News

Medical Data Vision Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Hiroyuki Iwasaki; hereinafter “MDV”) is pleased to announce the full-scale launch of “Karteco workwell,” a corporate Personal Health Record (PHR) solution specifically designed for the transportation and passenger service sectors. By leveraging contactless biometric sensing, the solution enables quantification of driver fatigue and stress—factors traditionally difficult to assess—ushering in a new standard for “Tenko” (roll-call) practices.

By utilizing contactless biometric sensing technology with Karteco workwell, it becomes possible to quantify drivers’ levels of fatigue and stress, enabling the objective assessment of physical and mental conditions that were previously difficult to detect.

• Additionally, MDV introduces its proprietary “Emo Scan Approach” to health assessment, evaluating driver condition from three integrated perspectives:
• Objective biometric measurements
• Self-assessment by the driver
• Responsive action based on data insights

This triad enables more precise, effective, and individualized health support.

In sectors where even a single accident can have far-reaching social consequences, enhancing driver health management is paramount. Karteco workwell facilitates detection of subtle physical changes that might go unnoticed during conventional check-ins or verbal assessments. This proactive monitoring contributes to safer operations and improved service quality across the industry.

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Background and Challenges

In recent years, increasing numbers of traffic accidents in the bus and trucking sectors have been linked to health problems and excessive fatigue among drivers, becoming a pressing social issue. In some cases, drivers have continued operating vehicles despite experiencing physical discomfort, leading to serious incidents.To address these risks, Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism issued Directive No.Cabinet Office Ordinance No. 114 on December 8, 2022, titled “Thorough Implementation of Appropriate Operation Management in Cases of Driver Health Issues,” urging strengthened driver health protocols.

However, traditional approaches—such as interviews and verbal check-ins—rely heavily on self-reporting, limiting the ability to objectively measure fatigue or stress. Extended working hours and accumulated stress significantly increase the risks of drowsy driving and impaired judgment. Furthermore, reports have surfaced of superficial or falsified entries in mandatory roll-call records. Given the potential for serious societal impact from even a single accident, a more effective solution is needed.

Current methods are insufficient to detect “masked fatigue”—conditions either unnoticed by drivers themselves or intentionally concealed. The need for early intervention and sophisticated operation management tools is growing rapidly.

MDV’s Solution to These Challenges

To meet these demands, MDV has enhanced Karteco workwell with features that support both drivers and managers:

• Contactless Biometric Sensing for Objective Insight
  Continuous monitoring of autonomic nervous system activity visualizes internal states like fatigue and stress. This enables the detection of conditions that may go unrecognized or unreported, offering a reliable complement to subjective health checks.
• Real-Time Alerts to Enable Prompt Care
  When biometric data exceeds predefined thresholds, real-time alerts are automatically delivered to both drivers and supervisors. This greatly shortens the response time between detection and intervention, helping prevent serious accidents.
• Enhanced Driver Smartphone App Functionality
  Drivers can now perform biometric measurements anytime throughout the day—not just during check-in and check-out routines. Measurements taken upon waking, during breaks, or before bedtime provide a more comprehensive view of daily health trends, supporting safer driving behavior.
• Cultivating Measurement Habits and Fostering Communication
  Encouraging regular self-checks enables proactive care. Managers can respond based on real-time data, fostering a culture of early intervention and mutual accountability.Data sharing also promotes open communication among drivers and supervisors, aiding early identification and mitigation of stress or fatigue.

Through a cycle of “awareness,” “habit-building,” and “communication,” MDV aims to enhance understanding of driver health beyond traditional methods and contribute to accident prevention and safe operations. MDV is committed not only to legal compliance but also to improving corporate value, advancing workplace well-being, and supporting the evolution of work practices.

Exhibiting at “Transport Safety & Logistics DX EXPO 2025

MDV will participate in the Transport Safety & Logistics DX EXPO 2025, held at Tokyo Big Sight from Wednesday, May 28 to Friday, May 30, 2025. At our booth, we will showcase live demonstrations of our new services, including Karteco workwell, along with early adoption case studies. We will also present practical implementation models tailored to the needs of the transportation and passenger industries.