First Mile is one of the UK’s leading waste collection services, built on a strong commitment to sustainability and a zero-to-landfill mission. Since 2004, First Mile has supported over 30,000 UK businesses, helping them reduce carbon footprints while rethinking how waste is collected in busy urban environments.

To stay true to this mission, First Mile operates a diverse fleet that includes low-emission trucks, electric vans, and cargo bikes. With daily operations taking place in congested city streets, safety, visibility, and compliance are not just regulatory requirements — they are critical to protecting drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists alike.

Solution to meet the industry compliance and Integration with existing video telematics system

DVS 2024

EXTERNAL CAMERAS

INTEGRATION WITH SAMSARA

ACSS Solution – DVS Compliance and Integration with Samsara

Industry – Recycling & Waste Management Services

Vehicles – Refuse Collection Vehicles (RCVs)

Operating in dense urban environments presents unique challenges for waste collection vehicles. First Mile needed to ensure compliance with the new Direct Vision Standard (DVS) 2024 regulations. At the same time, they required the ability to retrieve video footage remotely to support incident review and ongoing compliance.

Managing a mixed fleet, combined with limited visibility around larger vehicles, increased the risk of blind-spot incidents. Integrating new safety technology without disrupting existing fleet management systems was also essential to maintaining operational efficiency.

To fully understand these challenges, the ACSS team carried out on-site vehicle surveys, working closely with First Mile to assess vehicle types, and operating environments. This hands-on approach allowed to design a solution that was scalable, future-proof, and fully compatible with First Mile’s existing CCTV and video telematics systems.

First Mile was clear that they wanted to avoid introducing another disconnected platform that could slow teams down or complicate day-to-day operations. Without real-time external visibility and seamless system integration, monitoring incidents, ensuring compliance, and protecting both drivers and road users was becoming increasingly difficult.

To address these challenges, First Mile partnered with ACSS to deploy a fully compliant and integrated fleet safety solution. The system was designed not only to meet DVS 2024 regulatory requirements, but also to improve efficiency by bringing all safety and visibility tools into one familiar environment.

By integrating the solution directly with the existing Samsara fleet management system, ACSS ensured that safety, compliance, and video access could be managed through a single dashboard — making it easier for fleet managers and drivers alike.

ACSS implemented their DVS 2024-compliant camera solution across First Mile’s fleet. This improved driver visibility and enhanced the safety of pedestrians and cyclists, particularly in congested urban areas.

By meeting Transport for London safety standards, the solution allowed First Mile to comply fully with DVS 2024 regulations while significantly reducing the risk of blind-spot incidents. Compliance became more than just a legal obligation — it translated into tangible safety benefits for drivers and vulnerable road users alike.

High-definition ACSS external cameras were installed to eliminate blind spots and provide drivers with full situational awareness around the vehicle. This proved especially valuable during collections on narrow streets and in high-traffic areas, where precision and awareness are critical.

ACSS External camera footage is available directly within the Samsara dashboard, alongside front-facing and internal cameras. This gives fleet managers greater context when reviewing events and supports more effective driver coaching and training.

Beyond improving safety, the cameras also offer added protection for First Mile — acting as a deterrent to false claims and providing clear, reliable evidence in the event of incidents or vehicle damage

A key requirement for First Mile was the ability to integrate new safety technology with their existing Samsara fleet system. ACSS delivered a solution that aligned seamlessly with current platforms, ensuring minimal disruption while maximising operational insight.

This integration enabled efficient access to video data, simplified reporting, and supported ongoing DVS compliance management across the fleet — helping First Mile maintain high safety standards while keeping operations running smoothly.