Trans Am Still

Eventually cameras will be in every truck. One day they will be standard in every automobile. My car already has a black box that records information in the event of an accident. It records my speed. It will tell if I had my seat belt on. If I was pressing the brake or gas pedal. Give it maybe 10 or 20 years to happen.

 

If you're cut off by a car, an outward-facing camera will show just as well as an inward-facing camera what took place. You were either paying attention and had time to react or not. The difference is that some lawyer can't pick apart the fact that you might have glanced at your watch 30 seconds prior, proving that you weren't paying attention.

And the old 'other workplaces have cameras' line is tired. If you can't tell the difference between Wally World having cameras and having a camera in your living space 24/7, something is wrong. You can twist it and try to make it sound OK just because a lot of other places have cameras, but it is a moot point. And we're not even talking about that microphone that you just can't 'cover up'....

And Evo, you're right. And when it happens it will be because too many people thought it was OK to slap them in these trucks and didn't complain at all.

 

You can go to prison if you forgot to close all windows on your smart phone and it is still connected to the internet if your in an accident. The DA(district attorney) will go to press criminal charges if your phone is still connected to the internet or let's say you forgot to completely shut down your laptop. To be on either is a big fine but to get in an accident that causes injuries or death even if not your fault will result in you being persecuted. We are the professional drivers we are to be aware at all times. Before these cameras we were blamed for a lot of accidents. After the percentages have shifted that's why all these companies are going towards them. Just like E-Logs. I remember when companies fought that tooth and nail, now they are almost all on them(the big companies). It's the same with these cameras. Let's say you have an outward facing camera only get into an accident and the other person or witnesses thought you were on your phone and testify so but you forgot to close out a window before you left. Your guilty. Enjoy the penalties. But if you have an inside facing camera and you were just checking your passenger side mirror and your head tilted enough for a four wheeler to think that you were looking at your phone(remember they can't see us that well). Just another scenario. They can say you were going to fast for the traffic or conditions. Or you weren't alert enough. You are the professionally trained driver if they can pin the blame on you they will. It's unfair but since when is life fair.

My company now doesn't have any cameras, just experimenting right now but I have no objection to getting one. Do they cross lines yes but unless you have experienced the unfairness of this business you won't see the value. It can't happen to you until it does.

Also if you really object go buy a truck as long as the owner of that truck wants it then it is up to you whether you want to work for them or not but every company(big ones) will have cameras eventually. Probably in the next 5 years. Just like E-Logs.

 

I am driving in a large commercial vehicle, on the public roadways, in the public eye, surrounded by large windows. I have no right OR expectation to privacy in this situation.

Frankly, I am sometimes amazed by the goofy, things people do in their vehicle, in public as if they are invisible. As Jaso has explained, I would rather have my and the actions of others documented because if it does all goes bad, as the driver of the vehicle that can do the most damage, I will have a lot of 'splainin' to do. I would like the video documentation to help me do it!

 

Get behind the wheel and have yet one more big rig driver drift far into your lane while he is sending a text or while eating with a full meal spread out on his lap, I think you will not be so shocked.

I had a guy dressed in a security guard uniform blow right through a stop sign in front of me in Boston yesterday. I had to slam the brakes, 4-way stop intersection, I started to pull out with the right-of-way, he saw me just fine, he just did not want to end up behind the big truck so he just kept going as if I was not there.

When you start driving, I think you will also notice many large billboards for law offices, soliciting clients who have been in accidents with trucks. I mean specifically telling people to contact them if they have been in an accident with a big rig. We are being watched, I want my version of the story documented.

 

I'd say the camera discussion, has been beat to death enough. We all have our own opinions, and I'm willing to bet, none will be changed.

 

I can see you as you typed this

 

Fact is it isn't the guys at the carrier monitoring it. It is the customer service department at the manufacturer. They not only sell the camera they sell the monitoring service. They send the information to the carrier and the carrier has the ability to get it through the web. As they say for coaching purposes... I disagree that every company will have them. There are over 400,000 trucking companies in the US with a vast majority of 60% or better operating 6 or fewer trucks.. But yes I would agree that all of the Megas will and probably many of the large carriers... If you do not have an issue as long as you can cover it up when ur resting that is your choice and that is really my problem with the camera in general. It is 1 choice a driver does not have..

 

Well hopefully I will either be dead or retired on an island with my butt in the sand and an adult beverage in my hand... by the time that ever happens.. But as pandhandle said it has been beat to death different strokes for different folks..and as long as I have ability to make the choice I will make the choice best for me..

 

Just a question but do you really believe that the driver facing cameras are in the trucks to benefit the driver? I ask because if god forbid any driver has an accident in which legal action is taken does anyone really believe that the lawyers are going after the driver making 40k a year or the carrier making millions per year. Plus that same lawyer will also include the carriers insurance company also making millions.. The only person who is going after the driver is the Carrier and he is going to use that camera he convinced you would save your butt and take anything possible to put the blame directly in that drivers lap to save the carriers butt..