The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is very concerned for your safety – after all, it’s in their name. They’re so concerned for your safety in fact that they are allowing a company to do extensive testing to see where exactly an in-cab camera can get the most effective view. The view they’re concerned about isn’t just of the road to be able to accurately record accidents or traffic violations, but also of you. More specifically, they want to be able to “accurately scan facial features for detection of impaired driving.”
Unlike other cab-mounted cameras that are attached at the top of the windshield, these new cameras will be placed at the bottom, requiring an exemption from regulation that prevents items from being placed in a location that would obstruct driver vision. The company responsible for the research, Transecurity, says that the cameras will be placed in such a way that they will not obstruct driver vision or restrict the movement of windshield wipers.
The placement of the cameras is so important because Transecurity wants to be able to get a clear view of the driver at all times. While it’s true that a few other industries have been known to set up cameras to observe employees, a truck is so much more than just a work space for truckers. For the majority of their year, it is their home. The cameras won’t just be rolling on an employee at their workstation (which is bad enough), but on a person in the only private space they have.
The Virginia-based company has been granted a two year stretch of time with which to test their driver-cams to their hearts’ content. So far their grant allows camera installation in up to 500 commercial motor vehicles. Companies with cameras so far include Eagle Transport, H&W Trucking, Associated Grocers, AM Express, and a bus company.
Next Story: Trucking Companies Hiring Non-CDL Drivers
Source: overdriveonline
Image Source: fleetnews
Complete BS. They try putting one of those in my truck and theyll find out how easily they break.
I guess big brother knows no bounds eh? When are people going to say enough is enough?
I am already looking forward to the day when I can get out of trucking. This is the perfect example of why. It is a total evasion of privacy unless they mount them in a way that they cannot see into the sleeper. When I am in truck stops talking to older truckers the stories they tell leads you to think trucking used to be fun before all the regulations came into effect. Trucking really isn’t all that fun. I’m sick of constantly worrying about hours, weigh stations, a place to park at the end of the day.
yes these training companies need to lay off on trying to retrain drivers with the webcams if the old drivers are not having accidents.focus on the new inexperienced drivers. anymore trucking is overregd
I been driving a truck for almost 19 years. Drive cam was recently put in our trucks ” to help me be a better driver”. My m.v.r. is absolutely clear and I have worked hard to get it that way. So far I have been talked to about what I’m doing wrong 9 times by a boss that has never moved a truck on the yard much less actually drive. If the company don’t trust a driver to do his / her job don’t hire them.
…and we wonder why there is a driver shortage? This is a perfect example of drivers being treated less like a person and more like just a simple cog in the machine. I’ve been a driver near 20 years and I have almost zero human interaction with those I work with. The qualcomm & eLogs have taken an extremely lonely way of life and made it even more so. A device like this will now ensure that I also don’t talk on the phone to anyone. Is anyone considering the psychological affect of insisting that drivers behave like robots?
I think the testing should be done in the company cars of the people who come up with tese hairbrained ideas. Talk about an invasion of privacy. I won’t forfit my rights to any company that stoops this low.
Too bad these idiots can’t fix the I5 in California at Grapevine where the entire road should be sited as a disaster area. If they imposed the same rules on themselves as they do truckers, they wouldn’t have a 165% turnover rate, too.
When they take to the streets with torches and pitchforks. Before then, nothing will happen, and everyone knows it.
One of the best additions put in to my trucks along with real time tracking.
Just don’t heed any type of scoring the system administrators want to apply to drivers.
They don’t have the experience or experience to score drivers.
Your kidding… right?
Who in God’s name would work for a company that invades your privacy to this extent.
This is not just ridiculous its Kafkaesque.
thats when ill start sitting in my sleeper naked. btw im a big black guy lol
We already have them in our vehicles.It watches the driver along with a 180 degree view of whats going on OUTSIDE in front of the truck. They do keep you aware of your surroundings, what you are doing, and keep you on your toes.However they can help you in an accident situation also.It takes getting used to and yes, it does infringe on your space, but the company pays GREAT money and I can deal with being watched.It has a light on it that lets you know when your being watched.If the vehicle hits a rough place in the roadway or you suddenly brake, it comes on, as if it has mercury in it like a thermostat.A sudden move of temp, the mercury rolls over the heater kicks on..
Wow joe. Isn’t it fantastic that your company is sticking their gigantic mutated spikes two headed penis right up your pooper? It’s just all about safety and being on your toes isn’t it.
Stop defending this draconian buffoonery and being such a malarkous cuck.
If I were you I’d attack a meme mounted right in front of the camera and piss your company off with dank memes…..or pictures of severe athletes foot, jock itch, elephant poop and other such things.
Spikey not spikes and attached to attack. My spellchecker changed it right before I sent it
Drive naked!!
Time for a revolution.
I work in the oil field in South Texas and a good percentage of the companies operating here have cameras in their trucks. When my company installed them we lost about 10% of our drivers but there were drivers lining up to replace them. Personally I don’t care for them but its their truck and they can do what they want.
Stevens Tanker by any chance?
WHEN are they going to stop targetting the commercial driver as the sole source of unsafe motor vehicle operation. Years ago Ohio started vehicle safety checks of privately owned vehicles. For the most part it got the trash off the roads. That’s good. In Illinois the speed limit on interstates highways in the overall Chicago area is 55 MPH for trucks. For smaller vehicles and privately owned vehicles the speed limit is 65 MPH. During high traffic times the smaller vehicles are racing around, jockying for position, and in general, causing unsafe traffic conditions. That’s bad. Now we are talking invasion of privacy in company trucks. It will eventually be required in owner-operator rigs as sell. That’s when truck traffic should shut down and create a nationwide boycott of invassive practices such as this.
