Mercer Now requiring contractors to install omnitracs cameras

Exactly. If they are doing this now, what's next?

It's not just about the camera. 'Cause if they can do this, they can start making other requirements. Next, we'll start having to buy all our equipment from them, have our trucks governed, limits placed on how we book our freight... And they will always have some reason to justify it, that sounds like it makes sense.

 

The real question is...Did they increase your cut of their pie for installation of their spyware, at your expense, into YOUR TRUCK?

It might even be worth it for say 3-5% more.

 

Or, they could just up our compensation by 5%, which would attract more skilled operators, and keep the insurance rates down by hiring and retaining the best people.

 

Just went through for inspection 2 weeks ago. In the 22's but still no camera mention to me. I did see them on the higher numbered trucks.

 

All new hires must have them installed at orientation. Everyone else its by random drawing of coordinators, 2 groups a month. They sent email notification of the phase in to every contractor.

 

Well my coordinator just retired Friday. Maybe my new one will have had his number picked already. LOL

But I can see why they would split it up like that. Trying to do 2500 all at once would be hard. Thanks.

 

Well, it's happened. Mercer notified it's drivers by email of all things driver facing AI feature on new Motiv cameras are now turned on. I had no issue with the camera facing forward , but this is a invasion of privacy in my opinion. We have to pay for the equipment and pay for the service every month. They claimed it was to help correct bad habits through their AI coaching feature. I told them , and I quote " So we were forced to purchase these without any say so ". Only a handful of their chosen ones tested them. I specifically asked were they driver facing capable and I was told NO by a few different people in the safety department. They asked what my issue was and I said,and I quote, "Are they going to place cameras on your computer so I can watch you work to insure your actually doing your job. ?" Got told that was just childish. I replied ' Really?? If you don't do your job properly then it not only can cost me time it costs me $. Arent these supposed to help us save $ in the long run? And my other issue is that you and I both know it won't be because AI started recording randomly or because of an initiating incident, Someone will start doing it whenever they feel like because they can.

 

Mercer isnt even close to a good enough company to put up with driver facing cameras. Did they forget they are signing on owner ops and not hiring company drivers?

 

Apoareythey only seen to care about the opinions of their chosen ones and not the contractors as a whole.

 

So what are you going to do, just sit back and take it or move on.

I would have hit the road along time ago when they mentioned forward facing cameras.

Get your own authority and stop throwing money away..