Dealing With Anger

Zen J, you said it all.

I was called in to the office about a sudden stop. We all watched the video. In the vid I stopped at the stop sign, looked both ways then a car ran other stop sign and I hit the brakes. Cleared me.

But I was also called in because I was caught eating Oreos while driving.

This reply has been on my mind for a bit.

Zen asks the question why would anyone be against driver facing cameras. It's a fair question. But also a loaded question.

There are indeed many good points to inward facing cams, and there are many bad points to having them without being on control of them. For me, the negative aspects outweigh the possible benefits. But it's not the camera itself, rather who is in control of the camera that matters.

When a company places the camera, it encourages a surveillance state which is the antithesis of freedom and individual liberty and independent thought. Our youngsters have a massive deficit in this area and it shows in their weakening physical motor skills and mechanical aptitude. It also reinforces corporate lordship and subjugation of the individual to the group. Granted, these are philosophical issues, but they matter.

A critical issue is that corporations use the cameras and data as tools to devalue labor. The less responsibility labor has individually, the less skilled they become, and the less the labor costs. It's not the primary reason, but it's very high on the priority list.

Along those lines, the cameras allow corporations to use inferior grade drivers, which are cheaper. The cameras are used to mitigate their poor driving habits and lack of skills and still allow them to be employed.

It may seem counterintuitive, but the corporations use of the camera eliminates personal motivation and accountability. The driver that grows up under the eyes of the Corp via the camera doesn't learn to take responsibility for his decisions, they don't get the real world repercussions of not paying attention. In the same way that we've raised a generation that doesn't know how to loose and take a beating, we end up letting people drive who just simply don't have the skills and judgement to do so at a professional level.

I've maintained for a long time that not everyone makes the team, not everyone makes the cut. If you require your management to supervise and manage your driving, you probably shouldn't be driving.

As far as the benefits go in terms of proving your good habits, I agree completely. In PJs case, he owns the camera, it's his discretion on what footage he allows to be viewed, he's in complete control.

We have no cameras at my company, they trust us to drive as professionals. I have my own cameras, just as PJ does, they are there to protect me. I have that choice though, and my paychecks are not attached to the camera. It's critical that I make that choice, not that the company forces it upon me.

Once again Davy you articulate explanation on your views hit the nail on the head !! lol.....I've never liked or needed "big brother"/ the boss, or especially customers, looking over my shoulder, while I do my job....

I remember 1 time especially at work for a Ford dealer in Cali. I was doing a laundry list of repairs to a gentlemans truck in my corner stall. This guy casually walks up and stands around watching, getting in my way. Customers are ONLY allowed in the shop when the boss brings them over. Anyway, this guy is not leaving, after I told him he needed to go to the waiting room and he is starting to get on my nerves. Finally, I drop my tools on my tool cart, and walked away to the coffee maker up front . He looks at me probably thinking "Where the hells he going?"

Well, I told my shop manager to get the guy outta my way, and up into the waiting room, before I go back to work on his truck!

I had a habit of grabbing my phone with Schneider.

Being local and only doing 600 miles a week the inward facing camera doesn't bother me. It would probably be a different story if I was OTR with the inward facing camera.

So with the inward facing camera I have become more safe with not touching my phone and 3 second stops. My following distance has improved the past couple weeks. However to help me from boiling over I'm flashing my high beams a lot. lol.

One of the things I’m grateful for working for Schneider. No inward facing cameras. And no plans to add them, either. Not that I do anything wrong but it’s nice not having that thing spying on you.

However to help me from boiling over I'm flashing my high beams a lot. lol.

So with the inward facing camera I have become more safe with not touching my phone and 3 second stops. My following distance has improved the past couple weeks.

I can tell everyone that as AI improves and Starlink allows high-speed internet everywhere, you'll see a lot more micromanaging and monitoring. You'll also get sophisticated, real-time feedback as you drive. Eventually, this may turn into augmented reality, where they could use voice instructions or even a heads-up display (HUD) projected onto the windshield to assist the driver.

There will always be a tug-of-war between drivers who want privacy and autonomy and companies and enforcement agencies who want to monitor your every move. I don't expect too much of this to be coded into laws requiring these features, which means companies will use their own judgment to determine how rigorously they want to use technology to enforce strict standards.