End the DOT…..
The problem with any of this including red light cameras is big brother watching and taking your rights away it has nothing to do with safety its like drinking and driving and gun rights it puts burden on law a abiding citizens and does nothing to law brakers . it gives government another tool to destroy our way of life
Haa haaa !
Where I work in Fl the 4 wheelers are the problem. Recently two truck drivers were killed due to 4 wheelers being stupid. And yet the focus is always on the big trucks. The 4 wheel drivers have little or no training, and very little knowledge of the rules of the road.
Nobody bothers them. They are allowed to go out and kill people all day. Lets just keep the focus on the big trucks.
The idea should be cameraS on your truck only known to the driver and if need be to company mgmt.
That way if something happens and it is to the advantage of said driver use it as evidence against the schmuck that cut you off and caused you to hit em, instead of you the professional driver getting blamed for tail gating and causing a wreck. Just an example.
I personally have this type of setup after a “schmuck” cut me off to make an exit ramp, only reason I knew she was braking to make the exit then in front of me was the third brake light on her vehicle was lit up, otherwise it would have been pancake end result.
No fun to slam on brakes in rain when truck has ABS and trailer does not.
Eric L. the focus is always on the big rig because they are revenue generators, just look some of the lawyer bill boards.
A lot say: ” I can get you a lot of $ from the result of a 18 wheeler accident”
These are a direct invasion of are privacy
And should be banned from further development
And set forth these are causers not defusers.
These cameras will not be tolerated or allowed.
Plain and simply you want to know what I’m doing
Then I want to know what your doing. There goes
Your Freedom where will lead?,
Sounds like they would in short order find out what flat black spray paint looks like from the other side.
next thing you know they’ll be handing out awards for nose-picker of the month
Total invasion of Private space and MY RIGHTS it will never be in any truck I may drive ,Hence I wiil quit. Looking to quit anyway with new hours of service and sleep disorder testing and all other BS the Gov. are impossing on us. Too bad we all cannot agree to shut down for one whole week UNANOUNCED to the Media so people could not prepare and we could write what is good for the driver. To much time off in a truck stop with crappy food is one,lets drive 10 hours a day ,seven days a week ,8 hours in sleeper consecative in 24 hr period, all other time is my time. Then when your company gets you home they leave you alone for 48 hrs. just a few to start By the way Im 6.5 feet 230 lbs no health issues and I dont need medical BSfrom Gov.
I’m not a trucker, but if the company I worked for tried to do that, I’d find a new company. No way would I work for an employer that wants to spy on you like that. They’re not only right over your shoulder, but right in your face!
What if your spouse drives\rides with you on hauls? and you both have the need to a 10 minute pit stop. For me it is only 2 minutes….
Cab cameras stay on or off????
Just put duct tape over the camera when it’s night and dark and you don’t have the lights on (so they don’t see you putting it over the camera).
I have no idea sir….it must be malfunctioning.
Finally honest truck driver (Fred)
trucking companys have a lot of money,figure it out.
Well, looks like a another good use for duct tape. Or maybe making a small photo of a magazine centerfold and putting it in front of the rearward facing camera. I know that if one of these makes it into my truck, it will constantly be down for repair or replacement.
more and more rules,less pay,i was making .34 cent a mile 14 years ago,that is what a lot of companys r still paying,and they wonder why they can’t get drivers.
And the ATA wonders why so many young people balk at getting into a truck for a living. I’m buying a forward facing “dash-cam” for my protection against potential accidents caused by other vehicles but am also told that if introduced into trial, all the data may be included so as to document usual driving habits by the CMV driver. That, along with other documentation (ie, Qualcomm, HOS logs, etc.). It’s why I say: Truck Smart…Truck Safe…Comply!
It’s beyond time to address this. Write your Congressman and let them know what a hot topic this is and that you expect to hear some positive feed back on getting this removed. Then start online line petitions calling for the end of this invasion of privacy.
The die was cast when the DOT started drug testing CDL holders.
Do these cameras record audio or video only?
the goverment needs to stick it’s nose somewhere else!!!!!
I’m going on record to say that this is a lousy idea, it opens the door wide to intrusive, overbearing and Orwellian-style Macro management, Which I object to both in principle and in fact. My 2,000,000+ miles of safe commercial driving record speaks for itself. What’s next, cameras in rest rooms? I’m sure that’s next. Think carefully on this.
A s always there will be enough idiots who will say it doesn’t bother them, because they have nothing to hide.
Until they have to scratch their balls or have a day when they have to take 5 peers in a ten hour period.
Then they will wish the cam wasn’t there.
I think before they put them in trucks, they should put them on commercial airplanes.
Im suprised the big 5 havent already put this crap in our trucks they put everything else in em.
They already do on many aircraft and have been recording sound for years.
JUST WALK AWAY!!!… They treat us or( in my case use to be treated like) We need then..NEWS FLASH: WE dont need you (trucking Co or Gov’t B.S) You need us!, Somewhere along the way thing’s got WAY out of hand..So just let it set on the tracks,dock’s,warehouses,port’s,etc…..Walk away from all the B.S it’s not worth kissin a@@ to run harder and pay more…If you really want a change….Force a change to happen by LETTING IT SET!!!
