Companies currently using driver cameras...

Just the tankers, or the dump/RGN outfit also?

Navajo Express has them only in the Costco dedicated trucks pulling Rocky Mountain doubles. I don't know what future plans are regarding these.

 

I agree with you 95%. I still feel that the insurance companies are having a big say in the whole camera issue, but the companies that have installed them (especially driver facing ones) are sure using the leverage to their advantage.

Personally, I still believe that forward facing cameras are likely a good thing as it can exonerate a driver when an incident is not their fault. Of course it can also hang a driver who drives recklessly and carelessly. But that's not such a bad thing really.

 

Does anyone know if these cameras leave the driver open to civil liability? If I for instance rear end a car while bending down to pick up something that fell on the floor, can the company claim that distracting driving caused the accident and excuse themselves from liability? So when Johnny Fourwheeler says he has whiplash and sues for 2 Million dollars, I'm the one named in the lawsuit instead of the company? If so, Wow.

 

How pray tell can you go back 4 seconds in time without recording 24/7 or superman rotating the earth back 4 seconds? Saw that in a cartoon once.

I have a personal camera and that one records all the time but saves the files in 1 minute increments. What the "EVENT" does is mark a file read only so it can not be overwritten. The rest of the files are still on the camera and can be retrieved.

 

The Company is always liable for the actions of it's Drivers. The Driver can also be sued and usually is. It depends on the Attorney that files the lawsuit. A driver facing Camera won't limit or cancel the liability of the Trucking Company. They make the big Money off of suing the company. They know they usually won't get much out of the Driver.

 

Maverick only has forward facing cameras.
I wouldn't work for them if they had driver-facing. As long as I don't get messages on my Qualcomm critiquing my driving skills, I'll tolerate the forward camera.
I like driving, but would quit the industry if they ever became mandatory.

 

MVT mesilla valley transport out of las Cruces, NM has them now.

 

I'm still not scared......

 

Yes the driver is open to civil liability. My girlfriend works in the safety department of a company that uses cameras and she says that in the past, even if the video shows the driver not at fault criminally, usually if a suit is brought against them, some expert finds something in the video the driver could have done better etc.

Now its there policy that each accident is reviewed by their legal team and if they think it could cause civil liability, the driver is terminated. Also, her company also reviews the tape and even if the police say you are not at fault, the safety department may disagree if they think you, lets say werent looking ahead enough etc

 

Yes I'm a current employee at Ontario, ca facility and that is true. They are also getting a lot of new automatic trucks to replace older ones. Also recently changed the pay scale from piece work to hourly, which sucks by the way! New drivers start at 17 an hour. You get no respect from management. I have been with them 4 years and I'm looking for another job now. Steer clear from here unless you are ok with this conditions.