Back in September, AAA published a study that recommended that the entire trucking industry install four advanced safety systems in all new and pre-existing commercial trucks. Those systems included driver facing cameras. This week the Trucking Alliance, whose members include some of the largest carriers in the country, has just announced that it will make adopting those technologies a requirement for all members.
The Alliance for Driver Safety and Security, which is the formal name of the Trucking Alliance, counts among its members carriers including Swift, Knight, J.B. Hunt, U.S. Xpress, Maverick, and many more.
In a statement published on November 1st, the Trucking Alliance repeatedly cited the AA report, and announced that they would be “the first U.S. carrier based organization to adopt these technologies as conditions for membership.”
“The trucking industry can’t be satisfied, until we dramatically reduce the number of injuries and loss of life from large truck crashes,” said Steve Williams, president of the Trucking Alliance, and CEO of Maverick. “We must ensure that truck drivers are well trained, well rested, drug and alcohol free, and operating trucks with the latest technologies.”
Those latest technologies are:
- Video-based onboard safety monitoring systems. AAA claims that installing these on ALL large trucks could potentially prevent 63,000 crashes, 17,733 injuries, and 293 deaths annually.
- Lane departure warning systems. AAA claims that installing these on ALL large trucks could potentially prevent 6,372 crashes, 1,342 injuries, and 115 deaths annually.
- Automatic emergency braking systems. AAA claims that installing these on ALL large trucks could potentially prevent 5,294 crashes, 2,7535 injuries, and 55 deaths annually.
- Air disc brakes. AAA claims that installing these on ALL large trucks could potentially prevent 2,411 crashes, 1,447 injuries, and 37 deaths annually.
While AAA insists that “the benefits of equipping all new and existing large trucks… would far outweigh the cost of doing so,” some drivers have voiced concern over more than just the monetary costs of adding new systems. Those “Video-based onboard safety monitoring systems” that AAA proposed very specifically include systems that watch not only the road around the truck, but also “the driver’s behavior and performance.”
“AAA applauds the Trucking Alliance for taking such an important step toward improving safety on U.S. roads,” said Marshall Doney, president and CEO of AAA. “Adding key safety technologies to fleets is critical if we are to reverse the growing rate of crash deaths on our roadways.”
Source: truckingalliance, freightwaves, thetrucker, truckingnews, truckinginfo, thetruckersreport
I hope they all quit.
Who should quit?
Me, you, and anyone with a brain.
Who are you referring to?
Im sure he means all the drivers for all the companies that adopt this.
id be ok with all this but companies will be saving a grip of cash due to the reduction of financial payout. this means you can stary paying a significantly higher wage, the true wages a driver should be earning.
I love they way he makes the unreliable statement that cameras would prevent crashes. No statistics to back it up that would make he is claim valid. I understand we have drivers that shouldn’t even have a CDL in they possession, but his comments are from a man (CEO) are clueless on the job we entail daily. If laugh in his face if I had the opportunity.
What will actually happen is that the lawsuits will actually go after the driver rather the company. They’d say that they gave you the tools, training and equipment necessary to do the job safely.
Absolute, and exactly right. The goal is 4 increased steps to call the driver the liar, manipulate the data as needed to put him or her 100% liable on a as needed “Disposable Labor” plan. After all, over 100k of immigrants a year now with fresh CDL’s from a Cracker Jack box are on their way to a lane near you. So you either play or get disposed of.
That’s exactly what will happen! The money we will make will be spent on insurance of protected from lawsuits.
You must understand they need ALL this new stuff for the NEW drivers they are putting on the street. Those guys are tearing stuff up at an slarmi g rate.
what would prevent crashes are trainers that have been driving for over 10 years not 10 months.
I agree with the benefit of the forward looking cameras. I fail to see the benefit of the driver facing view.
I think somebody gave someone a pocket full of cash to get that statement put out there and a lot of pockets filled to get that alliance to support it too..
He said safety measures would reduce accidents, not cameras alone. Learn to read….and write, for that matter.
BS! You live in a dream world! Been out here over 33 years. Same pay wages as back then. Just more mega carrier control trying to schmooze/placate. Non-truckers aren’t being taught how to drive around commercial vehicles! EVERYONE should be required to down at least 1- 8 hour day in a truck. They would then be more careful. Idiots driving semis as though they were driving a car or pickup, weaving in and out, speeding…those are the drivers we do not need out here!!! Little professionalism left in trucking!
I have to agree 100%, I’ve been out here 25 years and have watched the decline in professionalism and courtesy on the road.
Matthew, you summed it up perfectly. I have just shy of 2 million safe miles out here & I couldn’t have said it better.
That’s bang on!
Let’s make it a 12 hr day though- lol
dream on.
Concidering most crashes are the fault of the car ( approximately 80% ) I think these numbers are artificially high. Also a 15% reduction of accidents caused by cars is equal to a 60% reduction of accidents caused by commercial trucks.
HA you believe they will ever give the extra to drivers you must be new to this.
Any savings wil not be paid in wages to the drivers. These ripoff outfits don’t work like that.
Never happen!! Your dreaming!!
The growing rate of crashes involving large trucks is mostly due to how small vehicles are acting around them. If more laws were in place and the cops actually enforced them, it would reduce accidents also
Have to disagree with you. Back in the day we had professional truck drivers. Currently, we have steering wheel holders that speed, committing unsafe acts such a weaving in and out of traffic like their driving a sports car and no courtesy to other motorist and their fellow driver.
Exactly!!!!
THE RATE AIN’T EVEN GROWING THO
This is getting out of hand smh. What they should be saying we should pay this drivers more money and not add more pressure. And now we not gonna have privacy what so ever smh.
So if you pick your nose they will know!
Oh no most drivers will through a towel over the camera, I see them do that out here. These guys are lining their pockets.
How about scratch your junk. Or take a leak.
Wipe your booger on the camera lens.
Screw that…. time to retire from trucking…, i quit!!! That’s an invasion of our privacy!!
I agree because the camera can only get the reaction of the driver, not the reaction of other drivers to include the stoned and drunk 4 wheelers on the road.
As much as I hate the cameras they record both the driver AND the entire situation in front of the truck to get the big picture. It sees if the driver is texting or falling asleep.
While that’s all fine and dandy, the people in the car might still be dead while the driver is getting fired for the rear end collision. So what did it prevent exactly? I have had them installed in my truck before and didn’t like them very much but then again I kept asking myself…. Do I not like them because I have something to hide?
Bad attitude to have considering you would be under constant surveillance. It’s not okay when the NSA does it, why should it be alright in this situation ?
Our rights are slowly being eroded away one by one.
Don’t drive for companies that do this type of invasion of privacy.
You are hired because you’re supposed to be a professional, and don’t need a babysitter. At least I don’t.
It would be akin to being in an office and the boss standing there looking over your shoulder all day. It would drive you nuts!
Also, where does the video feed back to from all these cameras anyway? Home office? Insurance companies? the government?
Actually that’s a decent question now that I think about it..
AGREE!! Micromanagement needs a forward facing camera at their desks!
99% of employees in any field are being video recorded why should truckers be different.
It’s not your truck, your company, your money on the line
As a matter of fact, YES IT IS! All the new regs to make us safe yet we have “an ever increasing crash rate?” It’s about CONTROL, not safety.
BS, most people dont live in their office, with a camera in their face 24 hours. Unless they wont to make the same requirements for car drivers, I say it is an invasion of privacy, and I won’t drive for anyone who requires this.
This is my truck and you can stuff yout little camera and check out your brain.
As soon as we leave our home terminal each DRIVER is RESPONSIBLE for EVERYTHING and ANYTHING that happens to us or the equipment
It is MY TRUCK, MY COMPANY,& MY WIFE’s Pocketbook. Cameras on the outside with me ok, camera on me NOT OK!!!!
Maybe you can give an example of the 99% of the companies that video you as you work out in the field?
I agree, and if all the drivers would stand up and say I’m not driving with a camera facing me. Then they would be forced to not do it.
Amen brother only thing is. Today’s drivers don’t have that kind of balls. We did it for three days nation wide back in the eighties and scared the he’ll outta the entire nation! And got what we wanted which at the time was lower fuel prices and better per mile wages.