Exactly! That’s precisely why a lot of us took these jobs in the first place, not responding well to someone peering over your shoulder all day long, and being fully capable of getting the job done without constant “supervision” from some desk jockey. Cameras in trucks? Thanks, but no.
I totally agree with the majority opinion. I will NOT be spied on and have the duck tape to prove it. If the idiots with too much time on their hands want to be helpful, try designing a camera that drivers could use to cover their backsides when some jerk succeeds in pulling an insurance-scam accident on the driver. I’ve chased several in-vehicle camera companies around trying to get them to offer a hat-mounted camera with wireless recording for the entire 11-hr shift a driver is allowed to work (yeah, yeah, we get 14 hrs). It would show exactly what the driver sees as he sees it. The device would move with the driver’s head so a calibonia-mirror check prior to a lane change could be used in court to show the lane was clear when the driver signaled, but the idiot four-wheeler decided to make a last-second scurry and got himself in a jam.
I’m sick and tired of every scum-sucking politician or appointee coming up with a new way to pin stuff on drivers. We’re a bunch of hard working drivers doing what they can’t do and if we decided to stop doing our job the country would constipate itself to death within a week. The bottom line is plain to see. Most of the incidents are the fault of cars getting in the way and no matter what this parasite society wants to believe, I am NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR STUPIDITY. You wanna be the monkey who can’t resist petting the snake..? Gop ahead and rub. The snake will like it a lot more than you will.
And now that I’m babbling, I’ll shut up.
John Burleson
I like to read these comments and take note of all the ‘big talk’ about what should be done, and ‘they better not do that to me’ speech. Trucking is just going to get worse because in this country, no one sticks together. A nationwide shutdown about conditions is just talk, and it’s just going to remain that, just big talk. Most everyone is so scared about their “precious job” that they would allow just about anything.
I think they would be a good thing only for those who are repeat afender I don’t think everyone should have to have them, I know if they put one in my car or truck I would either break it or cover it, it an invation of privacy especially for those who don’t drive impaired
When a person goes to work in any company, sometimes 12 hours a day, they are constantly being monitored by security cameras and all their activities are monitored…including their internet use. Why should it be any different for truck drivers, especially when their jobs involve making sure safety regulations are adhered to at all times.
To make it fair, the cameras should have a mechanism to turn off when driver is off duty, but anytime that driver gets back to driving or on duty, the company has a right to monitor the driver.
Just more Big Brother interference. They would be better off trying to eliminate delays, and nut case car drivers.
Yep there will be no US citizens as truck drivers. The Trucking company’s are just waiting to hire foreign drivers to fill the jobs no Americans want to do. And they will accept low wages.
And then they wonder why theres a truck driver shortage. this is a good exsample. soon they will have to put bigger windsheilds in trucks with all the SH*(*%( they want to paste on them. black boxes, qualcoms, speed controls,cameras,logbooks,gps,cb radio, computers,telephones. I,m glad i gave it up…. dont pay anymore. goverment , insurance companies they are all taking over!!!!! people open your eyes, the costs of getting your goods will be greatly increasing in time, because of our own goverment. no one wants to deal with this bussiness anymore, and alot will go out of business, or broke.
I hear you, D. I’m discustingly healthy. I’m 72 YO, take no reg meds, and pull a skateboard. My experience goes back to those days, someone mentioned, when this job was fun. Deregulation shot that down, and then these so-called Safety Advocates, like C.R.A.S.H. lobbying the Gov to interfere with a system that was working just fine. The country has forgotten the primary purpose of all highways is commerce, that’s US. The mandate for the Interstate System was to improve the efficiency of Commercial and Military transportation. How about removing the people, with nothing to do and all day to do it, from the highways.
SO inthe name of saftey they want to put a cmera in our line of site what part of this is safe and if you are tierd will you be abel to stop the 14 hour clock to take a nap I dont think so. Just more B.S for us Truck Drivers when will it end this will just lead to more big goverment that stiil cant find It’s way out ofa wet paper bag.
So they are going to demand these in all 4 wheelers on the road also i trust???? HA HA !!!!no its a joke, they just want to play with the trucking industry, and us drivers. they are saying we cant even go into our trucks without private time>> yea okay.
Theres more than the ones mentioned in article..it is an invasion of privacy…smh but as long as drivers will continue to work for those companies then it will continue…i wont be one of them lol DRIVE NAKED!!! lol
I loved to drive big trucks, and I did it for many years, but have not been on the road for 16 years. It seems as though driving just isn’t fun anymore. It saddens me to think that after all this time, truck drivers are still considered to be a nuisance on the roads. One is not able to look around and see anything that wasn’t brought by truck. People need to wake up and realize that trucks are essential in today’s world. They have never seen a train or ship pull into a mall and deliver goods. From the clothes on their back to the food they eat, they are dependent upon trucks.
It is admirable that the government understands that drivers sometimes drive when they are very tired, and I am sure the desire is to know when a driver is nodding off in order to bring him back to an awareness of what he is doing. Maybe we can sound a loud alarm to rouse a driver from a funk. If it helps keep him and others alive, it has merit. It does smack of spying, though, because the truck doubles as a home for the driver. I believe the hours of service regulations are what needs to be overhauled, and also that rest ares must be provided where drivers can safely rest. Perhaps the camera can be turned off when a driver is not on duty.
