Caught on cam using phone at zero tolerance company

Just got hired 2 months ago. Been driving for 1 month solo. The drive cam records once it gets triggered. Zero tolerance policy but I think I heard we may get one warning (hopefully). I was transferring from one hwy to the next. Phone in hand like an idiot. Sure enough a car was on the side of the road and decided to pull out right in front of me with no signal. I had to slow down mildy hard (no slamming or drifting on breaks). But the dash cam turned red indicating it has recorded. I'm nervous as hell now.

Am I toast?
How often do they check the camera events and how likely are they to catch me?
How long will it be before I hear something if?
Anyone have experience with this?

 

I can only think of one reason why the phone would be in your hand while driving.

That's what the boss is going to say as well.
He is also going to say that if you weren't using your phone, you could have anticipated a possible irrational move, and have been more prepared for it.

2 months on 1 month solo ....... yer done.

That's my 87¢ worth (was 2¢ when I was young but inflation & whatnot .... haha)

 

I keep my phone hands-free by using a magnetic phone holder on my dash. And that’s only because I use my phone with a GPS and truckers app while driving. About once a week or so the phone will slide off the magnet and fall on the floor. I don’t even pick it up. Why? Because with my luck the camera will go off and I’d be caught with the phone in my hand. I also have my own policies for while I’m driving. I don’t care if it’s the president of the company calling me. I don’t take any phone calls while driving. I don’t care what dispatch has up their rear end. They can wait until I stop and pull over and call them back. Or send me a QUALCOMM message.

once you start using your phone, even just a few times here and there while driving, it’s a slippery slope. You’ll end up being one of these guys driving down the road watching Netflix with his feet up on the dash a year later. That’s why companies that a no tolerance policy. If they let you get away with it, “just a little bit“ they know where it leads. Total distracted driving.

 

Don't be. Let's see what happens. Does the camera record both ways. Learn from it and move on. It's not the end of your trucking career even if you have to get another job. Keep things in prospective. Don't think the worst all the time. Relax and enjoy the ride. The view is good put the phone down.

 

Haha. Thanks so much, I needed that. I keep telling myself to stop stressing now because it's already done but that's tough. Yeah the camera works both ways. Gets triggered by sudden movements.

Learn from it is right. Once I saw that red light come on that's when reality hit. Devastating feeling. Because it's a good company with great benefits. So I definitely learned my lesson. Thanks for the input, you're right it's not the end of the world. It could be worse.

It just happened a couple of hours ago. Since it's the weekend the offices will be closed.

There may be a chance the video clip gets missed by whoever monitors the drive cams.

If I don't hear anything in the next 2 weeks I might be in the clear

 

We all have done dumb things but not all have been caught
Anyone telling you anything different is flat out lying

Now that said
Having that in your hand is unsafe which I’m sure you know now for sure and you actually knew it yesterday because you cited the companies rules on that very subject but still made a choice to ignore their rules and the safety of those around you

I used to dodge 4 wheelers all the time but the past few years I’ve #### near been ran off the road by semi trucks
Guys probably doing the same thing you just did

I usually don’t wish ill on others but I do hope they see your footage and have a discussion with you, maybe not a firing situation but a hard warning from them is in order
What if you hit that car?
You’re question would be very different

A driver in Mn ( maybe a year ago? ) just glanced at his phone at a house pic or something, they were looking for a new home and he was in a pretty bad wreck
If I remember people died and he went to prison??

I actually tried looking that story up but there are dozens of them
This is recent but shows this guy was doing something other than looking out the windshield

 

Are you still with Schneider or is this a new company?

 

It will depend on how replaceable you are. I will use myself as an example. I had a couple of incidents when I first went solo. The company would have been more than justified to let me go after the second incident. They decided to keep me. I firmly believe that it is because I was quickly moving up the productivity ladder. Before taking a month off between May and June after being on the road for 5 months, I had become my DM's #2 driver in miles driven over the previous 30 days. If you are running hard, are not high maintenance with requests/demands, and consistently deliver freight on time, you would be surprised at the leniency that can be given. But, there is a tipping point. Using your cellphone while driving could be that tipping point. That's a pretty serious offense. It can cost you your license. My incidents didn't involve using my phone and they didn't involve other vehicles. If you are retained, let it be a lesson learned.

 

If you don't hear anything by mid-week, I would not expect it to come up. But, you will hear from safety. Be honest, own your mistake, and don't make excuses. There is no one to blame but you. If you keep that attitude, it will give you a better chance at retention.

 

i thought i "heard" the cameras are set to send a signal of an event.

you will be called into the office.

good luck