The proposed system is envisioned as a critical tool for commercial driving certification, insurance assessments and background verification, while also serving as the foundation for a digital public infrastructure to enable nationwide rollout.

The initiative seeks to address persistent challenges in monitoring driver performance, safety and well-being in the commercial transport ecosystem. The absence of comprehensive regulatory frameworks and uneven enforcement, has resulted in inconsistent standards and limited accountability, affecting both road safety and operational efficiency, a release from IIT-M said.

Gitakrishnan Ramadurai, project coordinator at IIT-M, said, “This project provides trucks and truck drivers an Aadhaar for their good work. The driver rating system rewards safe driving and helps correct risky behaviour, thereby saving lives, money and time for all stakeholders.”

Under the partnership, IIT-M and DICV will develop the Driver Rating System using data-driven methods that combine smartphone-based inputs with sensor data to objectively assess driving behaviour and safety outcomes.

Ashwin Mahalingam, dean (alumni and corporate relations), IIT-M, said, “Our partnership with Daimler underscores how collaborative efforts can translate research into scalable, ready-to-implement solutions with real societal impact.”

Alexander Schoen, chief financial officer, DICV, averred: “By contributing to a universal driver rating framework, the goal is to support safer roads, stronger livelihoods and a more accountable mobility system for India.”

The universal rating system is expected to incentivise responsible driving, enable fleet operators to monitor performance and compliance in real time, assist driving institutes in certification, support shippers with delivery visibility, and provide governments with data for evidence-based policymaking, collectively contributing to improved road safety outcomes.