This is the same way I see it however it’s not good enough. A lot of companies now want you to download their app on your own phone and will even go through your text messages and check your calls. I know this for a fact as my daughter had to surrender her phone for 2 weeks while Silica Sand checked it all out. Where does it end ?
and that’s what they want us to do the real true truck drivers out here the small 5 truck operations we are in there way and doing all this regulation on everything is how they intend on pushing us out
Yup, the big companies can pay the cost, smaller ones can’t, and its very costly. They want everyone out of business.
Mark of the beast system…all seeying eye nwo
You are so right.
That’s what I though of it the first time I heard.
They’re going to put themselves out of business. Who the hell is going to put up with that for $40,000 a year????
Disc brakes yes sure all new models retro hell no. Lane departure is a joke shit is usually broken after the first pot hole. E brake crash midagation system yeah no I don’t want that having a brain fart in a snow storm. Driver facing cameras yes lets add another way we can blame the trucker
OMG you aren’t kidding! I had to drive a truck the other day with they Crash Mitigation System. A car merged over about 60 feet in front of me. We were both doing 70mph. That damn truck threw in the engine brake hard. Brought my speed down to 45 in seconds. The truck behind me began cussing me out because he almost hit me. What will that shit do in the winter?
Yeah real safe system there.
So much for freedom of choice, when does it end with these companies? Thank goodness I’d never drive for any of those companies, why don’t they put as much time and effort to solving the driver sortage?, instead of coming up with bs ideas to cause it.
A corporate intrusion of our privacy is what this is. The CEO of Maverick is a control freak . What a way to shore up the work force.
I agree!
How is it a corporate intrusion? Gooberment is the only entity that’s given itself so much power that it can turn stupid experiments like this into law on nothing but a whim. It’s the people’s fault for giving up their own power to keep government overreach in place all in the name of ‘safety’.
And for the drivers who think they’ll get paid more because of this…bureaucracy costs money. Any extra laws a company endures makes things more expensive. So what could have been your salary had there been fewer laws is going toward paying useless administrators.
best comment I have read yet!
I ran behind a camera watching me for four years. Never again
It’s a tyrannical tool and like it or not is used as such. It’s used to grab your safety bonus, or watching you pick up a glass of milk.
All that potential lifesaving crap is sone artificial estimate some nitwit came up with in a computer, similar to global warming data.
On day we will learn that we simply cannot legislate or regulate all risk our of life.
You cats wanna drive behind a camera watching you go ahead. Count me out.
Automatic braking systems, disc brakes, ok!
The increase in crashes is due to the increase in traffic and the glut of inexperienced truck drivers on the road. Why are there so many inexperienced drivers? Because the industry has chased off veterans by making the job so undesirable they no longer wish to stay. They either quit or retire. This “solution” isn’t going to make the roads safer, it’s just going to produce more scapegoats. So glad that I got out of trucking.
32 years 2million+ miles and I’m right behind you. Keep telling people at 50 years old I’m too young to retire but way too old for a babysitter. And sadly I am going to miss this.
don’t give up just yet jim I’ve been doing this for 20year’s and we need guy’s like you the ones who showed me the right and safest way to do the job/ career and I’ve tried to help the new guys out here some are like I was interested in learning from someone who has been there and done that and alot are just out here to for a job to get the money and no interest in doing the job safely or correctly. there not hard to spot running up the left lane when the sign 2 miles back said left lane closed but they are more important so we should all get out of there way look at the inside of there truck it’s as nasty as the out side again no pride in there job just want there paycheck and don’t care about anything else camera’s sensors and new regulations will never fix what’s really broken
I agree. I’m nearing the end myself. I constantly shake my head at drivers behaviors in traffic. If they would put money
& effort into training new drivers- basics on maneuvers alone, you would cut out accidents. I feel for new drivers out here- they make mistakes that clearly weren’t covered in training.
Amen to that. I went to school thinking that they’d actually teach me to drive. NO they just teach to the the test, not the situations that occur in real life. Luckily I was placed under the supervision of a old timer for a long time at my first job. 8 years later no at fault accidents! Driver training is key.
If the video game companies can make a game that can simulate a real life inner city gun battle, it shouldn’t be too much of a problem to make real life driving simulation games that drivers can learn from at the weigh stations. Convert part of the weigh station into a classroom and a couple times a driver can go in for training on how to avoid the accidents that cause the most death.
I totally agree with you Rick!!! My husband is an it’s truck driver and I am appalled at the things his company, and many others, get away with. Every week he loses $30- $40 because of this “zip code to zip code” thing they have?Sitting for hours while waiting to be unloaded and not getting paid until after he has sat for 4 hours? Many other things that I just don’t understand how they get away with it. Now this camera situation? That is an intrusion of privacy, especially if they live in the truck. That is their sleeping quarters so that is like putting a camera in someone’s bedroom and watching them!!!! Against the law!! Violation of privacy. My husband is a great driver, been doing it for years, but he’s suck of it because of these issues. So, you’re right, these companies will lose all the good drivers and we will have green, untrained drivers on the road leaving all of us open to unsafe driving conditions. It’s ridiculous!!!
I meant otr, over the road
AAA also did a study a couple years ago that said over 75% of truck-involved fatal crashes were the fault of the car driver. Now they are promoting engaging the ultimate control and privacy invasion against those drivers their own study says are not the most dangerous on the road but the least dangerous.
YES!!!!- that makes complete nonsense!!!!-
“We must ensure that truck drivers are well trained, well rested…” Nothing in this statement about being “well paid”. It figures.
Keep all drivers behind the wheel of a commercial and non commercial vehicle off their damn phones and accidents would drop dramatically. At 3-5 am you see people on their phones to the ear (non handsfree) or to their face (texting and/or Facebooking). Something needs to be done with that. Hell even law enforcement is on their computers while driving (I’ve seen that). It’s not only the truckers that have accidents. Like this government makes it out to be and it’s not always the truckers fault like they make it out to be.
Wtf….they should put that into cars, mainly in student drivers and let’s not forget retired and disabled dtiver.
Bud they dont think about that.
The trucking alliance is a group of mega carriers like the ATA pushing for mandated speed limiters, cameras, ELD’s, etc. Its all in the name of profit and liability. Anyone who thinks these carriers will increase driver pay due to savings from reductions in accidents is kidding themselves.
I agree.
I agree
The other major problem is that the trucking industry has made it harder for drivers.
Example. My truck was in the shop and I stayed at a hotel.The next day the shop didn’t finish the work until after 1 PM. As for hos rules I had my 34 restart, but it was now late in the day. I had been awake since 6 that morning. Does it make sense to now drive 8 to 11 hours when you have been up all day on waiting standby?
What drivers need is regular hours and a regular area. Take a page out of the railroads playbook…relay the loads like it used to be and get drivers home daily and pay by the hour not the mile
Agreed
You are still not getting the whole picture. There is way too much government regulations purchased by the ATA (aka trucking alliance, mega carriers, etc…). They are trying to get the driver out of the truck and replace him or her with a computer. Then all profit in their pockets. They don’t care a rats butt what you think or say. The only way to stop them is quit driving for them. And that has to be all of their drivers.
Unfortunately, many innocent people are going to be killed before they figure out that a REAL PERSON is needed behind the wheel and the autonomous crap does not work.
Exactly. Safety has nothing to do with their hankering for more and more nanny/police state devices and rules. Profit! is what counts. Profit, through low pay, reducing liabilities, etc.
This makes my decision to retire at 62 instead of 66 and a half a done deal.
At 62 years of age you have no business being in this industry anyway as you’re a danger to society.
Well, that’s one of the dumbest comments on here. I guess you’re a 24 y/o wet behind the ears thumb sucker that couldn’t pour piss out of boot with the directions written on the heel. At 58 y/o I can guarantee that you don’t have anywhere near my experience, credentials, or safety record. And I’ll hit 62 and still have a much better record than you.
With a name like Jim Bob. 21 is too darn old to be in charge of any vehicle except maybe a bike with training wheels and a big horn..
I beg to differ on your age point. First off, that’s discrimination. 62 is not a magical age where a person’s abilities take a serious nosedive.
