How Do You Feel About Driver Facing Cameras?

Good questions actually!! I’d like to know myself ! Super company drivers will say no!! And and others will say yes I myself wake up early and eat and drink coffee before I leave just my habit I’ve been doing for thirty yrs ...

Depressing thread all the way around. not taking a side in it either way. From a spectator point of view though, Id say those against it could phrase their arguments more like a campaign and have a better stance. Perhaps state a basis in the American values of independence long since associated with the freedom of the road that was forged in the fires of revolution by our founding fathers. And the perceived value of having space from people as its a psychological tie to the rest of the world that we like to get away from...stuff like that. While all true, they are emotional arguments. But emotions are powerful things. Those for it have logic on their side, which doesn't bode well for an emotion basis rebuttal.

Anyway, the big take away for me....Can I not sip coffee while driving? And if not, anyone use a camel back or similar item? Total noob question, sorry.

Depressing thread all the way around...

Anyway, the big take away for me....Can I not sip coffee while driving? And if not, anyone use a camel back or similar item?

Davy, I have driven with an inward facing camera and audio recording. Don't let the arguments depress you. What's funny is that most of the people arguing against them have never driven with them.

In the first place I never "felt" like someone was watching me. I didn't even know the camera was facing me except they told me it was.

Secondly there is nobody sitting in an office watching a bunch of drivers as they drive their trucks. What a boring job and a waste of money. Nobody is doing that. The only time anybody is going to be viewing a driver's activity is when the camera has been triggered in an accident or some sort of event that triggers the camera. Then someone would be able to access a short clip showing what the driver was doing at that specific time.

I sipped a drink and even ate a sandwich occasionally while I had a driver facing camera. I sang Bob Seger songs at the top of my lungs. I probably looked and sounded like a fool. Nobody knew it but me. The company eventually determined that the data they were getting from audio and driver facing camera's was not helpful and they did away with it. They still use the outward facing cameras because those helped them with coaching new drivers when they did have an accident.

I've said this many times, but I am going to repeat it since someone has decided to revive this old topic. Having a camera in my truck has mad me a better driver. I learned lessons from that camera. It tells me when I am doing something wrong. A little light comes on when it has been triggered. That tells me, "Hey driver, you might want to avoid that type driving in the future." Sure enough, by paying attention to how and when that light came on, I definitely improved my driving. Who wouldn't want to become a better driver? For me it was like having a personal driving coach right in there riding with me. The only consequences I ever had from a camera were positive ones. The same goes for the employers. They have been able to help improve their safety records because they can quickly and easily recognize drivers who need additional support and help.

Driver facing camera's aren't a big deal if you do a few of the really good habits all of the time, driving with the seatbelt on at all times is one to point out. some trucking companies have a strict, "NO smoking policy" which is where their so popular. I drove for "swift transportation for 2.5 years, and they had those also, wasn't a big deal, even though they did at first have a problem with me covering the camera when I went to bed, and the truck got backed into from another driver doing a blind side back, and I were on "home-time"... other than that, they only see what you let them see, IF you not driving, another good point to avaid doing is touching your phone more than once while driving, music selection, etc.... it is a good habit to avoid at all costs, but drivers do what drivers do... be safe out there...

I'm going to be going to CDL school to become a professional truck driver and my first choice of trucking companies to get on with after school has driver facing cameras. To me, that would feel like an invasion of privacy. How should I deal with that? Should I not consider this company and go to a company that doesn't have driver facing cameras? Thank you.

Ted rattles on....

Driver facing camera's aren't a big deal if you do a few of the really good habits all of the time, driving with the seatbelt on at all times is one to point out. some trucking companies have a strict, "NO smoking policy" which is where their so popular. I drove for "swift transportation for 2.5 years, and they had those also, wasn't a big deal, even though they did at first have a problem with me covering the camera when I went to bed, and the truck got backed into from another driver doing a blind side back, and I were on "home-time"... other than that, they only see what you let them see, IF you not driving, another good point to avaid doing is touching your phone more than once while driving, music selection, etc.... it is a good habit to avoid at all costs, but drivers do what drivers do... be safe out there...

I was driving with Swift when they came out, and was still there when they were cut off. At no time does either camera send video to HQ unless there's an event. You can change your underwear and no one in some office will get an eye full.

The cameras (both of them) are mounted on the windshield. There are two blackout curtains between the camera and the sleeper berth. No need to cover the cameras, though Swift did put out a message that you could cover the driver-cam when you were not driving.

As for me, the driver view did save my butt in a hard stop situation. The camera proved I did look both ways before I entered an intersection.

Yes, also I was called in because I touched my cell phone (I was using the GPS function - not an excuse) and I got in turbot for eating Oreos (do a search on this forum for that.)

Finally, the only reason "they are so popular" is to show proof the driver was actually paying attention in some situation (see second paragraph above).

Ted rattles on....

Driver facing camera's aren't a big deal if you do a few of the really good habits all of the time, driving with the seatbelt on at all times is one to point out. some trucking companies have a strict, "NO smoking policy" which is where their so popular. I drove for "swift transportation for 2.5 years, and they had those also, wasn't a big deal, even though they did at first have a problem with me covering the camera when I went to bed, and the truck got backed into from another driver doing a blind side back, and I were on "home-time"... other than that, they only see what you let them see, IF you not driving, another good point to avaid doing is touching your phone more than once while driving, music selection, etc.... it is a good habit to avoid at all costs, but drivers do what drivers do... be safe out there...

I was driving with Swift when they came out, and was still there when they were cut off. At no time does either camera send video to HQ unless there's an event. You can change your underwear and no one in some office will get an eye full.

The cameras (both of them) are mounted on the windshield. There are two blackout curtains between the camera and the sleeper berth. No need to cover the cameras, though Swift did put out a message that you could cover the driver-cam when you were not driving.

As for me, the driver view did save my butt in a hard stop situation. The camera proved I did look both ways before I entered an intersection.

Yes, also I was called in because I touched my cell phone (I was using the GPS function - not an excuse) and I got in turbot for eating Oreos (do a search on this forum for that.)

Finally, the only reason "they are so popular" is to show proof the driver was actually paying attention in some situation (see second paragraph above).

Yeah, but .. weren't you at the 'right place' at the 'right time?!?'