Swift Training

Prime is another.

Many companies are installing the cameras.

Mystic said "The camara doesn't "monitor". It's an event recorder. It only saves the video and audio just before and just after an event."

That isn't entirely true.
The camera is always recording, and saving files as it does so.

The video/audio files that Mystic is referring to are only the files saved to a separate folder that are intended for transfer to the company.
All the others are deleted on a first recorded/ first deleted basis.
It is a rolling loop of video files.

But depending on the memory capacity of the storage in the camera, that can mean possibly a full driving shift of saved files - or just a few minutes.

Some people at Swift (the higher ups, in video's sent out to the drivers) have said that the cameras have 8GB of storage.
That would probably be about 1.5 hours (a little bit less) of storage for the looping video, assuming a 50/50 split between the looped files and the 'saved' files.
A 64GB memory card would do about 11 hours with the same ratio.
And I know that because I had a 64GB card in the camera that I had.
That was recording at 1080P, by the way.

A 64GB card may be much more expensive when you buy it in the store, but it would only mean a few dollars more if it was embedded in the camera from the beginning.
And who is to know? We don't exactly have access to the guts of the camera to find out.

But that 50/50% ratio can be adjusted at will. It would not be difficult to make it a 80/20 ratio, thus saving more on either end.
It could easily save a full 16 hours or more on the loop.

And those files can be accessed at will with the right software.

With the camera I had it was a simple matter to connect your smartphone via WiFi to the camera.
In fact, it was only through that WiFi link that many of the settings could be changed.
But through that link, all of the files were available to view or download.

And the cameras that are installed in the trucks have WiFi. That is how they transfer the data to the Qualcom, and that is how they will receive updates via the Qualcom.
Unless they are wired with a hard line only.
Are they?
And even if they are, the WiFi (or satellite) connection is present with the QC. The QC still talks directly with the camera.


Swift 'might' not use these cameras to their full potential.
But how can any of us be certain?
Just by their word?

Make no mistake about what the cameras are capable of, or of what Swift (or any other company) is capable of it they wish.

 

Drivers there say when they shut down they lay a hat over the camera and the company doesn't say anything.

 

Why would they? You're not rollin'.

 

They don't want to be on candid camera during their breaks or 10 hr. breaks.

 

Swift doesn't have a problem with covering the camera on off duty time either.

They can still hear you.

But, I wonder how much time they will spend - how much money they would spend - to monitor even a fraction of the video or audio by using dedicated people to spy.

From what we are told it is only about 12% of drivers that are actually bad drivers.
The rest are 100%, or nearly so.


I rant sometimes about what the cameras are capable of, but that is really a small part of it.

Swift is always under the microscope, being the largest carrier and a 'bottom feeder' training company.
As such, I think they really try to get things right.

The most important aspect of the camera is the forward facing view, but what the driver is doing when an accident happens can be just as important if the driver is doing something irresponsible at the time.
I don't think anyone could disagree with that, if they are at all honest.

 

Did I just shoot myself in the foot?

 

I mean why would they care if the hat's over the camera, not why would they put the hat over it LOL. Sorry I should have elaborated.

 

If they aren't monitoring you, and you cover the camera, how would they know? And if they did know that would mean they monitor more often than they claim.

 

It's true. A former Swift student done exactly that and then blogged about his experience.
http://www.truckingtruth.com/trucke...y-in-indianapolis-in-for-swift-transportation

 

C Mac, I read through that TT thread and found another on this site (TTR) where former students clearly said they went through Swift training and left immediately for another carrier. It sounds as though Swift doesn't call in air strikes if someone does that, but from the material they sent me they did want a 13 month contract to drive for them. The obligation to repay them is a given. I’m just not sure I could sign a contract promising to drive for them knowing I never intend to honor that contract. And to be clear, Swift did not send me a copy of the contract, only an outline of the terms I would be expected to abide by.

I thought their contract terms were strange the first time I read them but once I compared them to the terms other megas have, they probably have one of the more realistic contacts out there. Most carriers offer tuition reimbursement at a rate of $150 a month or $1,800 a year, yet value their in-house training program at $6,000 to $9,000 a year, quite a discrepancy. I know Swift actually deducts money from your check weekly, but they are the only company I have seen that actually credits anything weekly or monthly against the full tuition amount. I think I saw 2 other carriers (maybe Prime and Roehl?) that knocked a chunk off after 6 months, but with everyone else, if you leave after 360 days you still owe the full amount.

I know they get a bad rap on this site and others, but I think they would be a good choice to train with and drive with for someone starting out. If you can get past the cameras!!