New Camera System Coming to all company trucks.

Elogs are far from the "standard", and while automatics are more common than they used to be, manual transmissions are still in the vast majority of trucks on the road. The ATA carriers pushing for the technology so that ANYBODY with a pulse will be able to operate their equipment NEED the big-brother technology BECAUSE they are putting anybody with a pulse behind the wheel. These carriers are a vocal minority, however. While they'd like you to THINK they represent the majority of the industry, it isn't even close. Wikipedia states the ATA represents "more than 37,000 members". Compare that to the "nearly 160,000 members" Wiki states are represented by the OOIDA. Compared to the size of the industry, NEITHER organization comes close to a majority...

From http://www.truckinfo.net/trucking/stats.htm

The megas make up a VERY small portion of the industry. Most of the problems the industry in general face stem directly from the business model the megas have come up with, and are trying to force upon the rest of the industry. The changes which would BENEFIT the industry (such as training standards), the megas resist...because they'd rather have trucks a trained monkey can drive, and use technology to monitor their drivers to make sure there is no monkey business going on in the trucks. Because they don't want drivers with any skill, or ability to think on their own for that matter, driver pay follows suit. You get what you pay for, they are only paying for what they are looking to get.

Take a truck that not anybody off the street can drive. Require the driver to be able to read a map and plan his route. Add the knowledge of the rules & regulations and the ability to keep up the appearance of compliance. Perhaps throw in some mechanical aptitude to take care of minor issues on the road to save time & money. Suddenly, it takes more than a warm body with a pulse to do the job. It takes more than 60-90 days to become proficient enough to be able to train others how to do it. The pool of potential drivers shrinks, which means if you want to keep qualified drivers behind the wheel of your trucks, you have to PAY them. Once again, you get what you pay for.

You can learn a lot about a company by looking at its hiring standards. Great companies can afford to have high standards. When a company is willing to put anybody with a pulse behind the wheel, there's a reason.

 

We're already getting a bunch of methhead dope smokers asking if so and so company test hair for drugs, won't be long before new drivers coming in will be asking if so and so company has driver facing cams because they like to shoot up while they drive lol

 

Talk to my DM today they are coming. Should be a msg about it soon.....

 

So wait, do I still have to drive the truck?

 

Well said.

 

I was talking to my DM about loads out of Montana, and forgot to ask him about this camera situation. Is this going to be for company drivers only, or will L/P drivers be required as well, has anyone asked yet?

 

It always amuses me how quick you are to cheer the demise of an industry you're just getting into. And I can sit back and smile about this, because I left myself an out. Hope you did the same...

 

I have to shake my head at this kind of mentality. Doesn't surprise me at all from a new driver. How much does anyone want to bet he's a friend of the ATA and a card carrying member of PATT and CRASH? That new breed entitlement mentality. People who need a fuel solution and some routing for them because God forbid they think. Guys who've been out here 10-15-20 years and more got nothing on this cat. The #### we had to go through so you new guys can have it easy and then welcome the destruction of a once proud industry. You really disgust me. Really. By the way, you should really change your name. A wild horse is free. You're ready to give it all to Godverment.

 

My DM said company drivers for now. But they are trying for everybody. Not sure if they can put in L/O trucks or not. He said something about have to cross some hurdles to be placed on L/O trucks

 

L/O had better know the regulations and be familiar with the content of their lease. When a company gets an idea like this, it's only a matter of time before they decide to do what they want. I just went through this with e-logs...carrier decided to force us to buy the computer from them, and then pay for the subscription through them...directly in violation of the federal leasing regs and in breech of the contract we had with the carrier. Over 20% of the O/O's walked. The safety director had to scramble to save his own skin while implementing the policy...which got pushed back 6-7 months, and now the company is eating 100% of the cost. The system and subscription they are requiring is still a little too intrusive for me...so I'm glad I left. Work 3 days now and make what I used to in 5...and I'm still on paper.