The Makers Of DriveCam Just Took Driver Surveillance To A Whole New Level

John L wrote:

Big Brother is certainly out there. That's why its so important for us - the little brothers and sisters - to look out for each other and collectively stand to keep the corporate overseers in check (but I'm not going to stand on that soapbox right now... maybe later, but not right now).

John do you have any idea how many unsafe and careless truck drivers are out here? Every day I observe at least one driver texting while they are driving their truck. Speeding, tailgating, abrupt lane changes,...it's pervasive, chronic and scary. I can usually predict when a driver is texting due to their inability to hold their lane and maintain smooth control of their truck. It's pathetic. Without the camera technology, there is no effective way to proactively monitor, manage and correct unsafe behavior, behavior that dramatically increases the chance of a wreck, property damage and human injury. Possibly preventing one of these knuckleheads from hitting you.

Accidents cost our employers on average 175k per occurrence over 1 million per occurrence if injuries. If this technology reduces accidents by 1% it more than pays for itself. If it reduces the incidence of injury and fatalities resulting from accidents, how could anyone not embrace this as a safety tool? With all due respect, you have no idea what you are trying to "hold in check".

I have coexisted with a forward and in-cab facing camera for 4 years now. I willingly and enthusiastically participated in two beta-tests that Swift conducted before making their final decision. I have basically forgotten it's there. I can honestly say it has made me a much better and safer driver. It has had the same effect on many of us. So in that regard, the technology in my mind, is priceless.

My overall suggestion on this latest press release? Don't overreact or jump to the wrong conclusion. It's all about ROI with our employers,...without a significant increase in ROI for what is obviously a more expensive solution, at the moment I wouldn't worry too much about it. Devices that are triggered by a critical event? They are likely here to stay. The numbers don't lie.

I have written thousands of words on this subject and have no desire for further debate. Search on "in-cab camera" or "driver facing camera". Numerous informational and at times heated threads on the subject.

Sorry TM - it's the company's truck, that you signed on to drive.

Rick, I am FULLY AWARE that it is the COMPANY'S TRUCK. I didn't think it was necessary to write " The Truck owned by my Company that they have issued to me"!! If you care to go back through my previous posts, you will see that I FULLY SUPPORT the Driver Facing Camera. When it is triggered by a CRITICAL EVENT. Not when it can record 24/7 any time without a trigger. LIGHTEN UP!!!! If you will notice, I used a lot of CAPS like you are so prone to do, TO MAKE MY POINT!

G-Town,

Thank you for your response to my reply, however I don't think that you read anything other than my last paragraph.

Most of what I wrote reflects the very same attitude that you report: That the technology is being deployed to help us succeed, and not to penalize us or subject us to corporate voyeurism.

Nonetheless, there are certainly legitimate issues of personal privacy that must be addressed when deploying cameras in an employee's living space.

That is also why it is good (although admittedly, fatiguing) to discuss, question, and exam the motivation and use of surveillance systems in the workplace.

The whole "Big Brother" versus the collective little brothers and sisters was simply my ineffectual attempt to inspire solidarity within the ranks of CMV drivers.

Solidarity leads to unity; and I am after all an old Union man...

I didn't mean to offend or incite and I hope that we can still be friends.

If you will notice, I used a lot of CAPS like you are so prone to do, TO MAKE MY POINT!

THAT'S funny RIGHT there I don't CARE who YOU are!

I agree that cameras can be a valid tool to help keep people aware of their behaviors while behind the wheel. just the mere presence of it will put people in a different mindset, and they will be more aware of things they may be doing that may not be safe.

we had smart drive in our trucks at my prior company. I got to the point where I just ignored it. Life is too short to sit there and worry about what they catch you doing. I'm pretty sure they have plenty of video of me singing, or heck, maybe even picking my nose. I really dont care.

Now, I do think there is a difference when you are an OTR driver. Yes, I do know that these are company trucks, but while you are out here on the road, you are living in your truck, i.e. the truck is your home. There is a reasonable expectation that what goes on in this truck when you are off duty should remain private. Yes, you can cover the camera, but there is still the issue of the microphone. I don't recall exactly, but I think at my last job, they told us that we had to be careful of what we said in the truck, as if you said something rude, lewd, sexual..whatever, and the other person on the other side of the camera found it to be offensive, then you were looking at harassment issues.

It's the same concept as, if you are talking to a co-worker in the break room and you tell a dirty joke, and someone, who is not part of the conversation, overhears it and is offended, you can be charged with sexual harassment. Same applies with these cameras. If you are off duty, and talking to your buddy on the phone and you are telling dirty jokes, or making comments, that, if it is caught on camera, and the person who views the video deems to be offended by it, you can get in trouble.

I have no problem with cameras in the trucks. Like was state previously, if you aren't doing anything wrong, then you have nothing to worry about. I do, however, expect that the camera can be 100% disabled while you are off duty, no video, no sound, so that, in the event that someone CAN record without an event trigger (which im fairly sure they can), your privacy is kept intact.

And I say all of this, not as someone who is concerned about privacy. I really don't have any secrets or anything that i'm worried about someone else finding out about. It's just me, alone in the truck, i rarely talk to anyone on the phone. However, I am an advocate for what is right and ethical, so, this is why I put my hat in the ring on this subject. Not for me, but for the thousands of others who have to deal with things that they may not want other people to know about.

