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The new Transport Canada LVVR regulation is asking every railway in Canada to enable access to the in-cab video and voice data while protecting crew privacy. Which means compliance to the new regulation will require a lot of processes and more than just a standard hardware solution.

Before purchasing an IoT hardware solution that supports the new regulation, railroads should ask a provider the following questions:

Q: How will we access the voice and video data without adding significant manual process?

A: Fundamentally, a provider should be able to clearly define the access parameters and you should look for those parameters to be simple to explain yet secure. To avoid manual process increases, consider a remote access solution.

Q: How can we identify undesired trends that could potentially lead to safety concerns and how can we do it without adding unnecessary burden to the operations all while maintaining strict compliance?

A: Identifying trends is key to uncovering new ways to get ahead and form a preventative regime. Look for a solution that utilizes Modern Artificial Intelligence Algorithms and enables machine learning. This type of monitoring doesn’t require additional personnel or changes to operations and is more efficient as it works behind the scenes within the data.

Q: Will railroads need to produce monthly reports to comply with the regulation?

A: Yes. When looking at options consider one that gives you easy access to the who, what, when, and where in order to comply. To go a step further, if you want to avoid additional staffing just for reports, look for a solution that has automatic reporting and remote access to the dataset.

Q: Does the Transport Canada requirement put the Chain of Custody protocol in jeopardy?

A: It shouldn’t as one of Transport Canada’s main principles is privacy. Consider a solution that also values privacy and security while meeting the regulations. Evaluate the solution’s protocols and look for one that enables controlled data sharing and secure logs showing you it was shared with, when it was shared, and who shared it. This will ensure the integrity of the chain.

Q: Transport Canada calls for six years of data to be stored, managed, and available for access. What’s the best way to meet this obligation?

A: There are independent certifications available to suppliers to confirm their security processes and protections. Consider looking for suppliers with Type 2 SOC 2 certifications, as well as turnkey hosting facilities with a solid and honed Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity Plan.

Q: How do we ensure our LVVR system meets all the different regulations we could be subject to when operating in different territories?

A: While regulations do have a dynamic aspect and can change over time, the changes usually come about slowly. Look for a solution that either meets the most stringent regulation or one that can provide over the air (OTA) updates to adjust for changes. OTA allows for a more robust solution without causing adverse delays to your operations. Also, a solution with a proven operating record across borders and various government oversight will help ensure consistent and accurate compliance.

Comparing IoT Providers

So how does IoT solution providers stand up? Wi-Tronix has the most complete, connected suite of capabilities that will keep your railroad fully compliant with the Transport Canada regulation. Our solution is rapidly evolving and adapting to ever changing technology industry challenges.

Railroads leveraging IoT technology are seeing many benefits and operational savings including fuel optimization, automatic operational performance measurements and real-time safety alerting.