Cameras in Trucks..?

I have been using dash cameras for 7-8 years to help protect my driving record in the event someone else hits me. I currently use the GoPro, it was designed for extreme sporting uses, IE bicycling, scuba diving, and has numerous mounting options. In the truck a 2inch piece of Velcro works just fine to secure it to the dash. I keep the USB chord plugged in the lighter constantly to power it. A 32 memory card allows it to go about 5.5 hours before the memory is full, so I clear the memory when I stop mid-day. I have noticed this is the same camera used in reality shows and certain news segments. I look at the camera as an insurance policy that I hope I never need, but if I do then it was worth it because the camera doesn't lie about what color the light was or where I was in my lane.

 

That particular camera uses a micro SD memory chip, either 32 or 64 gig. As far as memory is concerned, it's plenty for a few hours of video. But the good part of that is that the camera saves files to the SD card every few minutes, and overwrites the oldest file. So you have a rolling few hours of video. It has g-force locking that locks any file that had excess g-force (IE crash) so that it can not be overwritten. I personally turn that feature off and just have it record all the time and not lock any files. If I ever have an instance where I need the video, I just turn off the camera after that event and download it to my laptop for safekeeping, and to email it to whoever needs to see it.
As far as picture is concerned, it's absolutely awesome HD video. this camera doesn't have infrared, but still does a decent job of low light recording for night stuff. I use it both directions, one toward the cab and the other toward the road. If you don't have the backward video to go with a crash, there are some crafty lawyers that will try to say that you were sleeping, texting, or otherwise distracted. So I happily use both.

The camera I listed above comes with battery, charger, windshield mount and external GPS receiver. I've been using it now for about six months and so far its been fantastic.

I also used another camera from Amazon, one I would not recommend at all, 2.5-inch HD Car LED IR Vehicle DVR Road Dash Video Camera Recorder Traffic Dashboard Camcorder - LCD 270 degrees whirl. Its very cheap, and you get what you pay for. It has infrared that glares off the windshield and makes the picture useless at night, and it died on me within a few months use. I didn't lose much for twenty five bucks though. But beware, that camera is the exact same camera I have seen sold in truck stops for two hundred bucks or more, yes, the same one I paid 25 dollars for...


The interface for viewing the video is proprietary, but very easy to use. It installs a small viewer program onto the HD memory and you just stick the memory stick into your PC, or into a USB adapter to use it just like an external hard drive.
The really cool part about it, is the linking to google maps. It gives you a window with the picture on your camera, and shows exactly where you were on the map while driving. It would be an EXCELLENT thing to take to court with you.

The single con I can find with this camera is the inability to switch the speed recording feature from KMH to MPH... I suppose it really doesn't matter, you can just do the math to prove how fast you were driving.

So, if you are looking for a cheap camera that will do the job, this one is the best one I have found. Any other camera that even comes close to it is in the hundreds of dollars.

Ed

 

If it is the DRIVE Cam system it works like this . there is a camera facing traffic and the driver . the camera monitors all around but does not send info as to what it sees unless there is an abrupt action with the truck . hard braking or swerving left of right of a real quick . when camera detects an event it will upload video to drive cam in California for them to view . if they think your company should see it they will then forward it to them. What it sends is 8 sec clip of what was going on BEFORE the truck swerved or whatever and 4 seconds after . So 8 seconds b4 and 4 seconds after . it`s a 12 second clip. they want to hear what was going on before the incident and the four seconds after event . it`s not really a big deal . at first ur uncomfortable with it. I hit the brakes pretty good last night nothing happened. a red light comes on to let you know it is uploading video clip. really it can save your ### if something happens and you are not guilty Google Drive cam

 

The only thing is that it has no screen to view but I am very happy with it over all. I bought it at Best Buy and bought a suction cup mount, but I don't use the suction cup mount anymore since the Velcro works great.

 

An eye full of what?

 

FFE is installing them in their trucks. When they get to mine, I'm turning it in.

 

Here's a great example of why cameras are an essential truck driving tool.
http://cdllife.com/2013/technology/truck-drivers-use-dash-camera-footage-to-avoid-citations/

 

I purchased the dashcam that t/a sells. The brand is "top dawg. " its great when it works. They are lasting about a month and then quit. Obviously....don't get that one.