SWIFT In Cab Cameras

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

One aspect of this we haven't touched on yet is a safety technology they've been working on for a while with cameras - sleep detection. I'm told they're trying to monitor drivers to see if they're falling asleep. They can tell by how long and slow you begin blinking if you're getting sleepy, and of course they can tell if your eyes are staying closed for too long and alert you.

Now I don't know the first thing about this technology. I don't know if it works or where they're at with it. I just know they're working on it. If they can make this happen, which it seems they should be able to, I would guess large companies would certainly be interested in incorporating the technology. So that might become a second reason you'll find a driver-facing cam on the dash.

I had a recent conversation about this topic with another driver, and he made the observation that some companies may be encouraged by the FMCSA to install dash cams, based on their CSA score. In other words, it could be a condition that they would be encouraged to meet, in order to get their CSA score acceptable again. I have heard that some companies installed Qualcomm fleet wide for the same reasons.

If that were the case, you couldn't really blame the carrier, if their back was against the wall. All the better reason to research a company's CSA score and track record before applying for employment.

I'm not in favor of the dash cams, but I thought I would throw the possibility for motivation into the discussion. After all, this thread could use the bump.

I had a recent conversation about this topic with another driver, and he made the observation that some companies may be encouraged by the FMCSA to install dash cams, based on their CSA score. In other words, it could be a condition that they would be encouraged to meet, in order to get their CSA score acceptable again. I have heard that some companies installed Qualcomm fleet wide for the same reasons.

If that were the case, you couldn't really blame the carrier, if their back was against the wall. All the better reason to research a company's CSA score and track record before applying for employment.

I'm not in favor of the dash cams, but I thought I would throw the possibility for motivation into the discussion. After all, this thread could use the bump.

SWIFT's CSA score has recently dropped to B status. What you have said plus California legalizing driver surveillance in commercial vehicles (I think) has given the green light for this. Like I said, lots of old truckers running SWIFT. I would think for one trucker to enforce this on another, things would have to be desperate or mandated by the FED.

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.

Was the vehicle in motion and is it against policy to drive with your elbows while ingesting food?

I had a recent conversation about this topic with another driver, and he made the observation that some companies may be encouraged by the FMCSA to install dash cams, based on their CSA score. In other words, it could be a condition that they would be encouraged to meet, in order to get their CSA score acceptable again. I have heard that some companies installed Qualcomm fleet wide for the same reasons.

If that were the case, you couldn't really blame the carrier, if their back was against the wall. All the better reason to research a company's CSA score and track record before applying for employment.

I'm not in favor of the dash cams, but I thought I would throw the possibility for motivation into the discussion. After all, this thread could use the bump.

It does not matter what type of tech you throw at a problem. Tech is only as good as the people operating it. There is no such thing as a secure network, it's only as secure as the people who operate it. I have a CS degree and many years in the industry. When I first started out I thought like you did. Tech can fix problems as long as I can debug the code. I quickly learned tech, especially software and electronics works more like a human language, less like a wrench. Is this tech coming, you bet it is. How is it going to be used? What limitations are we to put on it? The Gen Y is probably much more comfy with cameras since they were born with them in thier face and all thier life. That's fine, just not with me.

Bret that last post was directed at your query. Pressed the wrong quote button, guess my programming is getting rusty :-P

