How does GP Transco utilize driver facing cameras?

Pretty straightforward question. About to start with this company soon. I don't object too much to driver facing cameras, as I understand these companies use them to get a discount on their insurance. I don't drive distracted. It's to my understanding that they don't record inside the cab while I'm parked and in the sleeper. At least if they do, a recording of me with the truck parked has never been brought up, at any of the companies with driver cameras I've worked for before.

I have however worked for a company. No need for names, most of us have that have been around the industry long enough, have taken at least one job we wish we could take back. Company was a bit too proactive with their camera use. For instance, any time a car so much as cut me off, and the Bendix wingman immediately detected my "following distance was too short as a result of the a-hole that cut me off and hit his brakes", the camera would start recording me. Basically company's way of looking for an easy out to throw me under the truck, if God forbid, I rear ended the cutting off car. One particular instance, got cut off, while I had a soda in my hand. Because I was eating dinner. And yes I know, to the letter of the law in some states, even eating while driving, or having basically anything in your hands at all, is considered in fact, distracted driving. Though it's rarely ever enforced as heavily as holding a phone, since most law enforcement officers tend to be cool about understanding drivers gotta eat during our long work day.

Anyway, getting away from my point. Didn't think anything of it until a few days later. Got called in to see my company's safety rep who watched the video with me, and informed me that I "was driving distracted", and thus lost my eligibility for the safety bonus that quarter. And that it if it happened again, I would be written up, again after that, second write up and mandatory "safety training". If it happened again after that, may be disciplined up to termination.

So what I'm wondering. Any GP Transco drivers with first hand experience with these cameras, could tell me, exactly how the company uses them? If they use them in case of an accident, to either help prove their driver was not or perhaps was at fault, great. That's how they should be used. But if they use them to babysit their drivers and proactively find fault where there is not so much as a real incident, then no thank you. It is being presented to me as an option. I can go without the camera looking in at me, if I'm willing to take .02 less cents per mile. Which really isn't a terribly big deal that I couldn't go without. But I'd rather earn every cent this company is willing to throw at me, since it all adds up. So if the camera won't likely be a hassle to me, then I'd like to let them go ahead and have it in the truck with me.

Not looking for speculation on the topic, or what somebody's heard from another driver at the truck stop. Real first hand experience from real current or former GP Transco drivers, with experience with these cameras, please. Thank you.

Hope everybody had a Merry Christmas, or whatever else you celebrate, and a Happy New Year!

 

3000mi X .02 = $60
$60 X 52 = $3120

That’d be a tough call, for me.

 

Yep $3,120 extra a year. Like i said, not a big deal, but it all adds up. When considering the more I gross, not only the more that goes to taxes, but also into my 401K. Only a fool would take less money, if there's not a valid reason to keep that camera out of the truck.

 

I worked there for a while. Outward facing cameras there are pretty reasonable. Safety department there is pretty reasonable too. I only had two events triggered on the outward facing camera in over 100,000 miles and both were following distance while on a steep grade getting ready to pass a truck. I probably was following too close, so I can’t complain about that lol. As far as inward facing, they do track head movement, driving while tired, etc. I think it was something like 5 seconds of not looking at the road will trigger an event. They’ll go over video examples from the company of camera triggers during orientation for you to decide. I opted out of those. I don’t want negative marks on my DAC because I rubbed someone the wrong way and safety claimed me drinking water was distracted driving and cause for termination. No, that won’t actually happen with GP, but in the days of DAC and babysitters and safety managers that have never touched a truck before, I’m not taking that chance for 0.02. Safety was laid back though. My two following distance triggers were a ‘Make sure we’re maintaining a safe following distance. Thanks!’ text from my safety manager and then never heard from again.

You can opt in/out at any time and they give every driver a camera cover. Only time you’re required is if on a probationary period for some kind of safety incident.

 

They gonna be watching and listening.

Be sure to moon them

 

you know what company the camera’s are from? Samsara?

 

I believe so. Samsara was what the ELD was and Samsara cloud was what the event videos showed up on.

 

They do suck…….

 

Good info, well said. Thanks.
Edit: Btw on the following too closely thing. Was that a matter of the truck being equipped with a Bendix wingman or some similar radar device, and when it detects your following distance is less than say 3 seconds, starts beeping at you, then if you don't back off and correct to 3+ after 5 or 10 seconds, it flags you for an "event"?