It astounds me the Federal Government is purposefully trying to drive people away from trucking. Every time we turn around, these idiots are finding new ways to !@#$% with drivers. Is their goal to shut down trucks altogether? When are people going to understand that nearly everything, if not all, that is their home, office, restaurant ect., has at one time or another been on a truck. How do they plan on supplying milk and cheerios to their kids? How do they plan on getting fuel for their car? How do they plan on getting the booze for their party on Friday night? Without truckers, it would shut this country down, but nobody will pay attention.
because they what there fright hauls for nothing and thats why the 34 a mile….when there paying 1800.00 for a 1200 mile trip where the profit…truck payment, insureance tax,,no need to go on
Ta da cannot wait to give up my cdl. Just one more reason to go home and find work.
Have already been down sizing so I can wash dishes or become a walmart greeter. I am sure those jobs with be more appreciated by others then how i am treated on the highways.
I experienced the drive cam first hand with Roehl Transport back in 2011. Drove with it for 6 months and then I couldn’t deal with it anymore. On top of filming you the cam has an audio feature too. I gave this company 10 yrs of my life and was so dissappointed when they did this to me. Had some problems with high blood presssure along with a minor accident at a dock in springfield illinois that landed the cam in my truck I suppose. I don’t know if they still use them I hope not. Up untill they started doing this I had the utmost respect for them. I came to the conclusion that it was their way of running you off to which I have to hand it to them it worked
Let’s see… 80% of the wrecks between trucks and cars are found to be the fault of the driver of the car. So let’s place cameras in the TRUCKS to watch the TRUCK driver’s every move. Change the HOS rules, come up with CSA BASICS, make those tougher. Make the medical qualifications tougher. Don’t increase regulations on drivers of cars because that would be burdensome.
Makes perfect sense.
[/SARCASM]
Where is the ACLU on this? If they were to put cameras on prisoners, they would be all over this with lawsuits protecting their rights.
Good put cameras in the trucks, put cameras in the sleepers also. When you do that we want cameras in your work areas and in your bedrooms also! Damn socialists!
Just another way to de-humanize drivers. I left the transportation industry in June, and haven’t looked back. I’m actually treated like a real human now, not just some faceless non-entity by the name of “Driver”. I’ve seen the safety director of a certain flatbed carrier sit and review the images with a roomfull of his cronies, and jeer and make fun of the PEOPLE who were the subjects of those “spy-cam” images.
This is one small example why I dont drive a truck anymore……BS!!!
if it’s a company truck, and the company says it’s o.k. then the only response is to accept it or quit. the guys saying they will break them are criminals for destroying someone elses property. if you work for a company that feels the need to watch you that closely, look for another job.
i think it’s fun. i don’t worry about hours, because i run legal, i don’t worry about weigh stations because my truck and trailer is compliant i don’t worry about where to park because i plan my day to get parked in plenty of time. those who complain the most about regulations are the reason we need regulations. some people would drive 20 hours a day in a death trap. and i don’t want to get killed by someone like that.
I follow all DOT regulations and rules but when a company wants to put driver cams in the truck not only does that sent a message to the drivers we don’t trust you also invades the driver personal privacy. Yes it’s the company truck,yes DOT says it’s okay. But the more regulation and rules is okay. But you invade a person’s private space that a whole other subject. Neither DOT or the trucking company can guarantee that those driver cams will not spy on a driver while he or she is on personal time. Because if hackers can hack in Washington security cams what makes them think it can’t be done to this cams. People don’t stop to clearly think about the ramifications of where this could lead. People that sit back in this cushy office jobs come up with all this new rules and regulations, should stop and think. How would they feel if they had a desk cam sitting there staring at they all day as they work. The new rules and regulations I get it make the roads and highways safe as possible. Hands free devices okay, no texting while driving okay. But put a camera in the truck so we can see what’s going with the driver every minute he is in the truck come on. Everyone in the world know that there’s nothing that’s 100% secure and there’s nothing to stop people from doing stupid things. If DOT or a company can guarantee me 100% that there is no way a hacker can hack into that driver cam I say all companies put their trucks, but they can’t right now I know 10 ways I can use that cam to my advantage if I was a hacker. So this goes to DOT and the trucking companies how would you like it if a camera followed you while you are at home in your private time, and you know there is a possibility that someone can hack into that cam and see everything you have and everything you are doing. No one likes their privacy invaded neither you or truck drivers.
Amerigas has had in-cab cameras for several years now. I know of one incidence where a driver got back in and pulled his truck up about 2 feet for better hookup and they gave him a day off for not fastening his seatbelt. Yeah, I know you guys all run 100% compliant in all ways, just like I did. Be aware that this is not to help YOU, it’s to find more ways to control, punish and discipline you. I’m glad I had sense enough to get off the road when I did. Love my local home delivery job!
Her we go again, more regulations. The drivers need to say enough is enough ! Better yet lets put cameras in these C.E.O.’s office. Lets put camras in wallstreet C.E.O.’s offices. Point is stop trying to regulate every move us drivers make. Theres doctors who are in surgery for 15-20 hours why dont they put on a hourly regulated schedule. After all there working on humans. They want to regulate every thing we do what about getting us paid for sitting 10 to 15 hours waiting for a load. Where’s our pay raises. Lets put camras in police cars and watch what they do. Hell lets put cameras in all work places. How bout just leave us drivers alone and let us do our jobs. This is to all the big company bosses and C.E.O.’s If you think you need a camra in the work place lead by example start by putting a camra in your office !
Ok, I’m going to be the Devil’s advocate here…
I can see the company’s concern of wreckless drivers. It’s ALWAYS the BAD/careless people who make the good responsible people suffer/work harder. Yes, there are the irresponsible drinkers, smokers and texters now -being distracted from watching the road and traffic.
