In Cab Cameras On The Driver

Nicely said, Bad Boy. Good luck finding the company that fits you! :)

Bad Bob checks in:

I have been reading this subject off and on and do have to give my input.

Because of this I will most likely take Roehl off my list of preferred companies.

As a published author I found out the hard way that I have a bit of a fear of cameras. I know that sounds stupid but, when a camera is pointed at me I am stiff and slow to react and very deliberate in my actions and answers.

It made me being a terrible subject to interview. I'm just not fluid and natural with a camera in my face.

I won't work for a company that would force a driver to have a camera pointed at their face all day long.

Now, one that faces the highway and records all of my actions as a driver would not be a problem.

No matter what vehicle I am in, I drive safe.

That will now also be one of my questions to ask any company I apply with.

If they force drivers to drive with a camera pointed at their face it'll be, "Thank you for your time. Sorry, you're just not for me."

It is a choice we all have to make.

I'm also not going to argue with anyone else about what their choices are.

We should be adults here and our choices are our own.

Let's respect that.

Take Care Be Safe Bad Bob

Hey BadBob, Glad you checked in on this. It's easy to respect and consider a man's opinion when it's presented in a concise and factual manner. I thank you for that. If your approach to driving is this level headed and intelligent, I'd be happy to share the road with you.

I understand your point. The camera in question is not like a video or movie camera. It's about the size of an I-Phone (newer ones), with a lens the size of an 8 penny nail. It is out of the drivers sightline, mounted up high, centered at the top of the windshield, not really obtrusive or distracting (at least to me). I have lived with one for over 2 years now and frankly don't even think about it any more. But I am glad it's there.

Unfortunately the focus many times is on the negative aspects of it, privacy, intrusive observation, a device used to cast blame, etc. But something else nsider: if you or I are involved in an accident and it becomes our word against the actual offending driver, reality is; we are many times wrongfully held accountable and punished unjustly. The camera is admissible evidence, and can exonerate a driver of any wrong doing, placing blame squarely on the shoulders of the responsible party (s).

Not trying to change your mind, not at all. Just establishing a baseline of information to consider.

Safe travels.

I respect everyone's opinion.

That's why I'm not too happy with the politically correctness thing that's developed in this country.

I know I am camera shy. I am just very uncomfortable with being observed. I like the freedom to be who I am with no reservations. That doesn't mean I am a maniac either. Actually, these days the maniacs seem to get paid more for their misbehavior than the nice people who just keep on doing good deeds. And that is sad.

I grew up in a country where it was considered the American Way to disagree with someone but defend their right to disagree with you.

I even got a bit part in a play once where after a few lines I was taken off to the side and told, "This just is not for you." He was right.

Other people can blank out the presence of a camera or the idea of being closely observed.

I can't.

It's probably a bit of insecurity.

Whatever it is, I'd just be very uncomfortable with a camera looking at me when I don't know it's doing it.

It's great if you can do that.

For me, I'll just go with a company that doesn't require cameras to watch the driver.

There's a whole lot of companies out there so that shouldn't be a problem.

Be Safe Bad Bob

Bad bob, I know the feeling. I hate being observed. My daughter sometimes will start staring at me and won't let go, because she KNOWS how upset I'll get. She sees it as a game, it's fun to her...lol

I'll be honest, I can say or do things when I'm alone that I wouldn't do in public. I like to talk like a baby (specially to my pets) and my friends have told me many times I'd be an excellent voice over for cartoons. But a lot of people (I guess the very serious, mature ones) would hate it. I also like to sing. And I'm pretty darn good at it. I always get a full bar of applauds if I go out for a beer and let loose. Which rarely happens. I also like to make myself crack up by makin silly faces, or mumbling silly stuff, just to give myself a good laugh.

So you see....I wouldn't want to get caught in my "moments". I do understand that the camera is not "supposed" to record unless there is an event. But it's the possibility that someone could, if they really wanted to, sneak in. It is what it is. I hope they enjoy the show.

Its the insurance companies and I think you will see more and more cameras. In the event of an accident the camera can help prove you did the right thing, or it may prove you were grabbing a dropped item from the floorboard when you caused a wreck. I think the whole invasion of privacy thing is a wash, no one is forcing you to work for a company and follow their rules. As to why new drivers might have one and older ones not, its pretty self explanatory..its the insurance companies and they will start with the cameras for the most risky drivers, the new ones. Airline pilots have the black box, it records their every move, bus drivers haven them, shuttle drivers have them. After a day or two you will most likely forget its even there. My friend works for a major identity theft/protection company and they have cameras on every person and every computer screen, 24/7. So just expect top see more and more of it and realize driving a 80,000 pound truck is no joke. Its very serious, you can kill a lot of people very quickly. If the cameras make people drive better knowing they are being recorded so much the better.