I have been reading not only this thread but a lot of other threads in trucking truth for a few months now. I am not a trucker. I am an RN. I have been for 19 years. My boyfriend is a trucker. I recently rode with him for three weeks and we watched the Swift video about the in cab camera together for the first time. Our mouths dropped open for more than one reason. First, we had talked a lot about dash cams. We both thought they were a great idea and would be a great help in proving fault in accidents. Second, because of the privacy issue. Now it didn't say specifically in that first video what, how, why, when, etc and left a lot of questions. For me specifically it brought up a lot of thoughts and I can easily compare them to healthcare. I work in a field that people like to photograph a lot. I am constantly having pictures taken of me while I am caring for my patients. I have been approached many times by people in public saying things like "your the nurse that cared for my baby, your in our baby book, your picture is all over Facebook, etc." So I know the feeling of being watched constantly while trying to perform extremely important sometimes life and death duties. It's unnerving to say the least. I will always take the BEST care of my patients and I will always ensure their utmost safety. I can also tell you that when that camera is in my face I don't like it, I get nervous and I don't think it lends to the best environment of care for my patient. Do I allow it? Only because I have to. Can I go to a different department? Absolutely, but I like my tiny patients so I deal with the cameras the best I can. I am used to being watched in my job as truckers are. Cameras in hallways and elevators and supervisors watching and doctors over my shoulder and parents with tons of questions and the state or other surveyors critiquing my every move. I work to give the best care every single day. Am I perfect? Not even close. There isn't a human being out there that is. No trucker is either. And with all the laws and regulations out there I think anyone can be out of compliance at any time in some tiny way depending on interpretations. And yes you are gonna stretch while you drive and you will drink water to keep from being dehydrated, you will take your eyes off the road in front of you, actually you better because you have to check those mirrors, and you will have bad moments and good ones too. I honestly don't think an in cab, driver facing camera is in the drivers best interest. Here is why. When I became a nurse one of the first things that seasoned nurses told me was get your own malpractice insurance. You may work for a big hospital but they, the doctor, and anyone else involved that has more money to fight a case will do everything in their power to place blame on someone else. Guess who often gets the blame? The nurse. It makes it so the hospital doesn't have to pay so much in settlements to put that blame on her/him. The hospital/company is not there to protect you! I can only look at these cameras the same way. Big companies don't spend millions of dollars rolling out new programs like this unless it somehow monetarily benefits them. I am guessing they will benefit in a few ways, but the first that comes to mind is a way to place blame on the driver. Charting can be interpreted in lots of different ways. Nurses can take classes on how to chart to make sure they are covering their ass. What's a driver gonna do? "Well your honor the reason I was looking somewhere else while I was slamming on the brakes was I needed to check my mirror to see what was coming up behind me and to find a clear way out...so I didn't see that car that swerved in front of me." Have you ever met a lawyer? They will turn that a million different ways. They may agree with you or they may decide it was your fault because your eyes were off the road. They can't see what you see even with cameras all over. They will see your eyes diverted from the road. The rest is as it was before...your word. Now that being said I do agree with many who say it's their truck, it's their company, they can run it the way they want. Yes. So true, but you, the driver, are the license. They need you. Without you there is no company, freight doesn't move, people get hungry, medical supplies don't get delivered. Each driver has to make their own choice with what they feel comfortable with. But you are professional drivers in demand and I think speaking up and asking questions and fully understanding what is going to happen and how the company will handle discipline and privacy etc is key. And if you can't get answers or you don't like them don't stay somewhere you aren't comfortable. Your jobs are hard. You leave your girlfriend/boyfriend, wife/husband, kids, comfy bed, TV, friends, church etc for weeks at a time. You give up a lot for the freedom of the open road and the sunrises and the sunsets and the amazing experiences and your paycheck. Don't leave your values and ideals behind just for the paycheck. Look at this from as many angles as possible, think of the ways it can affect you, and make a choice to accept it or find a company that doesn't use the cameras facing the driver.

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

One aspect of this we haven't touched on yet is a safety technology they've been working on for a while with cameras - sleep detection. I'm told they're trying to monitor drivers to see if they're falling asleep. They can tell by how long and slow you begin blinking if you're getting sleepy, and of course they can tell if your eyes are staying closed for too long and alert you.

Now I don't know the first thing about this technology. I don't know if it works or where they're at with it. I just know they're working on it. If they can make this happen, which it seems they should be able to, I would guess large companies would certainly be interested in incorporating the technology. So that might become a second reason you'll find a driver-facing cam on the dash.

I started a new thread to expand on this subject...Fatigued and drowsy driving technology from Seeing Machines makes its debut

I started a new thread to expand on this subject..

Excellent!

Just one example of why Swift may be installing driver cams. Video included in the link provided...

Dash Cam Video May Contradict Truck Driver’s Story

A tanker truck driver claims that he crashed into a line of parked cars because he was swerving to avoid an oncoming vehicle — but recent dash cam footage says otherwise, according to the trucking company he works for and police.

The April 14 accident happened on West Inman Avenue near Madison Avenue in Rahway, New Jersey. Truck driver, Perry Shawki told police that an oncoming car passed into his lane, forcing him to swerve to evade it. Shawki said he then tried to turn back onto the road, but was unable and crashed into the parked cars.

The dual facing camera shows Shawki listening to music, then when the crash happens, he is suddenly trying to turn his truck back toward the middle of the road. No car is visible in the video.

The company that Shawki drove for, USA Carteret LLC. of Carteret, turned the dash cam video over to the police. After viewing the video, police issued him summons for reckless driving, speeding, failure to wear a seat belt and failure to stay in his lane of traffic.