On the other hand, what about the good responsible people who do “live” in their trucks, wanting just a little privace/piece of mind…relaxing in there skivvies? What about the females who do drive, hoping to have some privacy. Honestly, think about this. What kind of scandals are going to come out of this??? How would a female know if she was being taped? I, most certainly, would want to know if I was being taped -hoping this is MY right to know.
Do worry about me, I do not have a CDL, but am wondering about our TRUE bonafide truckers privacy and rights. PUNISH the violators heavier. This is just another “money-grabbing” company trying to get in on the “money-making” band wagon.
I know, do NOT work for that company. How would we know? We all know how Uncle Sam/the government is getting into/trying to control everything in our lives.
Just being the Devil’s Advocate here…
To the trucker Carl
Concerning compliance trucker
It is truckers like you who will allow companies
To invade our privacy our trucks are our dwelling place ,our offices and our place of residence
Would you allow your employer to invade your house and the privacy you and your family are entitled to?
It is of no concern to my employer what goes on in my life,home.
As long as I get the job done safely on time and my paperwork is ethically sound
Uncle Spam or trucking company xyz has no business watching me.
Remain safe
D
It must be nice to be able to control everything in your work day so that you know where you’ll be when it’s time to stop and be able to get there early enough that you have room to park. Most of us don’t have that luxury. However, the cab of my truck is my private space. If my company didn’t trust me with it, they wouldn’t allow me to use it. The cab of my truck is also my home. As others have stated, I won’t be driving a truck with a camera watching my every move.
Makes you want to pick your nose more
Or, you could worry about your 4th amendment rights as a U.S. citizen.
like i said before,the government is destroying the trucking industry as they did the farming industry!! the mexicans will haul the freight for nothing,therefore the us.gov.seems to think they don’t need to be watched,glad i don’t drive truck anymore!!!
hey Carl,you must have been a dispatcher before you started driving a truck!!
Carl its an invasion of privacy.. just because these drivers don’t like this does not mean they drive illegal!!!!.
You go dazzman….
Govern our trucks…cut our driving hours…enter CSA… Then e logs…..now I have OnGuard braking on my truck..this system is going to cause an accident not prevent one!!! Absolutely nothing in sight and decides to brake on its own..SO NO WAY IN HELL DO I WANT MORE GOVERNMENT INTERFERENCE IN MY JOB…
just another way to get the drivers…
Carl, You must live in a world where there is always sunshine, rainbows, and butterflies. I have a clean driving record and am proud to drive. But, this is clearly an invasion of privacy and an unnecessary burden on the driver. Most of us who enjoy driving do it for the freedom, or at least the illusion of freedom, not because we are outlaws. I take pride in my work as a professional. Companies imposing the cameras on their drivers are clearly telling them that they are not professional, responsible, nor are they to be trusted.
After thinking about all the comments about being spyed on during break time, I realized we, drivers, are spied on, no matter if in a truck or in a parking lot. I mean, we go inside a truckstop to eat or shower, cameras are everywhere. We fuel our trucks, cameras watch the parking lot. If we shop at a store in route, we have cameras watching us. The oy place we don’t have cameras is in the bunk. I guess we’ll neeed to throw a pair of dirty socks over the lens to change clothes.
The driver is the one that should know when he or she is to tired to drive.If they can’t make that call what makes you so sure they can make all the other importantant calls.If you are going to drive 80000 pounds up and down the highway and if you got to have someone else to tell you when your to tired, find another job besides driving.Because you make just as many other important calls every time you get behind the wheel.
We already put up with enough bull crap as it is!!! The day someone installs that into my truck is the day I say goodbye!! If I wanted to be babysat 9-5 I would have chose a different profession! Total invasion of privacy! SMH… 🙁
Leave truckers alone! Enough is enough! Geezzz
Unfortully I’m not proud to be a 20 years truck driver anymore because the companies and DOT treat us as like babies spying the moviments 24/7 and regulations so much rigid . Where is the associations who promise to help us? Have no one who wants to be a leader of truck rights on this country. All just about money
They are just begging for an excuse to flood the states with a slew of extreme southern drivers…it’ll keep salaries down for big business and everyone knows how uncle sam likes to control everything so it’s a win-win for everyone in washington.
It’s because of the Over-regulation, I am getting out of the Trucking industry.. The trucking industry will be outsourced, just like the majority of our industrial jobs have been outsourced. Kiss this country goodbye if you ask me.
im with you my husband now runs his buisness completly legal and does all his runs at 55!saves fuel and less stress oh ya and he checks trls. when they r broke he gets um fixed no matter the time it takes its all for saftey!:)
OK I will be the first to admit that this is BS. However I thought eLogs were BS as well. Bottom line is that if it is a company truck and the company wants to do it….well that’s it.
HOWEVER – There should be a rule that it can only be activated by an eLog that has kicked you down to line 3. Other time in the truck should certainly be private. If I want to eat pizza with one hand while I pick my nose with the other that should be reserved for me only(well plus those that can look inside my windshield and get a private viewing – but that’s my fault.)
Duct tape……oh no I guess the cam is malfunctioning.
I work for a small company. A little over a hundred drivers. They tried this with us. About 30 of us told them we would walk. That was the end of that…LOL I run a dash cam I purchased myself , but I’ll be damned if I’m gonna have a video camera looking at me all day.
Why not just use an electric shock whenever the camera feels it necessary .. warning drivers, don’t blink !!
