Is advanced technology making backing a truck easier?

Discussion in 'Trucking Electronics, Gadgets and Software Forum' started by TomCougar, Sep 9, 2019.

  1. TomCougar

    TomCougar Light Load Member

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    The backup camera would supplement your eyes and mirrors.but it also gives a clear view of what is directly behind your trailer which is something your eyes and mirrors can't do. It will also enhance public safety. less risk of backing up and hitting a person or animal walking behind your truck. Ideally, a driver should use a HUMAN ground guide or spotter as much as possible. There are times when a human won't be able to assist you backing. Could you usually ask an customer's employee (such as Walmart) at a customer's dock you help you back up?
     
  2. TomCougar

    TomCougar Light Load Member

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    If the camera is placed on the center of the trailer and pointing straight back it should. They can add some sort of cross-hairs as on rifle scope for aiming your tail at the center of dock door. Yes, this camera system needs some kind of improvement. It should also be something that works by not being permanently mounted for drivers who drop off customer's trailers. In the video, you can easily see the white lines of the parking space on either side when backing up to the Walmart dock. The driver can still put his orange rookie cones down to facilitate back-up. The portable camera could easily attach to the back of the trailer with a simple magnet. It is only going to be used for backing anyway. In practice the camera would be removed while the truck is under way.
     
  3. Rubber duck kw

    Rubber duck kw Road Train Member

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    You will very rarely have somebody to help guide you backing up, particularly at a warehouse and places where it's not their property you're going to wreck.
     
  4. TomCougar

    TomCougar Light Load Member

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    Then the backup camera is even more important. I don't want to damage my truck anyway. I certainly don't want to make another driver mad at me by hitting his truck. Think of this camera as an extra eye in back of your truck. Perhaps, fellow drivers could assist others while backing up at the dock. Often fellow boaters help others at the boat ramp when landing boats. The trucking community needs more camaraderie, maybe?
     
    Last edited: Sep 9, 2019
  5. D.Tibbitt

    D.Tibbitt Road Train Member

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    Sometimes the most important part of backing up is making sure u aint gonna nail something on ur blindside or scrape one them yellow poles with ur steer tire, seems like they always put them #### things right where u need to be. I cant even use a backup camera in a car with any success. I dont want one in my truck nor do i need it. Ive put this spread axle down some narrow little dirt roads and jobsites, no camera needed
     
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  6. Ffx95

    Ffx95 Road Train Member

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    I think it’s a great idea when doing blindsides.
     
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  7. shogun

    shogun Road Train Member

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    You want to learn to back a truck? Go work for a furniture company making 15 stops or work local doing LTL deliveries. Within a few months you will be able to outback 95% of drivers out there.
     
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  8. rabbiporkchop

    rabbiporkchop Road Train Member

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  9. TomCougar

    TomCougar Light Load Member

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    It needs to be compact and not clunky. Why can't they make a small lithium-battery-operated small clip-on cam that interfaces wirelessly with your smartphone with something like Bluetooth technology? Then your dinky smartphone becomes the in-cab monitor!
     
  10. TomCougar

    TomCougar Light Load Member

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    American Truck Simulator does in fact have those pesky yellow poles in the game that always get in the way. The back of the trailer catches them pulling into a little gas station pump island designed for car-sized vehicles. These are the game fueling points available most of the time. There is no truck stop or travel centers in my game. Very few diesel station actually designed for big rigs. I'm bumping them a lot with my tractor backing. The tractor has to be articulated, cutting wide right or left, when backing the trailer. Have you pulled your big rig into an automobile gas station for fuel? Fun?