SWIFT In Cab Cameras

Daniel you do need to tone it down. I have noticed your sarcasm and all knowing tone gets out of hand. You make some valid points but get carried away with your enthusiasm.

As far as locking this thread, that is absurd. Let the people voice their opinion. Don't read this but don't try to tell everyone else not to.

Would be nice to see a discussion go the distance without the snarky comments and accusations.

Daniel, I bought myself a camera THEN talked to the safety manager who advised me that it could be used against me just as well...

A dash cam can save your career. I've caught accidents on mine, even caught a car brake checking me one time. If I hit the car, how will I prove that I wasn't brake checked?

A dash cam is a must have for every trucker. For a company to tell you that it's forbidden is wrong. It could be used against you too, but if you are a safe driver and maintain proper following distance then you don't have much to worry about. That's like telling me I'm not allowed to use my GPS.

And I apologize for my sarcasm. A lot of folks here are good friends of mine and we mess around here and there. It's all just for fun to make a boring day bright. And for the record, I don't really know what "getting carried away with your enthusiasm" means?

Wrong Daniel, DanielB

I can tell you and your buddies go back and forth. Never thought anything of it. Sorry about the confusion.

Like brett said there is NOTHING bad about a forward facing cam, however i have still yet to hear anything good that comes from recording video of the driver. If you are at fault the forward facing cam will show it.

Also i one of the responses that has been sent out by the COO of swift, the cams have 4gb internal memory that can be accessed at any time, as wel as they NEVER shut off so the video and AUDIO is recorded 24/7.

There has to be a line somewhere and the drivers need to put it out there. Sure you can block the cam so the video is lack but that does not stop the audio from recording.

Daniel you do need to tone it down. I have noticed your sarcasm and all knowing tone gets out of hand. You make some valid points but get carried away with your enthusiasm.

As far as locking this thread, that is absurd. Let the people voice their opinion. Don't read this but don't try to tell everyone else not to.

Would be nice to see a discussion go the distance without the snarky comments and accusations.

Daniel, I bought myself a camera THEN talked to the safety manager who advised me that it could be used against me just as well...

A dash cam can save your career. I've caught accidents on mine, even caught a car brake checking me one time. If I hit the car, how will I prove that I wasn't brake checked?

A dash cam is a must have for every trucker. For a company to tell you that it's forbidden is wrong. It could be used against you too, but if you are a safe driver and maintain proper following distance then you don't have much to worry about. That's like telling me I'm not allowed to use my GPS.

And I apologize for my sarcasm. A lot of folks here are good friends of mine and we mess around here and there. It's all just for fun to make a boring day bright. And for the record, I don't really know what "getting carried away with your enthusiasm" means?

Just watched an idiot pull out in front of traffic, and then 20s later watched a car turn LEFT on a clearly marked "NO LEFT TURN" sign. Then someone behind him made a U-turn (also prohibited). No dash cam. Just a TV, cable, microwave, XM radio, etc..

This isn't a debate. You were, and are wrong, and as evidence shows: Know nothing of privacy laws. Personally after reading that one reply: Nothing you say can be trusted.

I purposely let this go for a bit to see if making comments like this towards an individual were going to be ok. Since I see they are then allow me to retort:

If you're keeping up with Daniel (can of beans) then you'll see he likes to quote only one form of law used in this country and his quotes/links come from the bill of rights. There are many different kinds of laws used in the US, but the legal tradition that this country uses is based on law known as "common law." This was brought over from England when the US founded. The other major form of law countries use is known as "civil law."

What Daniel likes to do is quote from the bill of rights, which in itself doesn't cover alot of human rights. To find those types of law, you'll have to dig in to the many other forms of law such as: labor laws, maritime laws etc..... I don't want to get too in depth into this so I'll stop at saying; the amount of different laws that are used in the US are also refereed to as "code laws." Within these code laws you'll find the more specifics on laws written that deal with things like the one being discussed here, which have to do with privacy rights and when cameras can be used to record you. (And a whole slew of other things)

When a corporation gets legal status in this country they can pretty much write their own policies in regards to what they can or can't get away with, with it's employees. We've had cameras monitoring general public for many years now but to see them in such close proximity of an individual for the time frame we're seeing now with the cab facing camera's is pretty new in the grand scheme of things. If you or I wanted to really dig in and research, we'll find lawsuits against corporations in regards to privacy where a corporation has written a policy stating they could capture your image on camera. And then also where the corporations have been sued because of this.

All of this is semantics to the issue in this thread and at risk of not presenting my case in enough detail here, I'm going to stop and now address Daniel (can of beans)'s post directly.

I see you like to make the rules as you go along, which is fine, do whatever you feel like doing to try and make yourself look and sound smart. Because you seem to avoid talking about anything that involves real truth. You like to convince everyone that you are better than anyone else and never ever would do something in front of a cab cam that would possibly lead to action by the company against you, whether it be a reprimand or up to termination. Are you seriously going to try and say, that if you make it in the industry long enough, while being monitored and recorded 24/7, that you'll never do something that would cause action against you by the employer? And then call out anyone that does as "wrong doers"? To say anything I say can't be trusted is a friggin joke. I have enough integrity to be 100% honest in my statements. You like to hide behind your accusing statements towards others like you never seem to do anything "wrong." That makes you delusional and untruthful. And that makes anything YOU say not trustworthy. Don't **** with me little man. I warned you we were going to have trouble if you continued.

