SWIFT In Cab Cameras

All this fear about cameras reminds me of the OBD III fear that ran through the auto industry and fizzled out pretty quickly. All new vehicles have it programmed in the cpu but it isn't active. When activated, an outside source ex: law enforcement could slow your vehicle or use it to shut down a vehicle in the incident of a police chase. I personally could care less about a camera in my truck especially if the primary purpose is in the realm of safety. I'm all over the radar anyway just for being prior service and a firearm enthusiast. If someone is so afraid of the intrusion you better get off the grid completely.

I don't buy it. I think we need to see some actual proof besides you stating that you watched a video. Maybe a QC message? A Swift safety video? I need actual proof before I throw Swift under the bus.

It's a video on swift drivers portal, Daniel. I just finished watching couple hrs ago

Wait a minute, Attila. You developed code that advanced facial recognition technology and helped implement it in airports, and yet you have the temerity to accuse any of us of apathy about privacy!? That's ridiculous.

I'm not a veteran trucker, but I am a 35-year veteran of the privacy wars. (Yeah, it began before the Hindernet became popular. The Hindernet is just one of the better tools they have at their disposal now.)

You can argue that the knowledge of how to program computers to recognize faces and tie them to databases would have happened without you, and you would be right, but that doesn't release you from culpability in personally working to advance that technology. I'm glad that you're no longer participating in that activity, but for goodness' sake, spare me the outrage about Swift and their cameras. For all you know, you wrote some of the code they'll use as part of the system.

As has already been said, if you want privacy, go off the grid. That's not as easy to do as it was even five years ago, though, and it's getting to be more expensive.

If you want to make up for participating in destroying the privacy of the rest of us, write a book or a blog about how to defeat facial recognition technology, or write some code that we can all easily use to at least defeat the cameras in our phones and laptops.

But please, stop saying your concerns about privacy will drive you out of the trucking business. That's a bunch of bull.

I have heard about some systems, and read up on one, it is a provider for company's, and involves the installation of multiple cameras, and audio capabilities. Only one camera is directed at the drivers seat, (just the driver seat area is viewable.) The others are set up to watch the forward area of the truck, and others are set to show views down sides, (and mirror views) As with the dash cams that lots of us own, and use now, they only record at times of events, (the one I own locks footage 12 sec. before and after an impact event.) These units will probably be set up to record more than just impact events, be they lane departures, hard breaking, etc. From what I have learned, I think that anyone that has one of these systems installed in there truck has the added insurance that should an accident happen that they will be able to prove that they did all that they could to avoid it, (unless your like some of the 4 wheeler drivers, texting and driving, eating a bowl of soup, watching a movie on there portable DVD player, yea, seen all of that so far out here.) After that Tracy Morgan accident I would think that all of us would be looking for ways to improve our images with the media, and the general public, we know that everytime there's an accident involving a truck, people automatically assume that the trucker is at fault, it's sad that after all the training, and regulations that we are under, that we are considered guilty until we prove we are innocent, this tool will help us to do just that. As it becomes more common in the rigs (or outright required by the gov.) Then and only then will we see the views of society start changing, but if we have drivers out there that are unsafe behind the wheel, then having these systems will likely get them off the road, one way or the other.

Attila, it is interesting that someone working to develop face recognition software (helping to identify private people who just happen to be walking around an airport) is getting uptight about being watched himself.

As a professional driver, what might you be doing in that truck driver's seat that you don't want the Phoenix office to see? They're not interested in how often you pick your nose. However, if you even look at your cell phone 10 seconds before an "incident", they may have something.

Swift is a big corporation. Haven't you noticed the billboards by lawyers trolling for " big truck wrecks"? (Think "big buck wrecks") On the good side, videos out and in can protect the company and the driver if someone should get their Chevy's fender scratched by a big rig.

And yes, on the bad side, the company can point out the driver was not following standard procedures, helping to limit the company's liability.

I personally work to drive following Swift's procedures and generally safe trucking practices. I'm not worried about a camera watching me.

I heard those cameras have problems working properly. Hint hint wink wink. Just kidding. But if we can get every body art the same time to sing that song. It always feels like somebody's waaaattcchhing meeeeeee it would make a good you tube video

I heard those cameras have problems working properly. Hint hint wink wink. Just kidding. But if we can get every body art the same time to sing that song. It always feels like somebody's waaaattcchhing meeeeeee it would make a good you tube video

Luddite..

Throw your shoes at it. ;)

I heard those cameras have problems working properly. Hint hint wink wink. Just kidding. But if we can get every body art the same time to sing that song. It always feels like somebody's waaaattcchhing meeeeeee it would make a good you tube video

I should lol, that is a perfect song for this situation :-P

Hi Attila.....you had me worried for a minute there. I've just watched the Swift video again......please watch it again and take in more of the detail. The camera's......both inside and out.....only switch on and monitor an event......around twenty seconds at a time. Which means that the camera is not on all the time. Good news eh.......nobody will be watching you full time.......and I agree with what has been written earlier......what a boring job that would be.

The camera has a green light and a red one, which lets the driver know when it has been switched on and its recording. All in all its a good tool if they want to show this as evidence in a court case. Give Swift a chance to explain all of this too you by your DM and then give it a month with it before you make any decisions on Swift or if you wanted to give up trucking.

Take care my friend.

Mick

Atilla, don't let something like this throw you a curve.

It's funny how truck drivers can learn all kinds of new skills and keep on sharpening them with each new day, yet they very seldom seem to have any appreciation for critical thinking skills. Stop and think about what you are assuming. Now think about how many drivers a company like Swift has out there on the road. Do you think it even conceivable that they would hire an entire force of new workers in the office just to watch all those drivers out there staring out their windshields holding on to their steering wheels? Do you realize how many thousands of people it would take to monitor all those drivers every moves? And who in their right mind would sign up for such a ridiculously boring job as that?

Come on guys, in cab cameras have been around for years, it's really not anything new. They have come and gone and now they're back again. Here's how they work - much like a dash cam they run on a continuous loop and nothing is saved unless something critical happens like a really hard break, or an impact to the truck. Then you might have a ten or twelve second section of time before that critical event that could be reviewed by safety that may very well save your job in an event that wasn't your fault. Now, of course it could very well cost you your job also if you were doing something like facebook on your phone!

They are not going to be watching you in your sleeper and they really could care less about your constant daily activity as you drive that rig down the road. This is something to protect you and them in the case of an accident.

I know it sounds a little creepy at first, but they are paying you to work for them and they have every right to see what you are doing on their dime, especially in the case of an accident in a vehicle that is capable of some very serious damage to the motoring public.

Trust me, they cannot afford to have a bunch of folks watching your every move, nor are they the least bit interested in such a thing.

I agree with you 100%!!

The same could be said about any other job in America. There is always someone watching you (plus cameras). No one makes you sleep in that truck.

What's the issue? Texting & driving? Afraid you'll be caught? Good. After they're off the road: Maybe there'll be less pointless deaths.