Gotta wonder how many are trucking related vs. hitting someone at the local Kroger while grocery shopping. Don't get me wrong, I know it happens. I just think it happens so rare it's not something to worry about. Pay attention of course, but don't panic if someone walks behind you. Just stop until you see them move off (or GOAL and verify if you never see them move off)
The backup camera situation?
Discussion in 'Trucking Electronics, Gadgets and Software Forum' started by NewHaul2018, Feb 17, 2019.
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Problem with cameras are numerous. Location...where to mount it so that it isn't destroyed by docks, forklifts, or other trucks. It has to be high enough to give a good view, but low enough a driver can clean the lens. Wiring it up...all 7 pins on the trailer plug are already spoken for. To add an extra wire or two would mean a completely redesigned plug to be retrofitted on every truck & trailer in these fleets in a very short time frame (because you couldn't phase that sort of thing without risking needing an incompatible truck & trailer combination to satisfy your contractual obligations with your customers) or adding an extra cable to be plugged in. Then, unless and until an "industry standard" is created and abided by, it would be hit & miss as to whether the truck you are driving happens to be compatible with the trailer you have to back up, as different shops and different customers on their own wouldn't wire up all 8 or 9 pins the same making it an absolute nightmare for companies like Walmart who not only have their own trucks pulling their trailers, but also use other large fleets like Prime, Schneider, Swift, Werner, etc. BlueTooth? Distance constraints. WiFi? Time delay will be an issue. Not to mention, how do you power it? Battery life is short. Hard wired power requires a constant hot...which even today, not all trucks have going to the trailer.gentleroger, shogun and NewHaul2018 Thank this. -
Drones? What have I done? I knew starting this thread was a mistake. Now I’m going to have to swat at these things like flies every time I pull into a truck stop.
It’s an interesting idea though.Bean Jr., MidWest_MacDaddy and fss99701 Thank this. -
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shogun, Pedigreed Bulldog and fss99701 Thank this.
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First I want to make clear that I’m not advocating for cameras as a primary source for backing. GOAL and using your mirrors is always gong to be your best primary source for information. But cameras particularly the 360 view cameras that I was asking about are a good secondary source to back the information you acquired from you GOAL and mirrors.
How to mount: I covered this in an eariler post, but basically you could flush mount with a solenoid to deploy and contract the camera as needed.
How to power: use the existing 7 pin connector. There’s a ground, there’s a running light circuit and there’s an auxiliary circuit. Providing your trailer wiring is 14 gauge both circuits will support a 15 amp draw at 12v, which is far more power than what would be needed to power the cameras and lights combined. So no need to re engineer or create a new standard, just use what the trucking gods gave ya.
How to set up comms: You’re right about bluetooth being a bad choice. Aside from it being relatively insecure, it won’t transceive much past 20 feet so it’s a no go. WiFi on the other hand shows promise. It has both the throughput and the ability to transceive at longer distances. At a distance of 60 feet you may experience some latency if you’re transmitting 4+ cameras doing 1080p @ 30 fps, but for lower resolutions the latency would be so neglible, that your brain probably couldn’t even perceive the difference. If WiFi won’t work, there’s always public band microwave, lots of throughput but line of site challenges to deal with and it may add to the cost a bit.
I guess what I’m getting at is it can be done, and without a great deal of fuss. I think it would be a helpful tool and one that new drivers in particular would get a decent benifit from. I’m not saying that the old ways don’t work or aren’t good enough, I’m just saying, much like Mom’s chicken soup when you have the flu It isn’t the cure, but it can’t hurt. -
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If you have trouble backing into tight spots the secret is to find a Swift driver and ask him for some pointers. These guys are professionally trained to the highest caliber, get them to share the secrets that all new drivers want to know but are too afraid to ask.
Lmao
ILast edited: Feb 17, 2019
MidWest_MacDaddy Thanks this. -
If you time traveled a trucker from 1940, all he wants to know is where the mirrors are at. Everything else to him is unnecessary. Tell him "Back this in please" and it will be done.
The same way you walked up a 21 year old in trucking school today 2/17/2019 and told him or her
"Back this in please" and it will be done.
Most of the conflict, heavy lifting and problems I see when more than two people talk past each other is that they are not working on backing this in. They are fighting over how to back this in.
The time traveler will be able to back that 2019 rig in the dock once he understands the mirrors just like he always have on his old 40's rig back home. All the rest of the technology? Take it away and what's left? Mirrors. I would be pleased to make a case that women know how to use a mirror very well and a man just needs a little hand holding to know exactly which dock. Especially if he cannot count that high (TEASING.) All that fancy pushbutton crap is literally adding unnecessary complication and weight to the problem of backing that in please.
And now we lean towards a discussion about how or something else besides Mirrors that is supposed to be the best thing since sliced bread? Before we actually work on the back that truck in please problem that is by now beginning to ruin the dock flow and attracting unwelcome attention from the suits?fss99701 and NewHaul2018 Thank this. -
I think training would be far better then a little backup camera but I agree some people need something I guess.
I was Ontario California for 14 hours at the TA and saw three different wrecks in the truck stop.
A guy was pulling out and took off a dude's bumper another person backed into the trailer next to me, and one guy back directly into the middle of the front of a guy's truck I don't even know how that's possible, I guess he didn't look out the window or the mirrors at all he was trained just a backup to he heard a crunch.x1Heavy Thanks this.
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