From a driver training perspective, these tools will be awesome. Students and companies will love it. But when it comes to managing experienced drivers, I don't have to tell you guys and gals with experience how you'll feel about it. I believe drivers will have the opportunity to find work with lower levels of oversight as they gain experience.

I know Davy recently changed jobs and now has far fewer techno gadgets watching him. I love technology, but I don't like giving up control or being harassed constantly, either. So, I think the technology will continue to evolve, and so will the fight for freedom versus oversight.

Hey Davy,

I was just reading over your response from last week. I think philosophically you're talking about being demoralized by the perception that the people watching you do not have your best interest at heart, and they have nefarious reasons for watching you so closely.

Here's a couple of quotes:

I've maintained for a long time that not everyone makes the team, not everyone makes the cut. If you require your management to supervise and manage your driving, you probably shouldn't be driving.

It may seem counterintuitive, but the corporations use of the camera eliminates personal motivation and accountability. The driver that grows up under the eyes of the Corp via the camera doesn't learn to take responsibility for his decisions, they don't get the real world repercussions of not paying attention

Your experience racing motorcycles and skiing, both at very high levels, gives you insights into what I'm about to say.

Let's look at today's NFL players. No one on Earth gets more coaching or critiques than NFL players. Every bite they eat, weight they lift, drill they perform, and play on the field are filmed and analyzed. They often use multiple camera angles to catch every detail and scrutinize everything using multiple coaches and AI.

They even use GPS to track each player's movements, speed, and position relative to the ball, the other players, and where they were expected to be on the field. They also use AI to track a player's body position, form, and technique to see if the QB is throwing the ball with good form or if a defensive lineman is in the best stance to accelerate at the snap of the ball.

I put snippets from your post above in parentheses below. If your theories are correct, NFL players should be the lowest-performing people on Earth. They should have:

• weakening physical motor skills and mechanical aptitude
• lower pay (corporations use the cameras and data as tools to devalue labor)
• a lower level of responsibility (The driver that grows up under the eyes of the Corp via the camera doesn't learn to take responsibility for his decisions)
• a lower level of skill (The less responsibility labor has individually, the less skilled they become)
• a lower level of skill because the NFL will use lower grade players (the cameras allow corporations to use inferior grade drivers)
• low motivation and accountability (use of the camera eliminates personal motivation and accountability)
• a lack of responsibility and do not suffer real-world repercussions (doesn't learn to take responsibility for his decisions, they don't get the real world repercussions of not paying attention)
• subpar skills for operating at a professional level (we end up letting people drive who just simply don't have the skills and judgement to do so at a professional level)

So again, I think you're coming from the perspective of being demoralized by the nefarious intentions of the people watching you.

If you wanted to do everything possible to be your best, and you trusted the people helping you, you wouldn't mind the camera so much. You'd see it as an opportunity to get better.

However, corporations have a poor track record when it comes to demonstrating that they genuinely have their employees' best interests in mind. Therefore, the skepticism is justified.

I just wanted to point out that everything you said is true, but only if you're either uninterested in getting better or you don't trust the people you're working for. Obviously, the intense scrutiny has not had a negative effect on the performance of NFL players.

I used to have a CDL many years ago. My way of handling anger towards other stupid drivers was just to assume someone is going to get stupid right in front of me and try my best to be mentally prepared when it happens. Basic rule slow down when it happens and when the opportunity arises to change the situation take it asap. Doesn’t always work but when it does great.

Been about 4 months with a local company. Inward facing camera s with AI. My Boss see s Im a great worker however my following too closely events are testing him to when to give me a written warning. Had 7 events the past 2 weeks.

Anyone have suggestions to deal with anger? I'm good 99% of the time and it s when some ******* cuts me off or they're going super slow.

I have always had this problem, got away with it with Schneider since they don't have the AI system.

Brett, you make some really great points, and some of the same thoughts I had after I hit the send button too.

In general, I agree, it's really dependent on who's reviewing the footage and if they have your best interests in mind.