To everyone else: I've already stated my opinion that these cameras, though can in fact save a driver in the event of an accident to prove innocence; can in more cases be used "against" the driver by the company. That is why I feel, they are not a good thing to use at this point in time where there simply haven't been enough laws written to cover such an intrusive device that will record your image and audio directly for such long periods of time.

The handwriting is on the wall for lawsuits against swift or the handful of other companies that use these things. For instance and just as an example, someone could disrobe while sitting in the seat, that doesn't necessarily have to be moving, now has a direct privacy case against the company. Or they can simply talk on their cell phones (hands free of course) on speaker phone, on a personal call, and now have a privacy case against the company for listening in on a personal phone call. AKA an invasion of privacy. Unless of course swift or any other company has made a policy within their corporation that gives them the "right" to monitor these, which I'm willing to bet have as of yet not done.

Lastly Daniel (can of beans) I didn't realize there was a right or wrong in this issue. Which by the way is a debate, but since you seem to make the rules, whatever. I've refrained from using completely inflammatory remarks towards you, which hasn't been easy because I really don't think too highly of you. Which I know you don't care but since I see it's ok to pretty much attack someone on the boards with statements like "Nothing you say can be trusted," I figure I can go ahead and give my opinion of you. Quite honestly I feel apathetic towards you. You're "liberal" views are disturbing. And I will not address you again further. You're beneath me.

The company I work for as many of you know is Roehl Transport. Since my name isn't on the company I either chose to follow their policy or find other employment. Do some drivers have dash cams? Yes, but they run the risk of at the very least being written up or at the worst being fired if the company so chooses. I understand the value in having one, but I like to pay my bills so I don't. Anyone who thinks they can control who will see what is recorded is naive because with a court order you will turn it over, and if you have deleted any material could face additional repercussions. Everyone has to decide for themselves what is best, but in this instance I follow the company line.

Out of the possible thousands of trucking companies I'm not going to worry about one or two adopting in cab cams. By the time it goes nationwide I'm sure I'll be dead. Hell elogs are suppose to be the next big thing and my company still hasn't even considered it yet. I'll worry about it when and if I ever have to.

This is why I will continue trucking. I like it and unless there is an act of congress (unlikely), these units will not be placed in many trucks. I will just avoid carriers that employ this tech. It really does take a year to know what you want out of trucking and this experience has highlighted some important values. It's to bad because SWIFT is a good company and still is if these driver cams do not bother you.

I am not leaving to protest nor am I stomping my foot throwing a fit. This camera would most likely make me physically ill because it is so against my core values. It is more like a survival response.

PS "Don't feed the trolls."

Out of the possible thousands of trucking companies I'm not going to worry about one or two adopting in cab cams. By the time it goes nationwide I'm sure I'll be dead. Hell elogs are suppose to be the next big thing and my company still hasn't even considered it yet. I'll worry about it when and if I ever have to.

This is why I will continue trucking. I like it and unless there is an act of congress (unlikely), these units will not be placed in many trucks. I will just avoid carriers that employ this tech. It really does take a year to know what you want out of trucking and this experience has highlighted some important values. It's to bad because SWIFT is a good company and still is if these driver cams do not bother you.

I am not leaving to protest nor am I stomping my foot throwing a fit. This camera would most likely make me physically ill because it is so against my core values. It is more like a survival response.

PS "Don't feed the trolls."

I try not to, but after this long: I just get trapped in his cave.

My company doesn't employ them, and doesn't intend to AFAIK. It's a great idea honestly, but it should employ one in, and one out at bare bones.

I believe someone mentioned 'quad-cams,' and that'd be the best overall. Someone rear-ends you while you're in a parking lot? No big deal! No real flaw there.

As for live feed: As said dozens of times: If you aren't violating company policies: There's no issue. If you want to walk around naked: Go for it. Why're some people so ashamed of their bodies? On the flip side: Cover it (dash-cam) with a cloth, tape, whatever.. While off-duty (if the company's policy says nothing against that).

Pretty black & white. Not sure why the trolls keep bringing up tea prices in China though. Socialism, congress, Bhuda, butter-fly effect, etc.

LoL WoW. I needed the laugh, thanks.

I am not leaving to protest nor am I stomping my foot throwing a fit. This camera would most likely make me physically ill because it is so against my core values. It is more like a survival response.

I get both sides of the argument, but I have similar feelings to the above quote. I would psychologically have troubles with a camera in my face. It would boost my stress levels and take my focus off of where it should be: driving safely and paying attention to my surroundings. There is one thing I can 100% guarantee, and that is I will make mistakes.

I have been in a situation where I have followed company policy to the letter, done everything right, and ended up with the short of the stick. That situation is still very raw for me. You never know when someone doesn't like you for whatever reason wants to target you. That could easily happen in this case, and the first mistake you make on camera could be your last.

After a few years under my belt I doubt a camera in my face would bother me as much. While I am just starting to build a career and get my feet under me, it would.

Like brett said there is NOTHING bad about a forward facing cam, however i have still yet to hear anything good that comes from recording video of the driver. If you are at fault the forward facing cam will show it.

Also i one of the responses that has been sent out by the COO of swift, the cams have 4gb internal memory that can be accessed at any time, as wel as they NEVER shut off so the video and AUDIO is recorded 24/7.

There has to be a line somewhere and the drivers need to put it out there. Sure you can block the cam so the video is lack but that does not stop the audio from recording.

Just watched a video from swift saying there was an incident that happened the driver was using his elbows to drive... While eating salad... Why is the driver at fault? That is what they are trying to figure out.