Body cameras

Discussion in 'LTL and Local Delivery Trucking Forum' started by road_runner, Nov 2, 2022.

  1. road_runner

    road_runner Road Train Member

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    I have a question and need some somewhat of an unbiased feedback.

    Obviously most of everyone on here are not lawyers. So I won't ask for any legal opinions. But I will ask for personal opinions. This is a complex question so hear me out.

    This whole thread revolves around body cameras. This is a poor man's version of a GoPro that films mundane tasks like filming boring staff meetings and going up to more important stuff like dash cams crashes or official police interactions.

    The context of my question revolves around several key issues.

    1. Potentially questionable staff meetings where both positive or negative promises are made. AkA the Yellow meger where things are not only not in stone, but also not even drafted on paper

    2. Over the top; and I mean belligerent and verbally abusive customers (mostly residential but rarely commercial) interactions.

    3. Having some visual proof if management refuses to pull up Omnitracts data to show you that you sat at a customers place for an excessive amount of time, when in reality they refused to open a dock, move a blocking vehicle, are just disgusting peckerheads

    4. Then finally showing traffic conditions. I understand everyone probably has something that faces forward that goes off in a "traffic event". But all the collision assist aside, it would be nice to show that you can't make this right turn into a residential neighborhood with a 53 ft trailer.

    I am looking at a model that is like $130 or so (4 worth of hours of OT). Thoughts if in my position?


    Is this a wate of cash or a.possible safety net since a bunch of people just crap on me.
     
    Last edited: Nov 2, 2022
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  3. D.Tibbitt

    D.Tibbitt Road Train Member

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    Having a camera is never a bad idea...
     
  4. drvrtech77

    drvrtech77 Road Train Member

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    I have a body cam and have worn it at numerous customers especially during covid because of behavior my numerous customers…it definitely changes their behavior when they see they’re being recorded…
     
  5. 062

    062 Road Train Member

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    I always wear a shirt with a pocket, so it’s easy to use my phone.
     
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  6. db2681

    db2681 Medium Load Member

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    A camera is never a bad Idea, i have taken pictures of blocked or stacked up docks, or just shady looking spots that I'm not backing into when I have called dispatch to infrom them of a delay so I have some type of proof if they wanted to get #####y about it. I'm not saying I have used the Voice recording on my Iphone when talking with manager or Union Stewards or customers, but I am saying Ohio is a one party consent state if you are a participating party. The whole One Yellow thing just dropped on us last week and both the Union and Management are only letting you know what they want to let out.

    On the Omnitracs part, keep in mind the contract doesn't allow them to use that data against you unless they are saying its Theft of Company Time and your Union Stewards and Union Hall need to be on that if they are just using it to ##### at you.
     
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  7. jmz

    jmz Road Train Member

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    I feel like your managers aren’t going to want to look at or care about your video proof of anything that contradicts them. It’s not a bad idea for personal liability reasons, but beyond that it probably won’t be much help. I can’t see a manager agreeing to sit down and look at a video to prove why you were held up or to show that their latest policy contradicts something they said in a previous meeting.
     
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  8. Eight Omens

    Eight Omens Light Load Member

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    A lawyer will though. If there is abuse, dept. of labor violations, etc. Video evidence of the occurrences will hold a ton of weight in a court case. If HR or union reps are truly for employees and not just management and not buddies with management, they may be interested in the video footage. Actual managers and customers will not be interested in seeing their bad behavior, whistleblower protections would come into play there as well, and again video evidence may weigh heavily in your favor.
     
  9. scottied67

    scottied67 Road Train Member

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    Filming on private property is akin to trespassing, although what they don't know, doesn't hurt them.You could record but it would not likely hold up in any official setting other than the court of public opinion on the internet social media platforms. Understand once you post it, you might be subject to not being allowed onto that property any more. People in a private setting ie. a private business on private property indeed do have an expectation of privacy as opposed to public employees on public property.

    If you did record someone on private property, typically you would be well advised to blur out their face and mask their voice before posting it to social media. Keep the camera way down on the down low so they don't even know you're recording, otherwise they might trespass you off the property, using the police to violently do so if necessary.
     
  10. road_runner

    road_runner Road Train Member

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    Thanks for all the responses.

    There are a bunch of models on Amazon that I am looking at. The good ones will set me back 5 hours of wages, maybe less if I am on overtime. But they will clip on to a shirt and then into a windshield suction cup.

    The idea is just a layer of protection. But @scottied67 brings up a super valid point that I did not think of.

    While most businesses have their own system of visual surveillance, this is usually not always a privilege that is extended to the rest of people that set foot on their property.

    As a matter of fact, some plants will strictly prohibit filming on their property, so having this on you in person can be problematic.

    Thanks for all the feedback everyone.
     
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  11. dngrous_dime

    dngrous_dime Road Train Member

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    Just my opinion, but I wouldn't work in a job that tends to be so abusive to you.
     
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