Rearward Facing Cameras For Backup

Curious why there is no mention of the cameras that people use on their cars being used on the back of trucks?

Trucking industry doesn't like change.

It could also lead to more accidents due to drivers relying too much on technology.

Mk-1 Eyeball is perfect technology for backing.

GOAL

I've wondered the same thing. I'd also be willing to bet it would lead to less accidents rather than more with minimal training as the number of times I've seen drivers get up close and personal with fences, bollards, replace bumping the dock with slamming it, not to mention people needing to run out of the way to avoid getting run over. All the training would really need to be is to treat it like a third mirror.

My guess, though, for why it isn't a thing at this point is the cost. Adding things onto the truck is one thing, but for a camera you'd either need a power source or a battery, find a wireless signal that reaches about 55' without constant interference. I suppose it could be run through the power line or a fourth line, but that'd mean slow implementation.

Personally, I want all the information I can get when backing. If I could also send a drone up for a top-down view I'd do it.

Might work for an owner/op who uses his/her own trailer. Otherwise, too costly. My company, for example, uses thousands of trailers, probably tens of thousands, that are picked up, loaded, unloaded, and dropped off all over the country, in secure and less-than-secure lots, used by company drivers as well as owner-ops and lease-op drivers; and these trailers get abused. Don't see it happening as long as these trailers are interchangeable. Which they always will be.

There's a company currently developing a wireless magnettic camera that you can just stick to outside of trailer... or inside if you wanted to use it for security / cya purposes (monitor what loaders are doing, catch them red forklifted (think red handed) if they damage something, etc.

I'm not sure how it's spelled but it's pronounced "back cam"... think it's like bakcam or bakkam... or something along those lines... they had a demo of it at MATS this year. has the range to reach from back of trailer to cab of truck, wide angle lens, and magnetic so no perm mounting required... just slap it on, turn it on and there ya go. my only concern though is it'll become a crutch to some drivers, sort of like gps units. to many drivers who can't read an atlas rely on gps, then if that fails they're up poo creek without a paddle... well same thing may happen with this... drivers get in the habit of using it, next thing they know device breaks or something and all the sudden they don't know how to back anymore. it could be a very nice "tool" when you have to back into more narrow places or between trucks in tight docks, but not something you want to rely on or get to "used to" using.

Here's the camerai was just talking about... it's called bakkab

https://bakkab.net/

I'm not a fan of the whole crutch aspect as I think that's misplaced. I think it's simply value added, much like a drivers side hood mirror. Can people drive without them? Absolutely. Are they a great added tool to have? Absolutely! In both instances you have to use the side mirrors, not just to do it right, but really to do it at all. If you JUST use the drivers side hood mirror to check if the left lane is clear, you're going to have a bad time. If you JUST use a back-up camera, you don't stand a chance of getting into a space -- probably not even near one.

All that said, I don't want one $900 bad... lol

I wouldn't mind having one, but there are other things higher on my priority list. It would be very important not to let the camera distract you from what's going on outside the cab--the back of the trailer is only a small part of what we need to be watching when backing up.

I thought of this and figured cost was probably the reason and also as mentioned our company has thousands of trailers too and they are not treated very nice. I can see an added value as I almost hit a truck on my blindside while backing in at a truckstop. I had too many easy peezy spots lately I guess and forgot how to do it. Thankfully someone stopped me with a honk of the horn. I had just climbed back in from a GOAL and thought I was still good to go. Ended up choosing a different spot and the guy I was pulling in next to was grilling on his cat walk and I asked if he'd help me and he agreed. After I got in the hole I realized with his help where I went wrong on the other hole. I had oversteered to the left swinging too far the other way when I needed to straighten my steers. I can see a camera being beneficial in that scenario but I'd rather not rely on it and get my skills better. Next back after that one though was great. As for a magnetic cam that can be switched from trailer to trailer and take with you no way. I'd forget it at some point. What I have wondered though is why don't trailers have back up lights? And maybe a license plate like light at each curbside corner on the rear pointed down toward the tandems to better illuminate tight turns.

Now that's a good idea I'd love to see happen.