Dash Cam Questions

I am curious about dash cams. In this age when technology makes it so affordable to protect your butt, I don't see why someone wouldn't want one rolling in their truck.

Are there any companies that run dash cams in all their rigs by default? Are there any companies that don't but have it an optional install that you can request? Are there any companies that reimburse you fully or partially for a dash cam you pick up? Has anyone picked up their own dash cam and had any issues getting the company mechanic to install it? Does anyone have any good reason I am overlooking that they choose specifically not to use a dash cam?

A lot of companies are installing forward facing cameras as well as driver facing.

TransAm has both in all their trucks. And I can tell you, it has saved my rear on at least one occasion. I was forced to slam on the brakes in a traffic situation which caused my load to shift and pallets to break apart. (In my defense, these were the most poorly wrapped pallets I have ever seen). When the final reciever on that load had damages, I told them what happened and that my camera caught the whole thing. They were able to review the incident and I was absolved of any responsibility from the company and the shipper.

As far as installation, most dash cams you can buy and use yourself come with a mount and suction cup that you simply attach to the windshield. They run on battery power and have a charger just like a cell phone.

I should clarify. I told TransAm what had happened and they reviewed the video. No one else has access to those clips.

I was curious about this, too. Thought about getting my own GoPro or something to video-document some of my journeys. I know some do that, somehow, though idk what/whose technology was used. I would imagine some drivers feel a camera installed by the company would much of a scrutiny and pressure into their driving (and life) and I know that some attempt to falsify their recorded info to illegally make more money. I agree that technology can be a huge ass-saver, but it can also mean incrimination if the driver was in the wrong. I'm curious what the thoughts are from the experienced drivers on this, too.

Nope nope nope. If you want to get into the debate about privacy and driver facing cameras simply search this website. There's no need to bring that topic up again for the millionth time.

As far as incriminating the driver who is in the wrong, isn't that a good thing? I definitely don't want a driver on the road who is texting or nodding off at the wheel.

If you do your job properly and obey laws and use common sense, you have nothing to worry about with driver facing cameras.

Nope nope nope. If you want to get into the debate about privacy and driver facing cameras simply search this website. There's no need to bring that topic up again for the millionth time.

As far as incriminating the driver who is in the wrong, isn't that a good thing? I definitely don't want a driver on the road who is texting or nodding off at the wheel.

If you do your job properly and obey laws and use common sense, you have nothing to worry about with driver facing cameras.

ChickieMonster-- Your comments did not exist when I replied -- please account for the time lags of when one reads and when one is composing, as well as account for the fact that threads do not automatically self-refresh with the latest replies.

I had said it *could* be one reason why one wouldn't want a company-installed camera, as he asked why one wouldn't -- it doesn't mean I was debating driver-facing cameras. His question was about dash cams -- which I presume is facing the road -- not driver-facing. Driver-facing cameras were not mentioned in his question. I also did not say I'm an advocate for keeping risky drivers on the roads, although it *is* another possible reason why one wouldn't want a company-installed dash cam. Company installed, I also presume, means it's 100% company property and is legally subjected to accessibility by the company at any point with the driver having no say as it's not his personal recorder.

I apologize. I get a little heated on this topic because people tend to spout opinions without ever gathering the facts. We've had so many debates here about this that is has almost become a no-no topic.

To give a short response to your last comment, most companies that use the driver facing cams contract with an outside company such as DriveCam. The company only sees clips when DriveCam alerts them to a potential problem. And they are not live feed cameras either. They only record a 15-2 second clip when triggered by an event such as hard braking or an impact (I tend to set mine off coupling to a trailer).

No offense intended.

Chris, use a GoPro to record going over the Ambassador Bridge or driving through the Missouri caves. Watch how Allie Knight™ does it. A whole day in 20 minutes.

A regular driver-cam can record everything, but it makes 2-3 minute segments. Segments are easier to handle if you need the "event" that happened at 3:36pm. You could email that, instead of your 1.2Gb file of the whole day.

Chickie wrote:

To give a short response to your last comment, most companies that use the driver facing cams contract with an outside company such as DriveCam. The company only sees clips when DriveCam alerts them to a potential problem. And they are not live feed cameras either. They only record a 15-2 second clip when triggered by an event such as hard braking or an impact (I tend to set mine off coupling to a trailer).

Absolutely correct! There is nothing to access Chris. No live feed, minimal memory.

I don't want to get into the argument about right or wrong, but I will say get used to it. In my previous line of work they have cameras everywhere nowadays. In the halls, on the machines where the medications are stored, even in patient rooms. It is becoming a fact of life that you have no privacy in the workplace. And that would include when you're behind the wheel. As long as you're doing what you're supposed to do, it shouldn't matter, imho.