitoring system, alongside In-Vehicle Monitoring Systems (IVMS), and consolidated via the Drivetec analytics platform.
The impact has been both immediate and far-reaching:
- 96% reduction in fatigue events in the bus fleet since 2022
- 93% elimination of distraction events
- 95% reduction in overspeeding above 120km/h
- Seatbelt violations reduced by 84%
- A 52% drop in safety events in light vehicles within 3 months of rollout
Beyond Compliance: Creating a Culture of Accountability
Sodexo’s approach goes well beyond technology. It’s about building a workplace where safety is owned by everyone — and leadership sets the tone.
“Safety isn’t just a policy or a metric; it’s an integral part of our culture,” said Milan Novakovic, Director Of Operations East Pilbara. “Our Stop Work Authority is a prime example of how we lead with accountability. This tool empowers our people to take immediate action when identifying a potential safety risk, ensuring that safety is everyone’s responsibility. By giving our people the power and expectation to act, we create a culture where our people thrive. safely”
At Sodexo, daily toolbox talks are guided by real-time analytics. Weekly driver behaviour reports are shared with department leads. And safe practices are rewarded through the RecogniseMe platform, encouraging peer-to-peer recognition and incentivising excellence.
From frontline staff to executives, the message is consistent: driving is a critical risk that requires continuous attention and care.
‘The biggest change we’ve seen is how people talk about driving,” said Eoghain O’Brien, Regional Manager. It’s a key risk that we manage proactively — and everyone’s on board.”
Committed to Safety – always
Sodexo remains dedicated to delivering innovative safety solutions that protects people in demanding operational environments. Through its partnership with Rio Tinto Iron Ore in the Pilbara, Western Australia, Sodexo continues to provide services that prioritise workforce well-being and operational safety.
Their successful implementation of DSS has reinforced the importance of fatigue monitoring in maintaining a safe and productive work environment. By integrating proactive safety measures into its service delivery, Sodexo supports Rio Tinto’s commitment to workplace safety.
“We didn’t set out to win an award. We set out to keep people safe,” said Andy Banks, Fleet Manager “But we’re incredibly proud that what we’ve built here can serve as a model for others.”
Looking Ahead: From Data to Action
While the technology may be cutting-edge, Sodexo’s success lies in its application: clear escalation protocols, strategic partnerships, and ongoing training fuel a living, evolving safety system.
Their partnership with innovative providers like Drivetec, and ConnectSource has allowed them to move from reactive compliance to proactive intervention — turning data into action, and action into sustained cultural change.
AfMA congratulates Sodexo for not only winning the 2025 Fleet Safety Award, but for demonstrating how smart strategy, strong leadership, and human-centred thinking can redefine fleet safety.
With Thanks to Our Award Sponsors
AfMA gratefully acknowledges Teletrac Navman and Solvd for their generous sponsorship of the 2025 Fleet Safety Award. Their continued support empowers us to spotlight and celebrate the individuals and organisations leading the way in building safer, smarter fleet operations.
Key Achievements – Sodexo | 2025 AfMA Fleet Safety Award Winner
- Fleet-wide integration of fatigue and distraction monitoring across 370+ vehicles
- 96% reduction in true fatigue events in mass transport fleet since 2022
- 93% elimination in distraction events over a 24-month period
- 52% drop in fatigue-related events in light vehicles within 3 months of rollout
- 84% reduction in seatbelt violations
- 95% reduction in speeding over 120km/h
- Unified safety platform integrating IVMS and DSS, powered by Drivetech
- Real-time behavioural insights enabling rapid intervention and coaching
- Executive-led safety culture – including CEO-backed ‘Stop Work Authority’
- Weekly driver behaviour reports shared with department heads
- RewardMe recognition app to reinforce positive safety behaviours
- Monthly safety forums and toolbox talks grounded in live data
- Proactive collaboration with ConnectSource, & Drivetec
- A scalable model, openly shared with other organisations and fleet operators
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