Camera's in the cab???

My company installed them a couple of years at the larger terminals. I know a lot of older good drivers did not want them and said let my record speck for me. Some rumors got started so not sure if it's true, " a large oil company fired a driver because he didn't have his hands at the 2 and 10 position. I think that's just a rumor. But that's how it all starts. When the company did install them they put the word out the cameras are there to protect the driver. I thought about that and it got me thinking back. There's been a lot of law suits filed against the oil companies because they have deep pockets. Some will say the companies will pay automatically up to $75,000 because it's cheaper. I also know of a scam where there were two cars involved and one would go in front of the truck and slam the brakes on. The truck would hit the car and the car in the rear would slam into the truck. After a long study my company proved there was a scam.

The cameras can easily be abused by the company. They can have the driver on edge and even go over his or her shift at the end of the day. I feel that sometimes you can put too much pressure on a driver and you should just let him or her do the job. So far the feed back I've gotten from people that work with them, they like them so far. The terminal supervisor does not review the cameras unless there was a problem to the company or driver. The drivers feel the company is behind them and will protect you if there is a scam. Plus if one driver has a lot of hits the other drivers would want the company to look at it and maybe correct this drivers habits. So it's a tool, one that can be very good for you and the company or the other and be bad for the driver where the company hammers his or her driving skills into the ground.

 

Without the Camera the bolt would still have broke. Not exactly hard to verify. The outcome for the driver would have been the same.

 

I drive for Conway. We have had them for a while now. They have worked both ways, protecting the driver and the company. In one case, person claimed our driver swerved into her. She had four witnesses in the car. Driver cited for failure to maintain lane. Drive cam showed the other car changing lanes without looking. Highway patrol reviewed the video, rescinded the ticket against our driver, charged the other driver for failure to maintain and making a false statement. Has caught drivers eating a bowl of cereal at highway speeds, and countless other stupid and dangerous acts. In my case, driver coming off on ramp never looked, just started coming into my lane. I pounded the brakes, avoiding the accident. No room for me to change lanes. Got called into mgrs office the next day. Shook my hand and thanked me for driving safely and avoiding the accident. The liability factor is huge for the company, which is why you will see more and more of them.

 

Exactly. They have this accident investigation thing down to a science. I have no doubt there was physical evidence to corroborate the drivers statement.

You didn't say what kind of incident triggered reviewing the video of the cereal eater, but the other incidents did not need inward facing cameras to exonerate the drivers. I'm happy to hear you got a pat on the back...

It would have been her fault if she had hit you... Regardless of what you were doing in the cab. But what if you were eating a bowl of cereal, picking your nose, adjusting the climate control, or scanning left when scanning right may have given you the opportunity to avoid the accident? Still her fault, but how much mud are you going to get dragged through by your company or a defense attorney now?

With a forward facing camera and basic investigation the accident would be cut and dry. With an inward facing camera, now you are scrutinized to the nth degree and emotions as well as facts are involved.

Forward facing cameras = Yay

Inward facing cameras = Boo

 

I was driving past a woman eating and texting at the same time and I had to drop my hamburger and swerve 3 times before I could hit her. The nerve of people these days. The police can use your camera as evidence against you and if you are witness to an accident and film it can confiscate it until they resolve the cause.

 

The trucks here at Walmart Transportation will have in cab cameras soon. The cameras will view forward facing to the road and down the sides of the truck. Mixed reports about driver facing cameras as well, but not confirmed, only speculation. I have used a dash cam in my truck and personal vehicles for years, so not too concerned about any camera facing the road. The camera facing the driver and recording of in cab audio is a bit bothersome, should that be installed as well.

 

Don't misunderstand me. I'm not a fan of the inward camera at all. In fact, they are illegal here in Canada. Breaks two federal privacy laws. The cereal guy blew a stop sign and hit the shoulder and ditch. I agree they didn't need inward facing cameras to exonerate the other examples.

 

I would like to have four views of cameras , one forward one on each mirror , and one looking behind the trailer

 

Jade and Jon (you tube trucking videos) were filming once in the SW when they got pulled over. Officer accused Jade of using a cell phone/texting. But they had video showing that it was not the case. Got off with no ticket. No video and she would have lost her license.

Conway told me that they install a drive cam for the first few months in new drivers' trucks. If all goes well, it's removed.

 

Don't count on that driver ... They preached to us that the footage will never be used in a disciplinary way. Well, it is now. And no manager can answer the questions we asked.