IIT Madras, Daimler India partner to build a universal driver rating system

MUMBAI: The Indian Institute of Technology Madras has entered into a partnership with Daimler India Commercial Vehicles to develop a universal driver rating system for India’s commercial transport sector—an initiative that aims to strengthen road safety while laying the groundwork for a nationwide digital public infrastructure.

Formalised through a memorandum of understanding signed in Chennai on 2 February 2026, the collaboration seeks to create a first-of-its-kind, data-driven framework to assess commercial driver performance. The proposed system is envisaged as a common reference for commercial driving credentials, insurance evaluation and background verification, addressing a long-standing gap in how driver safety and behaviour are measured in India.

Monitoring driver performance, safety and well-being has become increasingly complex, particularly in the absence of comprehensive regulatory frameworks and with uneven enforcement of existing rules. This has resulted in inconsistent standards and limited accountability across the sector—an issue the new rating system aims to address.

Commenting on the initiative, Prof. Gitakrishnan Ramadurai of IIT Madras, who is coordinating the project, said: “Trucks and truck drivers are the backbone of our country. This project provides them an aadhaar for their good work. The driver rating system rewards good driving and helps correct risky driving thereby saving lives, money and time for all stakeholders.”

The system will be developed using data-driven methods, combining smartphone-based inputs with sensor data to generate objective, continuous assessments of driving behaviour. The partners also plan to design a technology stack capable of supporting large-scale, nationwide deployment, positioning the framework as a form of digital public infrastructure.

Prof. Ashwin Mahalingam, Dean (Alumni and Corporate Relations) at IIT Madras, highlighted the broader significance of the collaboration: “IIT Madras has been at the forefront of research in road safety and mobility, with the goal of building systems, processes, and infrastructure that ensure safer outcomes for our roads, drivers and commuters. Our partnership with Daimler is a testament to our shared commitment to this vision and also emphasizes how industry-academia collaborations play a crucial role in translating research into impactful, scalable, and ready-to-implement products and processes that deliver meaningful societal impact.”

From the industry side, Alexander Schoen, Chief Financial Officer at Daimler India Commercial Vehicles, said the project aligns closely with the company’s sustainability and social responsibility priorities. “At DICV, road safety and responsible mobility are central to how we approach sustainability. This collaboration with IIT Madras reflects our commitment to using technology and data-driven innovation to create meaningful, scalable solutions that improve driver safety, professionalism, and well-being across the commercial transport ecosystem.”

A universal driver rating system could have wide-ranging implications. For drivers, it offers incentives for safe behaviour and pathways to improved employability. Fleet operators and concessionaires would gain tools to monitor performance, track vehicles in real time and strengthen compliance. Shippers could benefit from improved delivery visibility, while governments would have access to anonymised, evidence-based data to inform road safety and transport policy.

If successfully implemented at scale, the initiative could mark a shift towards more accountable, transparent and safety-oriented mobility systems—anchored in collaboration between academia and industry.