On January 23, 2025, the St. Mary’s County Metropolitan Commission (MetCom) received a grant award from the Local Government Insurance Trust (LGIT). Mr. Lawrence Bohlen, LGIT’s Deputy Executive Director presented a check to Chairman Gerald Meyerman in the amount of $14,054 providing the initial funding for the Commission to implement fleet telemetry and telematics into its vehicles.

From a risk management perspective, implementing fleet telemetry should reduce accident rates, help better assess incident claims and promote improved driving habits. Fleet telemetry will provide increased safety and security by helping quickly locate vehicle(s) and our non-motorized assets in case of theft, an emergency or coordinated response / recovery efforts in the event of a disaster. Features such as collision detection and emergency alert buttons will provide an additional layer of protection for our drivers. The forward-facing cameras will provide additional opportunities for training and evidence against potential false claims. They may also be used to monitor the safety of construction sites and traffic control operations.

Telematics also supports vehicle tracking, proactive vehicle maintenance scheduling, and leveraging vehicle diagnostics to predict and address issues before they result in potential accidents, breakdowns or costly repairs. Mr. Bohlen stated that LGIT would “welcome a follow-up request for additional funding once this program was in place.”