Can anyone tell me what time is recess???? This industry is getting more and more asinine everyday. I’m telling you drivers you BETTER learn the one word that will change everything, NO. Say it over and over till you get use to it. NO NO NO . Who cares about these low paying high stress jobs anyway when the only people making money are the ones causing the problems. The companies and the government want to run every aspect of your life while you do a thankless job with low pay and major stress. Do not let them inside your truck, enough is enough.
Nothing less than perfection will be tolerated. Video proof of your imperfections give them the leverage to fire you at will or pay you less. Zero accident decrees handed down from the insurance overlords say you must comply or face their premium wrath. Only perfectly healthy specimens, perfectly trained and compliant will be allowed to have jobs the rest of the riff-raff can die off. Creating the perfect human being in the perfect environment did not die with the ayrians in the ’30’s, no, eugenics is alive and well in the guise of insurance companies. I already have a C-PAP machine that records my breathing while I sleep now they want to watch me while I’m awake. Who knew the Santa of my childhood would haunt me in the future. ? He knows when you are sleeping,•? He knows when you’re awake•? He knows if you’ve been bad or good so be good for goodness sake•? Goodness sakes, indeed. It’s funny how we all play along with the rope trick when it’s around someone else’s neck.
I’m looking for a job Carl. Who do you work for. Got any terminals in the Nashville area?
I don’t want a camera in my truck and neither does the company I work for. Ask yourself, what does the companies who use the camera get for doing this. Look at Werner Ent. . They started the electric log and DOT gave them special consideration during their testing time. Don’t get me wrong, I believe in obeying the law and the trucking industry has more rules than the nuclear power plants do. The few bad apples ruin the whole barrel and one reason we are in this pickle is because alot of companies let their drivers get away with rule breaking and when caught they the company says ” Well. I did’nt know. But I’ll fix it and fires the driver.
This will ensure that we never use the phone while driving.
Invasion of privacy! Another reason to get out of trucking No wounder theres a driver shortage and will continue. As if the pay isn’t bad enough, they keep on adding more regulations to us drivers ! Been driving for 5 years and about had enough of it. Dont worry about all the cars Its the big truck fault mentallity thats driving us away! Singed, Looking for a new job!
I am a driver for a small Texas company, but I’ll agree to put a camera in my truck, I run all the 48 states., if not then send me the phone number where I can purchase one of the cameras for my own benefit., I’ve been driving the better part of 35 years OTR, would love to have some additional protection against “ALL” these Greenhorn drivers that can’t keep thier truck their side of the road at 2 am in the morning… Thank you, Sam
god forbid that spy cam isn’t incapacitated by a some malfunction.
Whoops kid…..I accidentally spilled my coffee.
Oh noes the camera.
THIS IS APPALLING!!! If the FMCSA wants to get to the REAL root of CMV accidents they need to mount cameras on our forward view and side mirrors to accurately depict how CARS interact with trucks and stop blaming truck drivers for every bump and bruise out there!!! How about tired, or texting, or distracted, or speeding, or agressive, or impatient, or impaired, or just plain inexperienced 4 wheelers … USDOT and FMCSA need to start targeting the propblem and actively educate general motorists aboutn safe driving … how about put e-logs in cars?
A tad off subject, but FMCSA needs to educate and make a BASIC CSA for load planners to shove non-human p/u del schedules with late penalities and sh*t … I mean … come on … just because a calculator or computer says you can go 2100 miles in 72 hours doesn’t mean it’s a safe and legal … MAKE DISPATCHERS/LOAD PLANNER/BROKERS ACCOUNTABLE!!
I had a portapotty in my truck the last 8 or 10 years. I would have been VERY upset at having to have a camera invading my privacy. Glad to be retired, 3 years now.
Well Miss Lee you could accidentally spill coffee. Oh no it got on the camera.
I run a dash cam that records both inside and out of the truck. When I need private time I unplug the thing. Yes, my cam and I still unplug it at times. It actually matters not what the camera catches “big trucks” are easier to convince a jury of wrong doing, furthermore now the basic mentally in the US is eat the rich so if its a big truck and a big company then the lawyers will have a field day. Companies know this and will usually just pay up!
Carl, as for your just plan your day better argument, I have 19-20 stops per load most within the greater metro Dallas/Ft.Worth area if you have any driving experience at all you would understand there is no planning for this. The best I can tell a receiver is morning/afternoon tops! There are a plethora of things that can delay/derail my loads. But thanks for your “useful idiot” commentary it makes us aware of ALL the people we need to educate.
I too have had it with the US invasion forces! I sold my truck, car hauler and flatbed this year. There is just too much negativity towards us these days. We are not targets…..not trucks! I’ve been driving for a plant farm for months now and I’ve come to the realization that this industry is no longer for me.
Unlike some I do have options. I’m a college grad., great driving record, owned more than one business and my home is fully paid off. I feel for the ones this industry has trapped” of which there are many!!!!!!!!!!
Y’all be safe out there. Its funny that the words we ALWAYS give each other in parting are “BE SAFE OUT THERE!” Yet we are the ones viewed as unsafe? Makes you wonder huh
This has nothing to do with safety fellas. This is ONE things and ONE only: if insurance companies can see what happened they know exactly where the payments STOP. Who/what will they pay for and most important what the WILL NOT pay for……its just that simple!
yeah they want to watch us
not the traffic
maybe they should see the stupid people out there who should be a greasey spot on the highway. but aren’t yet because we keep our eyes open, and are able to stop, slow down, whatever.
a cam in my truck will get broken
Here’s one for you;) I was stopped at the scales in Minnesota the weigh master let me sit on the scale for a few minutes then came out and said what’s going on. I asked what he meant his reply was they had a report I was all over the road. I tried to explain that I must have been pouring some coffee and drifted over a bit. Next. Thing I know my truck is being searched. There were 2 1 ounce bottles of tequila in my suitcase in the side box under my socks from a flight I had taken over a year earlier along with the plane ticket. Did not matter I was shut down for 24 hrs and it went on my dac report. Our f%&•Ing government at work. Now I pay higher insurance premiums even though I’ve driven forty years accident free.
