Every camera company is a bad company.

The camera company usually hires a separate company to go over the footage and verify the violations. As I said on my previous post, I accrued quite a lot of violations, then quit when they got high. However, there are certain violations I will never do. For example, I have an intense aversion to tailgating. I'm so against following too close, that if it even happened once, I'd remember it. Space management is one of the most important elements of safe driving and I became quite a pro at it. I actually got a lot of violations because my Qualcom device wasn't properly logging my pretrips even though I was entering them, and nobody would teach me what I did wrong. But also at times I exceeded the 62 mph governor on a 70 mph freeway going downhill. That's unsafe, you know, lol. I did not like wasting fuel and brakes before going uphill again.
So when I quit, I filed for unemployment to see what would happen. When my claim was rejected, I examined the evidence. The camera footage company submitted a report that I had done a bunch of camera violations. Some of the violations were ones that I know for a fact I had never done—including alleged tailgating. It was obvious to me that the report the company submitted was a carbon-copy template report automatically sent out to anyone and everyone that requests one. They probably have only one report, but they send the exact duplicate of that report to thousands of job investigations or unemployment filings in order to not have to bother reading each driver's individual violations, only changing the name on each one. Saves them a lot of work.

 

You highlight very well some of the perils of having tech and unaccountable third parties evaluating drivers from the vacuum of their narrow viewpoint. Anyone that willing allows such intrusion is asking for the problems it’s sure to bring. I would not subject myself to it. I’m worth more than that.

 

Sounds like a defamation lawsuit to me.

 

The carrier I'm leased onto started putting driving face cameras in explaining that's how they come. A few drivers have been putting tape over the lenses later asked to take it off. Ironically when hired on this was never mentioned.

 

Without this sticker, I won't get in their truck (it's from the contractor and black with white lettering, not opaque or clear).

 

We are a local company that hauls fuel. Bottom line is our drivers mistakes could kill many and be a bad environmental disaster that will cost the company and insurance company millions. A simple spill could cost us 400k. I understand that everyone wants to be "trusted" but the reality is not all employees honest and follow rules. I can tell you plenty of stories of fraud and theft. Sorry, but I have a very short list of people I trust with my future, savings and retirement. My guess is most of you do as well.

In the two years we have deployed them, we have only made it a training issue. No formal write ups, just reminding drivers of our policies. We allow bluetooth and they can drink while they drive. But yes, if you are texting or watching videos while driving our trailers full of explosives, then you will be looking for another job. We do tell all our drivers, if you have an important call, then pull over and take care of what you have too. I understand the uneasy feeling of some as well, but I think most of our drivers have gotten past it over time once they see we are not up their ### over it.

I also have an uneasy feeling that the driver camera could work against us in a claim. So its not like I don't have some reservations about it as well. I enjoy reading what many of you have said, and maybe down the road we will consider other options especially for our seasoned drivers. With that said, we don't have the staffing or the time to watch drivers 24/7. We only deal with alerts and most of them are non-events. We had two road rage incidents where the other driver approached the cab and the driver facing cam was very valuable. These were very helpful in those situations and protected our driver from false accusations.

 

I thank you for sharing your wisdom, great post.
Those who don't like cameras, are welcome to find other employment.
In my experience, the drivers like them, it saves the drama of he said, she said.

 

Ha. He said she said? Unless the cars are actively talking to each other in some sci-fi manner I don't see the relevance of he said she said.

I'll find another employment. Perhaps in the porm business, with your prying eyes watching me on that shirt button sized lense. Man imagine the fame for me, and embarrassment for you.

 

Not busting your cajones here, but did you pull the tape back to make sure it wasn't opaque?

 

I'm confused, you quit and then tried to file for unemployment? The company just sent an image basically, of a truck they claimed to have been the one you were driving tailgating someone? I'd raise cane all day over that if it were me. Well, within reason that is. If for example they were sharing that hogwash with other prospective employers.