Phil

I'm in class right now, watching videos. The instructor talked about GPS, Electronic logs and cameras. He mentioned that in cab cameras are only company specific requirements, not a FMCSA (Federal Motor Carrier Security Administration) requirement. He also mentioned that a new law/rule to have such device installed in every truck would never pass with the FMCSA regulations, because it is considered a privacy violation. In conclusion, he said that companies can install cameras if they chose to do so, and other companies might chose not to have them. It's up to you as the driver to decide if you can live with it or not, and chose the company you want to work for accordingly.

PS Not sharing this to get into any kind of argument, just passing along the info I just received from a trucking school manager and instructor. :)

So I'm the new guy here, and thought I might as well throw in my 2 cents.

First let me say that my feedback comes as a Corporate Executive in a national firm that handles sensitive information for Fortune 500 companies in the healthcare, financial and agency fields. So it should come as no surprise that this company has a camera/surveillance policy, just like every other company in this space.

So here's what the law in the vast majority of states says about these kinds of policies; Its legal for a company protecting company assets to require an employee to sign documentation and abide by such documentation that prescribes live monitoring and surveillance for Insurance, company protection, or for non governmental companies handling SCI (Sensitive Compartmentalized Information) for the USA.

The employee must be advised of the policy in writing, must agree with the policy via written signature with a date, and the surveillance can only be performed when the employee is working on company time (in a truckers world, that "On Duty"). Employee's working with classified or higher classification materials are expected to suspend their reasonable expectation of privacy in additional areas.

So what's all that mean for a trucker? It's pretty simple - Legaly the company must have a written policy on the matter and must have employees sign acknowledgment of the policy. Also, the camera's must not suspend reasonable right to privacy during shut down times. Which is where the rub cones in; If the camera is simply road facing - great, no problem. If its driver facing, it must be concealable and not recording during Off Duty time.

I suspect that most in cab camera's follow these rules. If not, I'd say that the offending company has seriously exposed themselves to a civil and possibly criminal (depending on what was recorded) suit and a major payday for the drivers upon who the infraction was inflicted.

Anyway - my 2 cents (maybe a little more due to inflation).

Thank you for your input. I guess in the end, I wouldn't like having a camera facing me all day but wouldn't refuse to work for a good company because of it. Where I draw the line is recording while "off duty". It shouldn't be. And if so, my curtain will be pulled shut. *shrug*

Bank tellers, convenience store employees etc are on camera all day. So I guess it's not the end of the world. It's just a bit creepy to have it so close to your face, as if you were in a small enclosed interrogation room....lollll

BTW, Swift, for one, says in so many words that it's OK to cover the "inside" camera when you are off duty. If course, no covering when you have work to do!

I know this is an old post but I just so wanted to throw my own opinion in. Personally I'm not to thrilled about having a camera on me 24/7 . I like my personal space and even though they say it can be covered and it doesn't always record I only have their word to go on and that's not really enough for me especially since I was told by the same people that there is no microphone and I can plainly see there is one. Now I understand them wanting to watch us "work" but the camera could be placed behind me facing downward toward the dash instead of straight back at my sleeper bay. Also audio really isn't even necessary and is to much. An in cab camera behind you would show what your doing with your hands and feet, plus even see the speedometer to help show more of your speed and it would still allow total privacy during your off duty time. And in my case I'm getting called into the terminal tomorrow for "texting and driving" but if a cam had been behind me they would have seen me using my gps instead because the navigation on my qualcomm has froze up on me 7 times in the past month. My phone is setup for voice to text so I never even have to look at my phone unless I'm using my gps to find a truck stop. My phone text for me, reads my text to me, makes calls for me and even tells me the time and what city im in by voice command, but it doesnt tell me where the next truck stop is or if that truck stop is full unless i look at it like i do a regular gps. Fortunately I can prove my phone was out of minutes that day if I have to. Another idea might be if Im off duty the camera goes off duty too. I might would even feel better with the covering camera idea if I knew there was no audio. I don't do illegal thing but I do like to keep some things I do private.

They can watch me work but I don't want them to watch me live.