They should consider putting high definition cameras in trucks to record all the idiots driving around trucks, cutting off trucks, darting in front of trucks, jamming their brakes on in front of trucks, forcing accidents with big trucks to collect big law suit dollars. If you can think of some more examples, feel free to chime in drivers… The HD cameras could record evidence & transmit data via qualcom type communication devices, to generate tickets by mail & be utilized in court cases where appropriate… setup as statewide campaigns, they could generate significant revenues and eventually have an impact on highway safety…. your thoughts on the subject?
The Supreme Court has no problem invading your privacy. That’s what log books are about, so why would it be a problem to do the same and more with a camera? The CDL is a CRIMINAL DRIVERS LICENSE. Gramps/Gramma and the pot heads don’t have to take a random drug screen if they get in an accident, even while taking a lot of prescription drugs. Every licensed driver should have to take a random after an accident, and a pre-license physical like professionals do. Level the playing field! Is any one aware of an anti-pot safety commercial from the ATA/OOIDA/TLA or any one associated with trucking, pre- Colorado and Washington State passage of pot smoking amendments? I don’t know of any, do any of you? You sure didn’t see PATT/MADD or others putting forward any cute commercials on TV regarding safety and drug use…. Hum?
So drugs are good, yet you, I, and every other professional driver is treated like a monkey in a cage, a tin dog in a tin dog house, while the average motorist blithely rolls down the road, with little regard for truck driver’s safety, only their own interests. And we do nothing!
Kick your copy of the Constitution in the Jockey box, like the guy who ‘forgot’ he had Tequila shooters in there!
It will only get worse…
Do Nothing….Get Nothing
The problem is in the system that impose s these new ideas,they’ll always find fault with truck drivers. No matter what they put in a cab, How else can they protect their job? That’s what they do , and then through their efforts to find fault with drivers of commercial big trucks they show government a need for their service, the government is happy to support this action in order to keep control from the back room , outa sight and ignore the complaints of drivers forced to put up with this crap in order to survive in a crumbling economy forced on us by government greed.
I’ve posted before and threw out an idea that I’m sure no one would agree to and that was,
Monitor all free American citizens while thier working, limit everyone to a recordable 60 or 70 hr work period , starting from the pre trip to post trip, allow only 14 hours a day including the restriction of only being Able to drive 11 of the 14 and and record this info the same way we have to. Subject them all!! To violations and reviews throughout the year and don’t forget the drug and alcohol test !! Oh YES! And randem ones too!!!! Boy!! I bet that’ll go over big!!! Just think of the field day insurance company’s would have!!! No exceptions! Everyone from government employees to high school students! I could write more but, I’ve been waiting to get loaded in Chicago now for acouple of hours and need to be in Long Island in time to unload so all those &/):)$,$’s can eat at their dinner tables and entertain their guest this week! There is a solution to all of this b/s and I’m sure everyone out here has talked about it one time or another, if there has ever been a time truckers have needed to really come together on a solution to a growing problem in our! Industry our bread and butter , this is it, we need to protect ourself and stop being the door mat .
Too many drivers are afraid to go in on a work stopage for fear of getting fired, or threatened if they did, they would never be able to drive again
CARL, your ‘I’ve got mine, too bad for you’ mindset is corporate garbage. Your are a part of the elitist mindset. You claim you do everything perfectly. You are part of the problem. You are sold out to the corporate constitution that runs this country. You just stated you will give up your rights to privacy for a job! Are you a bean counter? Granted, there are many drivers out there who make it bad for the rest of us. Don’t encourage them!
What? ! Do you really think companies like the big box stores are going to put up with an interruption of delivery service to their stores?
The company I work for installed DriveCam units on the windshields of our whole fleet.
While I’m sure there is an insurance incentive and the footage will provide valuable information to the company, I’m not comfortable with the eye staring at me, possibly judging my actions throughout my shift. We are told “it only records events”, but I sometimes wonder…
The company allows drivers to tune the radio, or consume a beverage while operating a company rig.
We are not allowed to operate a GPS unit, use bluetooth headsets, CB’s, consume food, or reach for paperwork or other items while operating a company rig.
DriveCam is used to enforce these policies.
I’m all for safety, but we can’t even dial 911 unless we pull off the highway, set our brakes, and enter into a non-driving mode.
Makes it kind of difficult to report/update law enforcement of an unsafe driver, a spotted amber alert suspect, or some road rage knucklehead with a firearm.
Well I hope you don’t accidentally spill coffee all over that cam. Real shame that would be.
And the trucking industry bigwigs sit around scratching their heads and wondering why there is such a high driver turnover rate, and why no one wants to be a trucker anymore. The general public has the idea that any idiot can drive a truck but it doesn’t take a new driver long to realize that driving a truck these days requires knowledge, skill and patience. There are a multitude of agencies in your face now and they forever document how fast you go, where you go, how you got there, when you stopped, how much you weigh. Now they want to watch you while you get there to make sure you look alert, pretty, perky and are representin’ to the “t”. I’m in agreement with the drivers who say “put the cameras on the outside of the truck”. Have a look at the complete morons drivers have to watch for 24/7. Fate forbid you should run over someone, because it’s always the driver’s fault, even when it isn’t!