How old are you now, 25, 40? When you reach the out-to-pasture age of 62, and have personal and medical bills needing to be paid, you’ll be working until maximum social security benefit age of 70. Your time and experience behind the wheel has made you one of the better drivers out here. Then someone with the same attitude that you have now writes the same thing you did. Check yourself and let us know how it feels, bud.
That sounds stupid. But go ahead you have just about took everything out of trucking. Where there or not you see it we are becoming more under the federal government. I seen this coming 45 years ago that’s why I am giving it up.
They want to make all of these rules for truck, when the four wheelers are to blame for a big part of them, passing trucks then hitting brakes to turn, the public needs to b reeducated that trucks can stop on a dime, stop pulling out in front of them, if ur going to pass make check mirrors, so tried of cars passing and then i have to hit brakes hard because they act like my truck nose is not there
You hit the nail on the head, all the class “D” driver are convinced nothing will happen to them.
It’s time to get outta this shit. You got all these penicil pushers that have no idea what they doing. All there theories is hypothetical. If it’s ur time to go it’s ur time. I can just sit home and drive the box thru the Xbox. These regulations in out of control
The only thing I could ever go along with for these new trucks and new drivers is the lane departure system because most of the trucks that pass me let the trailer get in my lane before they clear my truck .
👍👏
Steve Williams. Will your camera’s be Maroon? Try a different color. You like change? Start there. Tired of passing your Maroon slow trucks.
So the executives and dispatchers of these large companies will then wear body cameras, and have live feed video streaming from all areas of the office. I’ll bet they fight and resist that due to the lack of privacy. All senators and congressmen and women should also be legally required to wear body cams as well. The public has a RIGHT to know what their elected officials are doing AT ALL TIMES. Then I’ll submit to their BS
Well said!!
Yes, well said Jason!!
Ha! America doesn’t work like that, just ask any Black Guy, he’ll tell you what you never realized, that they never cared about you either.
Most offices are video and audio recorded.
I agree
I sent a letter to the president of AAA listing many reasons why requiring driver-facing cameras is foolish and will cause veteran, well-trained drivers to leave in droves. I got a response from some flack in the office…the CEO never saw it. So much for AAA being responsive to it’s members, which I am.
I work in distribution, one of 3 drivers at my branch. I have already told my boss that the day they install driver facing cameras in our trucks will be my last day of work at this company…or any other that has those cameras. I will not have some desk jockey who’s never even seen the inside of a truck monitoring me with a camera in my face for the 10-12 hours a day I’m working. I’ve managed to make it through 37+ years of accident and citation-free driving without some pocket protector wearing nerd watching my every sneeze and telling me how to drive. I don’t need their “help” now.
Right on!
If they want safety then they should find shippers and receivers after making a driver wait longer than 60 minutes. Also better training for 4 wheelers.
AAA and the government will find that ELD’s will ultimately increase stress, decrease productivity, increase costs and increase driver turnover until other issues are addressed. If they want total control of hours worked they need to start with massive fines at the receiver/shipper (say $1000 per hour) past a two hour window. Food houses are notorious for 6-7 hour load/unload times. A drivers clock is running during that time.
If you are going to drumbeat safety address all the causes, not just driver hours of service.
Ask and trooper or DOT office….over 85% of crashes involving a semi is a passenger vehicles fault. The only thing I agree with here is the disc brakes. They work.
I guess we all know what companies are going under next. Pointing cameras at the sleeper isn’t going to help a companies safety ratings when the morons they hire are so hateful they want to attack a drivers privacy.
They really should get their priorities straight and support the ones doing the “real” work on the road. 😉
throwing all the types of trucking in America into one basket of rules and mandates is foolish and shows how out of touch these lawmakers are.
the health of the driver is not considered. Are we getting the nutrition from todays food to give us the energy to sit and drive for 11 hours with only one 30 minute break? Common sense would dictate that a driver could take nap breaks and spread his day out. A well rested driver is a safer driver. Watching a drivers activities in the cab of the truck won’t prevent anything, It is post action, not proaction. They seem to have reaction, post action and proaction intermixed.
more cameras outside the truck is fine.
drivers beware the technocratic society is on the move!
I already quit, screw california… Then these cameras…. Bad enough 24/7 running from ALL LEOs…now a damn camera , sensors.. For a 24/7 road test… I seriously doubt this is gonna stop crashes,..except by parked trucks… Screw driving… Factory work and be home at night,… Uber is better
I never said any such thing, And I definitely don’t agree with invading anyone’s privacy.
In other news. Trucking companies face the largest turnover in transportation history. lol
While you’re at it, let’s equip all Privately owned and operated Automobile’s too.
It’s only fair I think that all driver’s are to have driver’s facing cameras so we can drastically changed 7t down on those irresponsible motorists who attended paying attention to their driving.
So these cameras that are facing the truck driver with no statistics to back it up if they do any good or not are going to improve how 4 wheelers cut in front of trucks to get to the exit or cut in front of trucks to gain a 1 sec advantage in moving down the road in heavy traffic. Along with the invasion of privacy, instead of going after the truck driver and seeing him or her flick burgers on the camera maybe the ATA and this coalition of companies should teach these morons in wheelers how to safely drive around trucks and give better training to inexperienced truck drivers.
Well if this is the case, Why don’t the government install these cameras in all American homes !!! It’s the same situation here !!! Invasion of privacy
I’m Out !!!
You’re absolutely right!!! As I stated, this is an invasion of privacy in a place where a person sleeps!! The exact same thing as putting a camera in someone’s home!!!
It should be done by the owners of the buildings to safeguard their investments. All rental property needs cameras, including but not limited to, motels, hotels, campsites, rvs, rental cars, motorcycles, etc.
Apartments and homes in high risk areas really need cameras.
The lawsuit payout is going to be huge when some stupid clerk starts posting naked pics of drivers somewhere. That’ll eat up their savings!
Already happened. Company I used to drive for, which shall go unnamed, had an office weanie get into a tiff with a driver. For revenge the office weanie turned on the cab camera and recorded the driver changing clothes. Then sent the driver a text with a copy of some of the video to let him know he could embarrass him if he wanted to. The lawsuit was not pretty and the weanie had to find a new line of work.
A person can always sit in an office and make decisions about what will prevent accidents but in the real world of trucking experience is what protects anyone from harm.
This goes against our. Privacy some body is going to get sued if they try that
great idea but… requiring dash cams would be more appropate. i have been driving for 38 yrs and have never had a.preventable accident. these big carriers will basicly hire anyone, so its a way for them to monitor their drivers. aaa has great numbers on the face but no actual research to back it up.
I love these statements many of you make ” I ve been drivin 33, 45, 50 years and so on, and I have never had a preventable accident.” Every incident is preventable. If not by you than by the moron who hit your truck. This is when I start to suspect that you are either a pretty fresh driver, or a liar, or you have done all those years shunting in one yard. My BS detector is going off the chart on this one.
Why don’t we put cameras in cars. It would stop the distracted driving. I’ll be damned the day a company requires me to have a camera in my truck while I’m driving. That’s my home and an invasion of privacy. Why don’t we put a camera in the bedroom of these idiots doing the study. On guard collision management malfunctions and so does lane departure. It’s also not always the truck driver at fault for major accident. Alot of times it’s a 4 wheeler that cuts us off and slams the brakes because they can’t wait 5 seconds to exit.
That’s what I’m saying too Robert!!!! That is your home while you’re on the road….an invasion of your privacy!!!
I can already see it. They will force you to buy this all because the big bad carriers and ATA thinks you need it and they will slither to either Congress or the Dot. It reminds me of the affordable Care act or ELDs whereas they will force you to buy a horrible product and then make that product worse and more expensive and All in the name of safety or they could claim it’s a tax if you don’t have it.
