'Log Ninja' mobile app enhances New Zealand's trucking safety

A novel, complimentary mobile app has been launched in New Zealand aimed at truckers. The app's creator, Log Ninja, believes this introduction could significantly heighten road safety standards in the country by mitigating the need for antiquated paper logbooks still favoured by around 90% of New Zealand's truck drivers.

According to statistics for the year 2022, 51 fatal crashes, 166 serious injury crashes, and 539 minor injury crashes all had truck involvement. Bodhi Vette, the Founder of Log Ninja, is determined to see these figures decrease. Vette stated, "When I drove buses, I found all that paperwork created a massive administrative burden, on top of driving long hours. If you are checking the paper logs to calculate when you're next due for a break, your focus is not solely on the road."

In New Zealand, roughly 200,000 commercial vehicle drivers are legally obliged to take a break after five and a half hours of driving and are not permitted to exceed eleven hours of driving daily. By providing helpful reminders to drivers nearing their obligatory rest break, Log Ninja aims to alleviate strain and concerns about compliance.

Addressing the app's benefits, Vette explained, "Log Ninja records time on the move, and a notification will tell the driver when they are due for a break. Truck drivers can focus on driving safely and not have to worry about paperwork."

Vette continues to elucidate the cost and burden associated with compliance for the trucking industry, explaining that the industry would have to bear a massive NZD $24 million per annum if each driver decided to use current digital logbooks. Furthermore, even those using approved paper-based logs still face costs of between NZD $10 and NZD $18 for their 50-page triplicate logs.

According to Vette, Log Ninja eliminates these obstacles as drivers can download the app without cost. "We are removing that barrier by making Log Ninja free to every driver in New Zealand. More drivers using digital logs will save money and make the roads safer."

Bodhi Vette encourages drivers to embrace the simplicity of digital logbooks, claiming that "Log Ninja is usable by any driver with a smartphone and keeps logging data under their control."

Dan Burt, a truck and bus driver for 12 years and a recent adopter of Log Ninja, articulated the hurdles he faced with digital transitioning. "I have tried other digital logbooks and quickly gone off them. I found them difficult to use, and making edits was very time-consuming. It was not worth paying more over the paper version. So, to have a free option which is modelled on the paper logs is a lifesaver."

With the aim of having 30,000 commercial drivers utilising the logbook within the first month, Vette optimistically concluded, "Log Ninja makes it easy to select the driving period you want, in the type of vehicles you driven, and easily export logs with the press of a button. Every sign-up will make a driver's life easier, their record keeping more meaningful, and New Zealand roads safer."