Oh my..I feel like it would be an privacy invasion…really do not know if I would be comfortable being monitored like this…now, if they had the webcam facing outward to monitor our driving and traffic around us , like police cams , I might could see that..but, to monitor facial expressions..how can they judge our emotions attached to those expressions! Maybe they need to focus on putting up traffic cams to monitor all drivers of all vehicles..They can monitor my body, But, NOT MY THOUGHTS NOR EMOTIONS! I would not work for a company with those in truck..I love my driving career of 17 years but I have other skills if it come down to me changing careers…
A daub of bubble gum should fix the camera properly.
So much for freedom of the open road……being monitored by qualcom AND a Camera….poking into yer face???? May as well go back to a job where the boss is looking over yer shoulder..but you can go home at night……………that is just plain rediculous……when do they go after the illegal aliens driving 18 wheelers??? Our tax money wouldbe better spent there.
anti pot safety? WTF? I have been smoking pot behind the wheel for years and maintained safe driving practices. If you think I’m braindead behind the wheel I’m not, always have believed “Do the drug don’t let the drug do you”. Testing??? lmao there’s a device that keeps synthetic or substituted urine at body temp so test is easy to fool. There’s plenty of people out there that can’t even drive safely sober but unfortunately you cant cure stupidity. If I wasn’t stoned and didn’t give a rip there’s times I might have lost my temper and run some jackass in the ditch. The only thing pot really makes you do on the road is stop too much at the greasy spoon.
You should have your cdl taken and never be allowed to drive even a regular car again….you actually are trying to defend driving high.
News flash…..when you were high as f— You were to high to notice yourself screwing up dude.
Btw my dad says the same thing about his drinking and driving….only he is not as safe a driver as his delusions lead him to believe…. I remember a lot of close calls back when I I was a kid….he has put the car in the ditch a couple times and he even flipped one of his vehicles over years ago when I was a kid almost killing himself.
Ask him though and he will tell you how great of a driver he is and how drinking never compares his driving.
Drunk and high drivers need their license PERMANENTLY pulled without the chance of ever getting it back if they are caught driving high or drunk twice…in my opinion.
@ Fleet Driver……If you don’t mind telling us, what Co. does not allow you to use your CB while driving? That’s ridiculous, main reason I got into truck driving…to shoot skip on the CB and get paid while I’m doing something I enjoy. Driving Log truck we use the CB on narrow curvy haul roads for safety as well as on the highways to warn other drivers of dangers ahead. To not be allowed to do that or have a snack or drink of water is horseshit and the drivers ought to go find a job where they are treated better and let this company go down.
Ms. Lee, they had a camera INSIDE your porta potty. I can imagine how you feel knowing they recorded your innermost thoughts…
Ok, my answer tothis camera on the driver: I will wear an Osama Obama mask, and I demand that an employee of the FMCSA be visible my dash monitor at the same time. A different employee for every truck monitor, no duplicates. These FMCSA employees must not leave their station in front of their two-way camera and monitor for the entire duration of their assigned trucker’s 12 to 16 hour work day.(14 if the trucker is OTR. and not local) this way there is a two-way accountability to ensure that the FMCSA is REALLY doing their job and are watching the driver. Their job performance will be evaluated by the driver they are paid to monitor and raises/promotions will be granted based on their assigned trucker’s evaluation of each FMCSA employee.
Furthermore, the FMCSA employee assigned to monitor the trucker must also get his CDL, medical card and twic card, have doubles, hazmat and chaining/forklift training, learn how to log 16 hours of work in a 14 hour period, learn how to get a shower every 6 days by necessity, how to bite your lip when lying dispatchers promise to get you home four weeks in a row and never send you there cuz of a shortage of drivers in the corner of the US farthest from your home. Well, you might have them converted then, they’d say “hey we love this abuse and underpayment. We wanna be drivers instead. Where do we sign?”
Jake, as you state people who go to working in a company are being monitored, BUT truck drivers work and LIVE in their trucks. Would you want to be recorded in your HOME?
You can now add G&P Trucking to your list. They are in the process of installing them in all of their trucks
J.S.Helwig & Son has recently installed inward facing in- cab camera on all drivers in their trucks.
An intentional tort is an act that is intentionally committed against another person with the aim of causing harm. These are disciplinary tools for corporations to force drivers with blackmail, extortions. Work for a foreign corporation who uses the windshield mounted ones with a green light glaring in drivers eyes for it’s night vision capability. Not only an obstruction of the windshield safety issue but a surveillance with threats of termination of your employment. The camera in under 9 passenger vans seating 8 are used to avoid FMCSR and DOT inspections. Confronted corporate about obstruction of windshield and my 50 hour workweek went to 10 hours with threats of using the video recordings against a wrongful termination or discrimination law suit. A 600 mile night roundtrip run with a glaring green light right below the rear view mirror blocks use of white line on shoulder and mirrors to look behind vehicles. Corporate said the FHWA Office of Safety protects the rights of corporations use of windshield mounted cameras and recording devices for disciplinary actions against insubordinate employees like me.
I currently have a class B for 10 years
I call them baby monitors.
leave a radio on while talking on the phone or to the windshield lmao! Hard for listeners to decipher the difference. Also scotch tape is clear but fogs the inward facing cameras so they can’t see your lips moving to the music or head phones. ie…blue parrot… Crank some rob zombie during sex should take care of the perverts.