Q: Alleged misconduct of cell phone use? What do you think?

The company interpets their rules & policies. Even if 3 million online strangers disagree with the company action, it will not cause the company to change their policy or interpretation.

Companies don't have to get driver permission to put gear in their trucks unless you are not an employee driver.

 

In general too many truck drivers think if they, friends, family, other drivers use some cute reasoning then they are safe to do what they are told not to do. Getting comfortable with some common violation of some law or policy is NOT the same as compliance. I saw this with radar detectors, speeding, sometimes weed or beer, various topics. I did my share of it with speed. With 3 million miles I went almost everywhere at 4.9 mph over the speed limit except on crowded city streets. I did that in every state, all of the time. I got away with it. I could have gotten many speeding tickets for 1-5 mph over but I bet on cops EVERYWHERE not writing tickets for them. I would have zero right to complain about a 56 in a 55 ticket.

Cellphones & drugs/alcohol issues are huge huge HUGE violations but most newbies think like a minivan driver. You are going to get monitored like an astronaut, not a minivan driver.

 

Doesn’t matter why it was in your hand the fact is it is in your hand

 

In addition to what Ridge and Bryan said, I'd argue that it looks like the phone is around the area of your lap in most of the top photos and your hand is around in in the bottom ones.

Conclusive proof? No, but plenty of 'reasonable suspicion' which is all a safety critter needs.

Remember that cell phone use while driving is a huge impact to a carriers CSA score. With inspection rates returning to pre pandemic levels, most carriers are looking at their scores and freaking out.

 

For guys that have company trucks with forward facing cameras, remember to keep the windshield in front of that camera exceptionally clean, inside and outside glass, the cleaner the glass, the less reflection.

 

It kinda look like phone is in hand on first picture but it’s very hard to tell. The phone lighting up could be from many things. I can play Pod Cast I never really paid attention but the screen may light up. If running a navigation app the screen will be light up. If I get phone call or I call someone screen will light up. If I play music the screen will show screen art as music plays. I’m using an iPhone and you can ask the phone to do many different things just using Bluetooth headset.

 

Swift no longer uses driver facing cameras, but those reflections happen with the outward facing camera.

Many companies have a no phone policy. If they catch you...