And Im sure they are investors in Lytx wether directly or through equity firms, as there has to be an interest at stake other than just “safety”. All of us drivers know these corporations dont care about safety.
safety is just a legal term the big companies use to get what they want and care about it haha it’s in there way if a driver ever says I can’t do that it’s a safety concern yeah there going to work around his concerns because they cost money and that’s what this is all about find the real reason ata or aaa or what ever huge billion dollar group wants these new ELD’ s and cameras and God only knows what else but i would bet they have interest just like someone else already stated they are going to be making money off these new federal mandates and they are the federal laws now so its no choice it’s the law.so much for a government that has all of its people best interests in mind when they made these laws
You’ve got to be kidding! First the 14 hour rule, then ELD’s, and now this, among all the other regulations. Why not just have FMCSA sponsored escort vehicles for every commercial truck out there? It’s clear that some in the industry want to know EVERY little move a driver makes, absolute nonsense. I’m not a driver, but I do have alot of friends and acquaintances that are. I feel your pain drivers…this is complete idiocracy!!
Everybody quit. Create driver shortage. Then they have no alternative but to use autonomous vehicles. Although they are coming anyways. In 10 years or less the entire industry will be changed. Truck stops, repair shops, collision shops, the numbers will be drastically reduce. It’s time to re-train or retire.
Swift, jb hunt, etc all need driver facing cameras so they can watch their graduates playing on their phones, laptops, ipods, etc..them, trying to pass laws requiring it in all trucks is just another attempt at bankrupting smaller companies and owner operators, like the eld b/s..no need for a law, they can install it as easy as they pass out high speed racing gloves to their drivers so they can hang out in the center lane at 65 mph while passing all those signs saying “slower traffic keep right”..
As an O/O I will not have cameras in my truck. And if I buy a new truck that has one I will have it removed. I will not be spied on.
Gues when the crash rate started to climb. ??????
Any guesses.
When the Some people in a Government agency who have no clue started meddling
And all the above named carrriers
Put inexperienced people out on the road.
Wanna make the roads safer. Make the driver safer. All your little do dads are. B. S
Just wait. Now they are lobbying to put 18 year olds behind the big rig stering wheel.
X😲😣😢
I want to have access to the camera in the office so i can see the desk jockeys clowning around while im waiting for them to conveniently offer me a short load that doesn’t even cover my food expenses for the day.
We would quit! No way!
I also have over 25+ years. And if ATA and mega companies took their heads out of their seat and leave the real truck drivers to do are jobs. And real trainer’s with 5-6 experience training? Oh that’s to much common sense.
I don’t mind any of those technologies with the exception for the driver facing camera. That is so disgustingly intrusive. Drivers are not going to be focused on the road – they’re going to be focused on how they look on camera. Instead of being relaxed and keeping it cool under the conditions we face from other drivers constantly, drivers are going to have added stress of not being able to relieve the tension built up by what happens do two other drivers on the road that constantly cut us off and make hauling even more difficult.
Hirschbach Motor Lines already has these cameras and I hate them.. I feel like I’m being watched every minute of every day.. No worries though.. I’ve mooned the camera and flipped them off on numerous occasions.. I’m not working too much longer for this company anyway. Too much safety bullshit on these trucks for me.. I went from being an actual truck driver to a steering wheel holder when I jumped into this truck..
Daniel, have you ever driven a truck with the auto braking system? It’s an accident waiting to happen. Company I used to drive for gave me a truck for the day while mine was in the shop. Going around a left hand curve on a two lane road the car in front of me moved into a right turn lane that was located right in the curve. The camera saw the distance to the car closing rapidly and slammed on the brakes even though the car was in a different lane. Almost made me lose control. At the end of the day I walked in and handed them the keys to it and told them I was going home and they could call me when my truck was out of the shop.
So are THEY willing to have cameras on them 24/7? Are they willing to invite the cameras into THEIR bedrooms? Are THEY willing to have someone watching THEM under a microscope? Bet their opinion would changes of so! I can see some of the chances they mention as being good, BUT NOT INVADING THEIR HOME which is EXACTLY what cameras would do!!! Guess if is drivers would quit driving and let them figure out how to get their loads DELIVERED might be a scenario we may be seeing if this takes effect!!!
I know of a way to prevent 100% of crashes and deaths from trucks – no more drivers!
Sure, autonomous trucks can never totally replace the driver and then when they get into an accident, who are you going to blame? The computer needed a CPAP? The computer when into sleep mode or somehow got a virus?
When you look at the percentage of accidents involving trucks versus the percentage of trucks on the road versus miles traveled, it is a very low percentage and even lower when you look at the accidents that are actually caused by the trucks themselves.
I still have my CDL and all my endorsements and I walked away from trucking a couple years ago. Last week, a major company called me and offered a large carrot in front of my nose to come drive for them. Although tempting, I think of all the BS going on with regulations and such and I’m very happy with my little $15 an hour job.
I agree. Everytime I get the stupid notion of returning to trucking I just click on to YouTube and watch the crap that truckers put up with..cures that idea.
If you have left the industry,
Why are you still waisting your time commenting on trucking industry specific topics? Are you saying we should all quit our professions and go get desk
Jobs? I for one love what i do,
And am willing to stand up and fight for it. Not walk away and go sweep floors at lowes or stand around the water cooler and listen to how pathetic my co-workers lives are.
because I like driving and I follow what is going on to stay in touch, and maybe someday I may get behind the wheel again. But for now, being with the remainder of my family is more important.
LOL. Yeah, that pretty much sums it up.
These regulations that they keep implementing may work in the future. As always though they jump the gun. The ELD’s should not be active until they solve the true problem that exist with shippers and receivers. The camera deal should follow real training. Today there are schools that send drivers out after 3 to 4 weeks and all of theses companies in AA utilize these very same students. I have been out here for 25 yrs and the majority of accidents that I have seen involve the same companies that make up the AA. Sometimes you have to admit that if it smells and looks like a terd it probably is.
They are working on it, auto driving trucks…
I’ll be quitting after I stop the truck on the road and walk away
The signs of an empire in decline
For a short time, I drove for a company that used driver-facing cameras. It SUCKED !! They cannot attract or retain drivers because of these privacy- invading devices. They have a perpetual help-wanted ad that keeps cranking up the “sign on bonus” (which is a scam), and still can’t get anyone to work for them.
I thought trucks were going autonomous; who does the camera spy on then?
Do the powers that be really wonder why there is a driver shortage?
Most people get into driving because of their independent personality (nobody watching over their shoulder). This will albeit eliminate would-be truckers from entering the industry.
It’s disingenuous that a few cheap electronic gizmos are more effective than hardware (disc brakes) improvements at preventing crashes. I would argue that a driver facing camera has ZERO effect on reducing crashes. How can it? Presumably, the video is only reviewed after an event. Any lessons learned are behaviors we are already well aware of, exhaustion and distraction. Any “behavioral” changes due to the perception of being watched are anecdotal. The ability to shed risk and cya are real and immediate. Put a piece of tape over the lense.
I think it’s a psychological thing. If a driver knows they’re being recorded, they’re less apt to do dumb things.
Like when I had my dashboard camera, many decision making lines of thinking also included “if something went wrong, who would be at fault?”
If you are in front of the camera 24/7 it just becomes part on the scenery. You forget it is there and go back to your normal self. It will not prevent any accidents.
the idea of driver facing cameras is for software to monitor driver actions.
If you are a constant distracted driver, it will note and report. Ostensibly the driver could be called in for corrective action and an accident prevented.
It monitors head movement. When you’re tired, you tend to move your head less. It would note when head bobbing begins (as when dozing off) and set off an alarm to waken you…like lane warning systems do now.
One of the greatest advantages will be to the company. If there is an accident, it will show if the driver was attentive. Together with forward (and laneside) cameras, they can show an accident is not a driver’s fault.
I don’t believe any of these (except the forward and lane side cameras) will help.
But when an industry has lowered pay to the point only immigrants from poor countries will do the job (often lacking such basic skills as english) has handcuffed the driver from being proactive and stopping for a nap (14 hour rule), the reliance on ‘gizmos’ to fix everything is just too tempting.
And here’s the real problem…first this alliance. Next they will push for ALL trucks to have cameras…just like they did with the ELDs.
Glad I’m off the road.
How can they say that the cameras will help? You will be so busy worrying about what it’s doing you will run off the road. What happened to no text or talk while driving? Isn’t this the same crap? Big companies can do what they want , it’s their trucks. Just leave us o/o out of your bulls__t!! Elvis has left the building!!