John L wrote:

G-Town,

Thank you for your response to my reply, however I don't think that you read anything other than my last paragraph.

Most of what I wrote reflects the very same attitude that you report: That the technology is being deployed to help us succeed, and not to penalize us or subject us to corporate voyeurism.

Nonetheless, there are certainly legitimate issues of personal privacy that must be addressed when deploying cameras in an employee's living space.

That is also why it is good (although admittedly, fatiguing) to discuss, question, and exam the motivation and use of surveillance systems in the workplace.

The whole "Big Brother" versus the collective little brothers and sisters was simply my ineffectual attempt to inspire solidarity within the ranks of CMV drivers.

Solidarity leads to unity; and I am after all an old Union man...

I didn't mean to offend or incite and I hope that we can still be friends.

John, You didn't offend me. I read and re-read everything in your post. It's the only thing you wrote I took exception to and didn't agree with.

I was in an accident in a car where someone hit the side of my car on the rear passenger side behind the back wheel a few days ago. The officer ruled both parties did not contribute to the accident and I did not receive a ticket or citation. Would this prevent me from getting a job at swift?

Sorry TM - it's the company's truck, that you signed on to drive.

Rick, I am FULLY AWARE that it is the COMPANY'S TRUCK. I didn't think it was necessary to write " The Truck owned by my Company that they have issued to me"!! If you care to go back through my previous posts, you will see that I FULLY SUPPORT the Driver Facing Camera. When it is triggered by a CRITICAL EVENT. Not when it can record 24/7 any time without a trigger. LIGHTEN UP!!!! If you will notice, I used a lot of CAPS like you are so prone to do, TO MAKE MY POINT!

Like using caps, because it's easier than bolding, italicizing or underlining.

And I didn't really use all that many caps in my response to you.

Actually - I think it was kinda cool and respectful.

Not in my Truck. I have to draw the line SOMEWHERE!

confused.gif wtf.gif

Methinks it may be you that needs to lighten up my brother...

Rick

Available companies to move to are decreasing. We're starting it at McElroy. I've personally got no problem with it

Enough is enough. When this gets installed I'll politely move on to another employer.

I agree that cameras can be a valid tool to help keep people aware of their behaviors while behind the wheel. just the mere presence of it will put people in a different mindset, and they will be more aware of things they may be doing that may not be safe.

we had smart drive in our trucks at my prior company. I got to the point where I just ignored it. Life is too short to sit there and worry about what they catch you doing. I'm pretty sure they have plenty of video of me singing, or heck, maybe even picking my nose. I really dont care.

Now, I do think there is a difference when you are an OTR driver. Yes, I do know that these are company trucks, but while you are out here on the road, you are living in your truck, i.e. the truck is your home. There is a reasonable expectation that what goes on in this truck when you are off duty should remain private. Yes, you can cover the camera, but there is still the issue of the microphone. I don't recall exactly, but I think at my last job, they told us that we had to be careful of what we said in the truck, as if you said something rude, lewd, sexual..whatever, and the other person on the other side of the camera found it to be offensive, then you were looking at harassment issues.

It's the same concept as, if you are talking to a co-worker in the break room and you tell a dirty joke, and someone, who is not part of the conversation, overhears it and is offended, you can be charged with sexual harassment. Same applies with these cameras. If you are off duty, and talking to your buddy on the phone and you are telling dirty jokes, or making comments, that, if it is caught on camera, and the person who views the video deems to be offended by it, you can get in trouble.

I have no problem with cameras in the trucks. Like was state previously, if you aren't doing anything wrong, then you have nothing to worry about. I do, however, expect that the camera can be 100% disabled while you are off duty, no video, no sound, so that, in the event that someone CAN record without an event trigger (which im fairly sure they can), your privacy is kept intact.

And I say all of this, not as someone who is concerned about privacy. I really don't have any secrets or anything that i'm worried about someone else finding out about. It's just me, alone in the truck, i rarely talk to anyone on the phone. However, I am an advocate for what is right and ethical, so, this is why I put my hat in the ring on this subject. Not for me, but for the thousands of others who have to deal with things that they may not want other people to know about.

I'd write my own thoughts on here, but Sambo pretty much covered them. The only thing I would add is that I think having a mic to record audio is overkill. Yeah ok, someone could be blasting the radio too loud. You don't need a camera to fix that. The reality is that when you spend nearly every waking hour working alone in the truck, you tend to talk to yourself or other people while you're working. I don't have a problem with the DriveCam in my truck--err, um, I mean, the company's truck that I signed on to drive, LOL--but that's because it's not sending a live feed to my boss (or anyone else, for that matter) of everything I'm saying.

Beyond that, over here at Swift they are installing (or already installed?) an update for the inside cam to turn off when the truck is off. I suspect Drive Cam will keep this function available in their newer products. I'm tempted to be upset about a camera recording me all the time while I'm working, but the reality is that truck driving is literally one of the only professions these days that this isn't the case at this point. I'm all about privacy, but there's nothing private about driving 80,000 pounds down public roadways.