Camera? Not on my watch

elogs and driver facing cams are 2 different things. elogs offered some benefits for the driver in addition to some headaches. driver facing cameras will only get a lot talking to some safety person for stupid little crap that got "observed" later. Like not having 2 hands on the wheel for extended period of time, or not checking mirrors every x number seconds even though there in a remote area with no one within 2 miles of them, or having the radio "too loud" while driving through the desert in the wee hours of the morning. Lot's of opportunity to nitpick and I fear some (not sure how many) will use the cameras to nitpick.

I just don't see a lot of "benefit potential" for the affected drivers of driver-facing cams.

A driver smokes excessively and they are think he smokes too much and is likely a future health liability ? Start finding crap to call him in for ... he'll leave.

 

I had a camera for the first 2 months, the only time it went off was on real rough roads or lots.
But then they updated it, now it filmed me if I rolled downhill over 72 mph for so many seconds and they adjusted how fast I could slow down.
Then I got to call safety a lot, too much. But they loved making notes that we talked.
One day I had to call them twice, a car cut me off and I followed it too close, I didn't remember it, never noticed the camera flashing, then I had to call about my tandems sliding back, I was by a dock, I pulled the handle, then got told to go around the building to another dock. I braked and they slid back.
At least they pulled me out of the camera truck, but my "new" truck is an old pos, I just spent 7 days getting it road worthy, and it can't have much time before they retire it.
They have to much control over how hard a driver can stop, I started running stop lights, that I knew I could safely stop at, but didn't want to have to call in to safety,

 

You know, the light turns yellow, it's choice time, I could tell I changed my choice by the camera settings. What I could stop at before, changed to rolling thru it.
But there were still lights I stopped at

 

They absolutely are 2 different things but like computer controlled engines they are advancements in the use of technology in the modern world.

I see benefits to having dash cams, less so with driver facing cams but still some benefits. If I am involved in an accident there is no longer "in my opinion the driver was distracted" but now there will be proof that either I was or wasn't not someones "expert" opinion. Can these be used against a driver, well ANYTHING can be used against a driver if they are looking for something to use against you.

 

I guess you forgot about the guy who is now doing, I believe, 22 years in prison for running into the back of a police car while texting. Yes, this driver had a drive cam and in the video it showed how he was using his wallet with CC's sticking up to block the view of the cam, while he text. When he ran into the back of the cop car, killing the police office who was doing a routine pullover, he through the phone in the back and during court denied he had the phone but, once they slowed the video down, you could clearly see him throw it in the back.. 22 years for killing a police officer. These driver cams are not going to stop anything,,,only drivers that are already disciplined will driver these trucks and the ones that can't stop texting will find another company truck, that doesn't have driver cam...

 

Ok

 

You could probably get 22 years in prison for rear ended and killing a cop without a driver cam

 

Some have stated that young people won't get into trucking due to the freedom lost and the fact that they CAN make $35,000 a year flipping burgers. I will go a step further.... one can make upwards of $35,000 doing absolutely nothing but, draw a check, get food stamps and free medical. All while watching football, drinking a beer and smoking a blunt. Now for the record, I don't have anything against beer or a blunt. Why would anyone in their right fricken mind go drive a truck and be away from home for $35,000 a year. or $60,000 for that matter? I have a son that wants to do it, mainly because of me but, I have told him there is NO future in it anymore and suggest he never drive truck. I have also told him, if he really really really wants to, I will respect his dream and help. Please God,,,don't let this be his dream...

The reason for the distracted driving is due mainly to cell phone but, that is the new technology we have and most use it. It sucks but, life goes on and so will we. I don't know the actual statistics of distracted CDL driver crashes but, I don't recall hearing a high number. More 4 wheelers crash than big rigs..

The reason for the camera's is like MACK E 6 stated,,slip and fall lawyers. The only way you can fire someone now days is to have them on video, otherwise you are harassing them, think of the store's when you go into them now. These people do things while working that would have got them fired 20 years ago. They can do anything while standing behind that counter and if you say anything, you get sued.