Give them a good show too drop your pants a rub your hairy crack up on it
I just clicked the link to the Trucking Alliance’s statement and NO WHERE in the page does it mention driver facing cameras. Where is your source that the Trucking Alliance is stating that they are for the implementation of driver facing cameras?
Drivrrs must be well trained , well rested and drug/alcohol free. I guess being well paid isn’t on their list. You get what you pay for Steve Williams. You are part of the problem. Why do drivers drive for these non appreciative companies?
I think it’s a brilliant idea for the ATA huggers ,,,, LEVEL THE PLAYING FIELD
Time to drive nekkid
All mandated from people who don’t have a clue. The Trucking Alliance carriers, JB Hunt, Knight Swift, etc. are the carriers who have the most accidents. As much as those drivers annoy me, these ignorant people are preaching to the choir. The cameras meed to be in the non commercial vehicles to make it safer for us. Mandatory for all drivers under 30, over 65 and foreigners who have not driven at least 10 years in the USA. And also all law enforcement vehicles, because their lives matter too, and they need help staying in their lanes, seeing at night due to all the distractions in the vehicle.
What makes you think all foreigners are bad drivers been driving for over twenty years know I’m as good as any American trucker
Eh… I think these big carriers like Swift need a babysitter. Maybe we’ll get to see first-hand how they do what they do.
I don’t know. If the cameras are facing both directions. I.e. driver and road. It might actually reduce the people’s desire to play litigation lotto…. they say a picture is worth a thousand words than a video might be worth a million…. dollars that is…. alot of drivers are already going to dashcams. While some may see it as in invasion of privacy I see it as proof that we as drivers were or were not on our A game… been driving for 25 years now. It’s not getting any better. Right now any incident is a “he said/She said” basically. Why not have the visual evidence on your side?
“We must ensure that truck drivers are well trained, well rested, drug and alcohol free,”
If they did that, they wouldn’t need cameras or all the other junk.
Stuff like this is what prevented me from going into trucking at all when I looked into it.
Those r the companies with the worst drivers …wait swift leads the board as first place with the dangerous undetermined drivers.
Trucking it is never easy, now it gets harder
That does it. I quit.
What are they going to do about the cars? Their going to find out CARS are more of an issue. The texting and driving bull shit! Some bitch hit doing 70 mphs in my personal car and I haven’t driven a semi in 2 years. It’s taken a year for me to walk with help, and another year to walk on my own. The bitch didn’t even get a ticket! Lazy cop! So until that’s fixed don’t tell me anything about truck drivers!
So when do we get regulations for dispatchers.
1. All conversations be sent thru Qualcomm or email and all phone calls recorded.
2. Every lie gets a $50 fine payed to the driver.
3. All dispatchers required to spend 4 weeks in the truck on the road immediately after hired on.
Doug, did you happen to read the above article where Steve Williams, CEO of Maverick and Trucking Alliance president references the AAA study of onboard cameras and technology theoretically reducing crashes? And how they will adopt these measures and require it for future membership?
Drivers do like the drivers in Canada did with the driver facing cameras class action lawsuit it is a invasion of privacy and want fix anything exp a non driving idiot behind the wheel need to stop this crap b4 it gets out of hand stand up and fight for rights
While your at just get rid of all your drivers. No drivers, no trucks= no truck crashes. Problem solved…. Oh and while your at it you should do some testing first. Take the first four cameras and place them all around your desk facing you and give the monitor to your supervisor and anyone else who’s interested in watching you all day. Bet you won’t.
Just a way to get the small guy out. If the CEO of Maverick was really concerned about safety he would pay more and treat drivers better to retain the experienced ones. Raise pay, stop the revolving door that constantly puts new drivers in trucks and see what happens with safety.
As usual, safety is not the issue, but revenue and control.
Who would work with a camera facing you all day long? Pay by the hour would make people less likely to overwork themselves. The industry is a joke.
Yes, how about the idiots in there cars who are texting or pulling up next to your truck with there stuff out playing with it and wanting you to see it. It’s not the truck drivers who are the problem most of the time, but the dumbasses in the cars. These big honchos in the ivory towers don’t speak the same feelings as the truck drivers feel.
Stupid logic , tell me how a camera that is facing the driver will stop a crash. Sounds like a group of sales people just trying to make a buck on stupid stuff
They need to put cameras in cars. What about RV’s. They’re the most dangerous drivers out there. Majority of the time the truck is not at fault. The cars are, but try telling that to the college educated idiots that have never been in a truck. Unbelievable. And look at who are members of the Alliance. Swift, Knight and others. Right. Driver’s with marginal training and no experience. But they’re super truckers. Just ask them.
After 24 years I left trucking in 2016. I will say I miss it, however, these stories are exactly why. I recognize that things change and times change but you are expecting adults to accept be treated as subservient children. They count on the fact that you need the job enough to eat what they dish, frankly it’s worked for as long as I can remember.
Well I currently drive for a company who has adopted these measures and I’m here to say not helping the driver at all it’s a big money scam …First off the driver facing camera is a violation of one’s civil liberties..Second the auto assist braking system clearly state’s not recommended for combination vehicles in this configuration it’s very unsafe and even dangerous to driver and other motorists…The ELD is also a big danger to the trucking industry because the driver is the only one who knows when he or she needs to rest and when to drive his or her vehicle safely not some electronic device ….My company has also cut the tractors down to 65 miles per which is also a big danger to the driver and other motorists because it put the tractor at a speed in which the truck is too slow for travel on highways of higher speeds and faster fourwheelers which means the tractor to fast for slower vehicles and too slow to pass said vehicles which in turn makes them a wreck waiting to happen! As a driver of commercial motor vehicle with 33 years experience I say I’m more equipped and and better a judge of safety and control of a vehicle that I’m driving then someone who has never drove a commercial motor vehicle…So in my opinion this whole safety push is a money scam instead of all these unnecessary measure’s raise the pay in trucking industry and got rid of all the unnecessary rule’s that’s not helping the industry at all ..Because I believe that in the trucking industry which is by the way the only industry in America that has to give a ten year work history and the drug and alcohol testing is to a point of also a violation of one’s civil liberties and should be by law if drug and alcohol testing is mandatory that company have to provide health insurance to give a addicted employee chance for treatment …All these measures being taking by the so called CEO’S and industry leaders isn’t helping or benefiting the driver’s of this industry they are geared to make them money and not about safety …Its about time to incorporate hourly pay and health insurance to all the drivers in this industry then the rest will take care of itself…It’s my opinion this is what’s needed …
In all seriousness, could the author of this article reach out for the “studies” that driver facing cameras prevent accidents and deaths? Where are and who has done these studies? Real life, controlled studies of this nature take longer than driver facing cameras have even been in existence, these things take multiple samples, different authors, and decades to conclude. I smell something from over here. 🤓
If they thought there was a driver shortage before, wait until this nonsense goes into effect.
The company lytx is lobbying politicians for this prize. http://www.opensecrets.org/search?q=Lytx&cx=010677907462955562473%3Anlldkv0jvam&cof=FORID%3A11
This is pretty much the only reason this law will most likely pass. I can’t believe AAA is abusing its good will and reputation to make some coin. There was a time when they were very respectable. But I guess the millions of dollars they’ll get for saying this garbage will more than compensate. Why won’t they say it will save millions of lives to put them in EVERY vehicle in America? Probably because it violates people’s privacy. Seeing as how we are just animal truck drivers we don’t get basic privacy rights. I’m getting out in December but you guys should fight it. Start a petition! This is wrong!
Driving 24 years 3 million safe mile…I try to look on both sides of any issue.
#1. Who caused this…..We did, the truckers of America
#2. Who really knows what goes on out here..the truckers of America
#3. Do I really care?…….I don’t know enough about it yet!
I really, after sitting down and THINKING ABOUT THIS!!
I don’t do anything in my truck that I wouldn’t put on the front page of any newspaper. I have a curtain that seperates me from worktime.
Maybe the camera will not only save lives, but it may save MY LIFE.
I know that I have driven pretty damn tired sometimes,and got away with it.
We will see!!
Spoken as one with a slave mentality. Big-truck drivers caused what? Sure, there are plenty of losers acting as professional drivers, but many of us can do without the nanny/police state devices and rules. The real reason corporations and government push such is $$ and control.