In skiing, obviously we used video analysis for movement analysis. It's crucial. 100 percent of it is purposed solely to increase performance of the skiier. It's also crucial the review and judgements, prescription for change is done by well qualified individuals that are capable of coaching and or performing at that level. I also began to video my classes at some some resorts to help prevent possible liability. Once again, I had complete control of the footage. Instructors and ski areas are another favorite target for litigation.

In both racing and skiing, the reviewers of the video are absolutely skilled in accurately providing analysis and improving performance. The same can not be said for corporate instituted cameras in trucks. In fact, the very opposite is true. The reviewers of the footage are not trained, not driving coaches, generally have no experience and credentials to operate a cmv. It's readily apparent that they Don not have increasing our performance in mind, leaving us the conclusion that they are at best ambivalent to our performance or most likely nefarious in principle.

Also that a primary reason for the mechanical "dumbing down" of our youth is that video isn't being used to increase performance, rather to control our youth. As you pointed out, when it is used by skilled professionals and training staff, it dramatically increases performance.

I do concur though that I generally approach this issue with a bias that corporations do use them for nefarious purposes as well as genuine reasons.

On a separate note, skiing wise, this brought up a memory of something we at PSIA used video analysis to remove a maneuver from our exams called a white pass turn in a division. I'll shoot you an email about it. They're a dangerous turn that can result easily in a torn ACL.

Been about 4 months with a local company. Inward facing camera s with AI. My Boss see s Im a great worker however my following too closely events are testing him to when to give me a written warning. Had 7 events the past 2 weeks.

Anyone have suggestions to deal with anger? I'm good 99% of the time and it s when some ******* cuts me off or they're going super slow.

I have always had this problem, got away with it with Schneider since they don't have the AI system.

I used to struggle with anger while driving. I drive local now and I have to have a good hold of my temper while driving because if I don't I'd have some real problems considering I drive in Denver traffic all the time lol.

I think the key for me is I had to come to terms with the fact that people are gonna do stupid crap all day and I just expect it. I follow principals when I drive. I need to have a proper following distance and as a general rule I keep my speed to no more than 5 over the limit at all times. When people do stupid stuff, let them. It's not worth your license, your freedom, or anyone's life.

I've said this many times when telling people why I don't fight people or road rage on people: I wouldn't go to prison for someone I liked, so why would I go there for someone I don't even know or like at all? That person you're mad at in the other vehicle doesn't give a damn about you, so don't give up your hard earned cdl , job, and freedom for them. Let them go. It ain't worth it brother.

Last time I reacted in anger to someone on the road it almost ended very badly. Long story short another trucker did something pretty stupid and forced me halfway off the road and I got angry and honked at him and flipped him off as I passed him. I didn't really think much of it and I didn't do anything remotely unsafe so I kinda forgot about it and kept going. He caught up to me later and passed me and intentionally tried to force me off the road and then came almost to a complete stop in front of me on the freeway, blocking me and other traffic behind me. This dude even got OUT OF HIS TRUCK and approached my truck and started banging on the door. The dude was absolutely unhinged and literally all I did was honk at him and flip him off. It's hard to believe because it's not normal for someone to have such a severe reaction to something so small. Naturally, most people reading this will want to ask me for the rest of the story because surely I did something more to make this guy so angry. That's the whole point, actually - I did nothing crazy. By the time he stopped his truck I was already on the phone with 911. You never know what someone is going through so don't test people. Remember, you're the one in the big truck, you're the professional, so just let the idiots be idiots and leave them be. As long as the wheels are turning, you're getting closer to your destination. Anger and 18 wheelers don't mix. After that incident, I don't even use the air horn unless I'm trying to prevent an accident or some kids are pumping their fist. That's it. Even flashing brights at people will get some people angry. I had a friend who didn't use air horn or brights and just changed lanes in front of them, and the other driver passed him and shot at him. Cool, calm, and collected is where it's at.

It's a natural thing to want to "pay back" someone who crossed you, either on purpose or accidentally. But as you tool down the interstate , your main job is to get from A to B. Since that's what you're paid for, playing bump cars with a stranger will slow you down.

I point out to my CDL students that they don't need to be distracted by people playing games. Ignore the antics of others and

Drive Your Own Road

Get your job done and get paid.