Well putting a driver faceing camera IS NOT GOING to prevent an accident what you need to do IS stop people from texting by pulling the driver’s licenses for texting and driving
I can’t believe it. After 20 some odd years of driving, raising my own children, now they want to babysit me inside my cab?
I’m close to retirement and can’t wait. The CEOs and all these big Executives think they know what’s going on out here in the real world of driving a semi. And I can bet you none of them hold a CDL, much less of ever ridden in a semi truck for one day. it’s not the drivers that are the problem, yes there are some. It’s the ones driving the four wheelers that have no experience and no understanding about commercial vehicles all around them. When they take your test to drive that little car or drive that huge less of a camper they should have to take the standard general knowledge test for CDL. If they can pass the General Knowledge Test then they should be allowed to have a license to drive a car or a camper or any other vehicle. That would teach them about semi trucks that is what will lower the crash rate. Ask the state of New York they’ve implemented many questions from the General Knowledge Test into the regular license test and they have made a difference with their drivers. Ask Missouri they only offer the CDL test on paper in English with no interpreters. How many of their CDL license holders have accidents a year? Why don’t we start their why do we go back to the basics teach people about trucks teach truck drivers they can only have a CDL if they read speak and understand the English language.
It’s ridiculous and I hope my grandchildren never have to drive in this world.
Oh, yeah this is DEFINITELY the nail in the over nailed coffin for me! I’ve already had it with shutting down 40 miles from my house because some puke choking lawyer decided to force E-Logs down my throat, and then all the nonsense ‘safety’ crap That’s been used to discriminate against us drivers .
They are making a huge mistake thinking this will prevent accidents because when this happens all of us long tenured, million plus safe, very Expereinced and safe drivers will walk away from this evolving prison of entrusion of rights in the false pretense of ‘safety’ !! All they will be left with is young kids too ignorant to care that a camera is in their faces!! And those self driving trucks won’t ever be able to keep up with the exodus of REAL professionals! They can shove those cameras and all this other pure bs up where the sun doesn’t shine!! I’m 37, too young to retire, but I’ll start from scratch before I allow this to happen to me!!!
So, when will it start being mandatory on non commercial vehicles? Anyone? Anyone?
The driver facing camera is an intimidation tactic, pure and simple. Drivers will be afraid to yawn, rub their eyes, stretch, or do anything else that may be indicative of fatigue. This is also a great way for EVERYONE else to place the blame of crashes squarely on the big, bad truck driver.
Again, it doesn’t matter diddly-squat that statistics prove that in the VAST majority of crashes involving small vehicles and commercial vehicles, the fault lies with the 4 wheeler. Someone can put in a 12 hour night shift at the factory, race home, lie down for 2 hours, then get up and go to his day job for 8 hours. I’ve seen it, and there is no forced regulation to prevent this dangerous driver from hitting the road.
It’s all part of the new-world PC regime of ‘zero tolerance’. The safety nazis are telling people that crashes are completely unacceptable and can be eliminated with more regulations and gimmicky technologies like automatic braking, lane departure warning, smart cruise control, etc.
As others have said, there are just too damn many people on the roads, many of whom don’t have experience, and/or have received inadequate training. Add in smartphone distractions, impatience, and a general ‘me first’ f/u’ attitude towards others, and you have a recipe for disaster.
Trucking used to be enjoyable for me, something that I took pride in. Now it’s just a way to put food on the table. I can’t wait to get out of it.
They don’t give a damn about reducing injuries! They only care about reducing monies paid out for injuries and property damage. Anyone says anything different is a liar!
They talk about drivers and accidents. They are still blaming drivers no matter what… instead of putting them in trucks put them in the 4 wheelers… I was pulled into the scale in Pennsylvania 2 weeks ago. I asked them just out of curiosity how many trucks were in involved in the accidents that caused deaths this year alone I was told it was 7. The rest were all 4 wheelers. That tells you that the drivers are doing there jobs with the 7 and 15 rule and the SMITH system. Quit blaming truck drivers for other people’s stupid reactions…
Yea, if they do this I’m done. Working 70 hours a week with no overtime for six years works out to be around $10 to $12 dollars an hour anyway. I’ve got other skills I can persue and be home every night and on the weekends as well. Just not worth it anymore.
They think there’s a driver shortage now, if they follow through with this, I’m out fo suore. 🙁
There is no driver shortage. If there was a driver shortage the freight rates and driver pay would be much higher than it is. The shippers would give you your favorite team’s seasons tickets evrry year and companies would offer all kinds of perks and privilage just to have you take their freight. You would be treated like a King instead of like a stray dog. So stop repeating this nonsense abiut a driver shortage.
I have read just about all the comments and they all say just about the same thing . with my company they can tell where you are with GPS and how long you been at work with an ELD and how fast you are going .All with this idiot thing called a computer. Now I think a reverse image camera would be fine for a few reasons. yeah it will let dispatch know if you pick your nose and what you choose to do with it after , but , the main concern is to see if you are falling asleep while driving , using your cell phone while driving , hanging out the window checking out a hot momma with boucoup seat covers showing . In my 45 years of driving I have just about seen it all . Do I want one in my truck , no , but if they put one in so be it, I’ll cover it up .
They talk about drivers and accidents. They are still blaming drivers no matter what… instead of putting them in trucks put them in the 4 wheelers… I was pulled into the scale in Pennsylvania 2 weeks ago. I asked them just out of curiosity how many trucks were in involved in the accidents that caused deaths this year alone I was told it was 7. The rest were all 4 wheelers. That tells you that the drivers are doing there jobs with the 7 and 15 rule and the SMITH system. Quit blaming truck drivers for other people’s stupid reactions… They need to start pulling licences for texting and driving…
They wanna put these things in your homes. He who sacrifices liberty for security deserves neither, and will receive neither. If you guys are okay with this keep on playing on Facebook and Twitter. Stay distracted while they steal every last right you have. All the soldiers who died for your rights will have done so in vein. What do you care? Someone is posting what they had for dinner so just pay attention to that. Makes me sick.
If they require this.. it is 1984..by george orwell..where they watch every move you make..if i have to do this.. it will be a very quick cut ad dry answer ….I QUIT.. and i hope that every other driver does the same thing..if you dont you are either really stupid..or a mind numbed robot…
As usual, the word “safety” is used, to justify more police / nanny state devices and rules. Big-truck crashes are not a pressing problem and most big-truck accidents are caused by people in smaller vehicles, anyway.
Money and control are the issues, and government and corporations won’t be satisfied until we’re all locked down and/or watched/spied upon, day and night.
(And people think they’re free…)
If safety (preservation of human life) were the issue at hand, the drug companies with their prescription drugs, e.g., wouldn’t be injuring and killing tens of thousands of people every year. As usual, safety is the catch-word, to fool the masses into compliance.
Someone explain to me how a video system keeps you from having an accident when going down the road?
They think it will scare drivers into doing the right thing.
You know, cause the threat of an accident didn’t. So surely someone looking at you will.
They will be driving the truck themselves that is an invasion of privacy do you people want a camera in your car or your house we live in these trucks
done I’d quit and go on welfare before I install driver facing web cam . maybe AAA should install them in everyone’s car that has a triple AAA membership including their own at the drivers expense . Shouldn’t take long before their out of business as everyone cancels their memberships. Mine will be cancelled after this comment. Maybe if these large freight companies trained their drivers properly & paid them a decent amt. per mile their drivers wouldn’t be trying to get that extra 50 miles a day in at with a top speed of 67 mph.
And they think there is a shortage of drivers now. Just wait!! How about better training, much better training!
Trucking used to be a high paying profession. Not anymore. I was making $32000 a year back in the 70’s! That is equal to about $100,000 a year in today’s money. I had 40 years as an OTR driver, 4 million miles logged, and never had a ticket, nor a chargeable, and had never been shut down at a scale. After the Obama 2010 regulations, but we could still keep paper logs, I continued to take my usual split break most times, of 5 on, 5 sleeper berth; kept one more alert. I was leased to Landstar for the last 20 of those 40 years, I drove a mechanically injected truck, and it never broke down once during the 8 years I had it. Before that, I had bought a brand new 1999 Freightliner with the computer crap, and it was a piece of junk. Always some computer problem. I got rid of it when it only had 30,000 miles on it. Landstar started to require electronic logs in 2012, so I said screw it and took early retirement. I damn sure would have gotten out of the profession if they started this crap with cameras aimed at the driver. The whole trucking industry has gone to hell.
They don’t give a damn about reducing injuries! They only care about reducing monies paid out for injuries and property damage. Anyone says anything different is a liar!
Honestly, I don’t think there is good enough reason to invade privacy like this. This is abuse of power and everything the camera will find can be found out when the driver takes drug tests and alcohol tests, before and after accidents, which most are not caused by trucks. Because anything worse then that, and the driver would probably be wise enough to disable the camera before hand.
The ones pushing these cameras need to live under a camera themselves for a while, and let their company watch, so they can understand what it is like before they start the inhumane punishment on truck drivers.
I’m a female driver. You going to watch me change clothes or use my b.o.b..THAT’S A LAW SUIT. INVATION OF PRIVACY. Or if the guys Jack off you going to film that to? We need camera’s not on us. The people we have to deal with daily. Who try to hit us run is off the road. That’s who needs punished.
Cameras facing the drivers in the semi is invasion of privacy. I will not install one in my truck. I’m okay with cameras facing out but not toward the driver
If it would make big rigs safer, then it should make ALL vehicles safer. You wanna see a public outcry. How about starting at the root of the problem. How easy it is to obtain a CDL. I’ve only been out here 24 yrs and half the drivers out still have troubles backing or parking a truck. And knowing that you want ride next to this person in a compact car on snowy roads?
The way to reduce accidents is to reduce the 14 hr clock and have distance warning systems that prevent driving too close.
I would be supportive of all truckers quitting too. The pay is not high enough to tolerate being recorded.
Exactly. That is causing more problems than anything else.
Where will it end….they started with eletronic logs . They still are not happy now we need to invade a drivers privacy. there not going to ever be happy next it will be something else.and they Wonder why they have a high turnover rate. I say driver’s need to quite driving for them peaple.
People who argue that employees are videotaped every day, how many have a camera a few inches from their face? How many have a camera system that triggers when the office employee shuts a drawer too hard? How many have an outside firm reviewing the footage to critique how the employee was doing?
The industry is run by the morins at insurance companies. The same guys who break multiple laws driving to work, who never check their own vehicle out, those queers have the money to influence this nonsense. My company got a 300k dollar insurance discount for governing the trucks to 65.
If you work for a mega carrier, they only want to maximize profits. They do not care about you. Every single driver quit after they have enough experience and work for a small outfit that pays decent, treats you well and doesn’t micromanage. Swift already pulled the cameras once, let’s see it happen again.
Great comment!
What’s amusing about this, is that a big portion of their members are mega carriers aka steering wheel holders, which is funny in itself considering anyone who simply bumps docks everyday is a steering wheel holder. Now considering their mega carriers, their trucks are all governed between 62 and 65 anyhow. So the so called accidents these cams could potentially stop if at all might be your rookie minor collisions. As for your fatality collisions go. A huge majority of those are caused by these idiots out here doing 80 in a 55 and riding people’s bumpers trying to push them out of their way. So ultimately these members putting these cams in their truck isn’t going to do much of anything except f@#$ in industry as a whole and shot for a federal mandate for every truck. Just one’s two cents.
Jas, correct. The thing that gets me is not that they feel trucks drivers are unsafe. It is that they want to spy on drivers in equipment you are supposed to be comfortable in and be able to relax in during your breaks.
If They want to put a eye on you so they can watch your every move, they are going to be calling you and harassing you every time you are not being a perfect robot for the company. They will say they wont use it for that reason, but it will be a false statement and the power to do so will always be there. Already been through this with one company.
Could you please back up your claim that drivers are causing a majority of the crashes from tailgating and doing 80 mph?
All these companies listed are the most dangerous on the road, their trucks cannot run highway speeds, they talk about safety, how about starting with that, not being able to do posted limit is a hazard on the road
Bring them cameras on I got a lawsuit waiting on them 🖕
I just wont tolerate being a robot for some immature millionaire that has trust issues. I have the right to live like a human, just like them.
Would all those pinheads want a camera facing them while working in their office? I THINK NOT!
Who can we contact to inform them where to insert these devices into their bodily cavities?
just give me the miles and the money,and do it all,the safer the better !!
“They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.”
–Benjamin Franklin
It took me less than 3 minutes to see inside the Melton truck parked next to me. I was actually looking for unbroadcasted WiFi to hitch hike off of. I woke the guy up and showed him how easy it was to hack his camera. I gave him some tape to put over the camera. I’m all for dash cams to protect my rights but you are not invading my privacy.
You would have to be a total moron to think that disc brakes are better than drums. How would a smaller pad, over a smaller radius be better?
Idiots.
Plain and simple I WONT DRIVE A TRUCK WITH DRIVER FACING CAMERAS IN IT!! Its an invasion of my privacy and thats all there is to it.
These corporate assholes quoting statistics out of there ass are 4 wheelers who no nothing of what we do out here. I have the ctash midigation system and I hate it but ai deal with it. When It comes to my privacy? Ill walk away before I drive with a camira pointed at me.
You’re all paranoid. I agree that filming you inthe sleeper would be over the line but they’re not going to open themselves up to litigation by filming you in the buff without your permission. It’s one thing if you’re in the driver seat working quite another when your off duty. As long as they are paying for the truck it is their property and workplace so they can pretty much do whatever they want.
It’s been done. Two females were getting it on and the dispatchers cracked the camera open and uploaded it to YouTube the company was sued it settled out of court.
It was a large carrier I will not post the name of the company sorry.
Why doesn’t AAA install cameras at every one of their desks, and dock employees dearly for screwing off on the job such as milking the employer. Their could install locks on the employee desks to prevent any employee from getting up during non break hours. I’m more than tired of uneducated a-holes that don’t know much about the trucking industry coming up with ways to abuse drivers such as cameras glued to drivers.
Thanks for the astute observation Mike. Question, how did the ELD start? Some mom and pop company using and demanding them, or some mouth breathing poorly managed bottom of the barrel megacarrier like Werner or other ATA blowhards?
The equipment manufacturers of these cameras and other safety products will definitely make a killing off the industry and help the insurance companies bankrolls get fatter.
About 10% of the drivers today need to lose their licenses because they really have No business driving a CMV because they truly do suck.
These devices are needed because there is too many crashes. But, on the other hand, 80% of the crashes involving big trucks are caused by the Car Drivers which means that you should not mask the problem with Big Industry you should tackle the problem of the cars causing crashes with big trucks bye enforcing law and making everyone understand more about the trucking industry and safe driving around trucks and make them ride in a truck before they get their licenses
Obviously if there was more training for the car drivers about big trucks Maybe there will be less crashes caused by car drivers and less need for more safety equipment in the trucks. Before you know it everything will be automated because of the abuse bye car drivers to the trucker.
Driver facing cameras should be in all motor vehicles if they’re going to go this route. Insurance companies should get together and mandate it for all insured vehicles. AAA should be pushing for this as well, but they wouldn’t want to irritate their paying members, would they? They’re so safety oriented. Yeah, right! Why single out commercial vehicles?
I believe that AAA’s study is biased and if they are going to conduct a study it should include big trucks since ki think 80% of the crashes were probably caused by a four wheeler either cutting off a big truck, break checking a big truck or the driver of the four wheeler texting causing the truck driver to make split second decision at whatever speeds,( my opinion)
I don’t see how the camera will “PREVENT” accidents. I am all for a camera facing the traffic in front of the truck to help determine cause and fault of accidents, but not of the inside of the truck. That is my home. No other job requires the employee to be recorded in their home.
Why would a company want to pay for a front facing camera system to incriminate there self or the driver . If the driver had a reck and was smoking or takes a drink of water scratching yourself the lawyer will be sure to say it was a form of distracted driving. The camera company selling their products are the only one that really benefit.
This is fake news and all y’all fell for it. It cannot legally be enforced. Period, end of story. It is only to cause a scare on drivers. Don’t be fooled and don’t be a pushover when it comes to your personal rights.
Don’t you be fooled , the article never said it was law, it is company policy. If they put em in you will have it if you want to work there, just like Qualcom or any other equipment
The disk brakes might help. The automatic braking control will prevent some rear collisions, not all, and may hinder forward progress every time a four wheeler pulls into our front safety zone ( which is a thousand times a day ). But let’s play along and assume the above two systems will prevent some accidents. I am still scratching my head thinking how a driver facing camera will prevent an accident. And if someone shows me the scientific data which proves that this in fact is the case, than would it not be wonderful for all people and insurance companies if all fourwheelers had one?!
It’s hard for me to wrap my mind around the fact that we have so-called Christians in OUR government that are working on behalf of Satan forcing people to take the mark of the beast…. 666
Seems funny, I have driven for 32 years and every time I post a comment on here, it never shows up. I do not use profanity or call names.I post sensible stuff. Whats the deal…
If the government wants to get into highway safety, instead of working so hard to get into the trucking industry,they need to start making more rules for manufacturers of cell phones.A gps unit and the e-log units are set up so that when you are in motion,it locks you out. Cell phones should be set up that way to prevent texting, surfing the the web and facebook while in motion.Set them up so you have to use a head set of some sort to use.I think that would make people pay more attention driving. It would cut down on a lot of accidents out there.
AGREED
Have you not noticed that tech companies and those who install their trinket junk get carte-blanche?
You can’t stop the machine now- too late!
all driver and owner operator must hire one dot inspector who will be keep sitting and issuing tickets in real time to driver and owner operators.
driver and owner operator bear meal and 5star lodging to inspector.
driver and owner operator salary will be set to .10 cents per mile.
how is that???
I wonder why when a company driver of one of the above named companies was involved in a fatality accident in GA involing a police officer that they suddenly turned off the driver facing cameras on the entire fleet. A third party company reviews and flags the “offenses” so the company can reprimand (train by writing them up) the driver. My good friends and long time drivers put in a two week notice and during that time their truck was flagged over ten times. The main complaints were they took a hand off the wheel to take a drink of a bottled water. Another complaint was they blew their nose and both hands weren’t on the wheel. Seriously?
There are more accidents because of texting by cars and truck drivers. It’s way more of a serious problem than drunk driving. People from all ages, all professions (even law enforcement ), during all times of the day are playing on their phones while driving. Being a married team, I feel it’s an invasion of privacy. They can remotely turn on the camera even when the truck is parked. How else could they get video of someone crashing into a parked truck in a truck stop? The video was reviewed and the hit and run drivers info was given to law endowment. We live in here more than in our home. Think of the school that remotely turned on the webcams of laptops that hadn’t been turned in and the trouble they got into because of what they filmed.
When the curtains are shut I don’t need spying eyes and there is no expectation of privacy if I allow a camera to record in my truck and agree to be recorded.
FEMALE DRIVERS BEWARE!! This will make it IMPOSSIBLE for female drivers to drive for these compsnies!! I’ve seen, read, heard about WAY too many law suits etc because those controlling the cameras were RECORDING drivers undressing, and during other daily activities in the truck!They CLAIM that Little camera only sees the drivers seat. It’s a LIE! I’ve seen what that camera lense takes in when a safety manager was reviewing a video tape from a drivers truck! As a female and team driver, I REFUSE driver facing cameras!!!!
Heres the deal theres just as much professionalism now as there ever has been but since everyone is concerned with safety and people all have 4 children per woman theres too many people so the data gets skewed.
I think it is a fantastic idea, these cameras will cause these big carriers to pay thru the nose when it is discovered it is the drivers fault. I watched a guy wreck a brand new truck, and he said he was reaching for a bag of cookies, so this should be interesting.
With a camera in his face:
“That’s how a Maverick rolls!!”
“Let’s make truck driving safer. Automatic selfie!” Get real!
It seems to me their are way to many people making decisions about the trucks and the people who drive them that have never driven a truck in their life and most likely do not even have a CDL. Until you have driven a semi truck then you have no idea how the driver will respond to a certain situation. With camera’s facing the drivers this seems to much like Big Brother trying to get one over on the driver if their is an accident. Let’s pass the buck and put the blame on the driver instead of the situation at hand. A bunch of wanna be truck drivers sitting in an air conditioned room looking at a video which could or could not affect you way of life.
Forward camera I feel would be OK lane change not sure you have to take your eyes off the road to look at it!! I’ve got 40 years driving with one accident 1982 it was a lane change. The cab of is a driver’s home away from home I feel it is a invasion of privacy I don’t need some nut case watching me dress or undress. Auto braking no not for me I for see a problem with driver’s pulling liquid tankers an a major problem if you’re on ice. But that’s always the problem when you have people who has never drove making the rules. Then you have these companies that put driver’s with 6 mouth driving as trainers!!
Does it matter what you do with the forward cam the one who has to be in control at all times is the driver the driver is responsible for the drivers actions and if the company wants to take all responsibility for the driver actions including actions causing harm to others or the driver themselves bring on them front in your face cams waiting to figure out my first check amount.
The politicians, policy makers, special interest lobbyists and corporate America has made a mockery of humanity and life itself. Too late to resist or turn back.
Near everything is absurd now.
Might as well keep trudging on in this direction- we are approaching our darkest hour.
I propose that the interstate highway system should be reserved for military, trucks and emergency vehicles. Secondary roads for 4-wheelers.
Driver facing cameras donot reduce accidents!!! All that is!! Large companies looking for an excuses to blame driver ,you know!!( Pilot error).Or,some other excuse!! So they are not at all responsible for anything!! I donot have a problem with camera’s that face froward looking out over the nose of the truck!! I like those!! But i donot think there is any reasons to have a camera facing me day after day,and all night!! All the time the truck is moving!! You can pretty much get driver action with just a froward facing camera!!! Maybe those company excutives!! Should try a camera facing them!! Everytime they are awake!!! Just wating for them to breathe wrong!! Then the office calling ,and complaining!! It is getting out of hand!! And to much!!
Everyone can quit crying it will not happen.
And even if it does happen most drivers will put up with it because they can’t go two weeks without a paycheck.Sad but true.
Reality of wage slavery is such that employers can force just about any degradation upon unorganized peons provided little coordination. Once critical number of employers set their mind on this or that policy there will be plenty of wage slaves who have nowhere to run. They could not force pilots to accept this humiliation and in trucking biz it is just a matter of time. Guess why?
Just hang the centerfold out of playboy between the camera and you and let the jackoffs in the office do want they do anyhow.
What about installing the lane deparchers on cars or cameras on cars and distance sensors on cars that would reduce a lot of accidents right there alone
If no driver ever agrees to drive with inward facing cameras, it cannot happen. I, for one, never will. I have already declined job offers for that reason.
Regarding ELD’s every state and federal vehicle. And every vehicle on the Rd for profit regardless of CDL should have to abide by the 70/8 rule , and the 11 hrs driving. Seems fair !
Another ploy to circumvent company csa liability…ever since csa the companies have been trying to circumvent their responsibilities…nothing new here.
I work for a company that have this type of camera system. First I was against it , then the system cleared me of any wrong doing when a load shifted because of an extremely hard brake situation caused by a vehicle in front of the vehicle in front of me that had no brake lights . Video proved that though my actions caused the load to shift my actions were also the ONLY ACTION that could be taken because of the extreme circumstances. 2nd is the fact that because of these cameras our company went from 80% at fault to 80% not at fault because the videos tend to support what drivers have been saying for years . Videos show that four wheelers are as eradicate and careless as claimed in most cases . Hate to say it but these cameras actually are good for the trucking industry and prove beyond all doubt that MOST incidents are the fault of drivers that do not belong on the road and they tend not to be behind the wheel of big trucks but instead of the other vehicles.
There is one of those cameras in my truck and it does not seem to make me any safer a driver. You want safer drivers then let me sleep when I’m tired and not when the goverment tells me to sleep
And this is coming from the same liar who keeps telling congress about the fake driver shortage.
I already left one company when they installed them I don’t mind camera facing out. My wife and I live we’re I work for most days of a month. All there really for is micro manage us and to threatening us drivers. I’m sorry this job already doesn’t pay enough. I came to drive we’re I am now over this issue and if this company installs them i will be out.