Do you think trucking companies are in their right to install cameras and audio equipment in their trucks?

An important step to clear up all those unsolved murders.

I see this as a way for companies to micro manage their employees. I can see it now: “Squeeky, you drove 6 miles over the speed limit for 72 miles. We are making you take a safe driving course again. The next time, we cut your salary, the 3rd time you are fired.”
I do know that there are some unsafe truck drivers out there, but not as many as the unsafe crazy drivers that pass me at 90 miles an hour every single day that I drive to work. So I don’t think it should be allowed.

Wow. That is one of those damned if I do, damned if I don’t deals.
I wouldn’t like it one bit.
Still, it is company equipment which is very expensive. I can’t blame owners for wanting to protect their investment.
Yuck. Sticky wicket that one.

Yep, it is a good idea. And it will protect the driver if he is driving properly and gets in an accident.

I have changed my mind on this issue in the past couple of years.

My last job was as a software engineer. We created school bus software for public school systems – routing (create the most efficient routes based on students, etc) and GPS tracking. Our systems would collect specific GPS locations, as well as hard stops, when the stop sign/blinking lights were enabled, when door was opened, etc.

This was “real time” as well. So, parents could see where their kids’ bus was, or get notifications if it was going to be late. If a bus driver stopped at Dunkin’ Donuts or at home instead of the designated route, school administrators would see. And in at least one case, GPS data was admitted into court when a driver swore that he didn’t swerve into the opposite lane, causing an accident.

While there were some who cried that this was a great violation of privacy, I argued that in this particular case, the violation of privacy was justified in that it was specifically targeting the transportation of children.

Well, the fact that I was directly involved in writing this software and collecting/analyzing this data probably had some influence on my perspective. It also tainted my view of privacy issues overall, and I greatly minimized the threat that tech companies pose via data and privacy.

I was wrong.

Specifically to address your question – I don’t like the idea that trucking companies are installing video cameras to monitor truck drivers. “Safety” can be used to justify any invasion of privacy, and in this case I don’t think it’s justified. While @zenvelo‘s point is well taken re: protecting the driver if s/he is driving properly and gets in an accident, corporations generally don’t invest large sums of money to protect their employees. This will most likely and often be used against the drivers.

Yes.

I don’t see the difference between trucks and stores as far as video monitoring. I can’t say I like the idea of being monitored but that holds true whether my place of work is mobile or not. I’m sure the video is useful for any accident and equally useful for any theft. We are in a video surveillance world, just because your workplace is mobile doesn’t make it exempt.

It’s like anything else. Don’t do anything wrong and you won’t get in trouble.

No, I think it’s evil nasty inhumane cold-blooded shit that should be illegal.

If you think this invasive you should see what we did in corporate IT and on university computers.

But if these are the truckers that sleep in their rigs it would be great if any audio and video was disabled if the vehicle is idle. Everyone need a wank.

As usual a few bad drivers ruin it for everyone.

I imagine that there was some serious incident somewhere where the driver at that time was acting stupidly and carelessly, and that trucking company came up with this approach. And so the insurance companies got involved, and so on and so forth, and now you have the situation that @SQUEEKY2 describes.

Is it legal, most certainly yes.

Is it advisable? A different question. Depends on how much the truck companies trust their drivers, and whether they care if loyalty is reciprocated.

Just to clarify these cameras ARE NOT dash cams monitoring the road ahead these are cameras focused on the DRIVER to monitor s/he while behind the wheel.

I have zero problem with a dash cam to see what the driver sees,and in case of accident, great but to just look at the driver and listen in to what they are talking about I don’t like, and think the company can and could be abusive with that, example your talking to a fellow driver at what a dickhead your boss is being , could get you in big trouble.
And @chyna they can already monitor your speed by just looking at the Elogs, or down loading the data off the trucks ECM.

I used to work for AT&T. They have installed GPS systems to monitor vehicle speeds and travel routes. I was “counseled” because I drove 66 in a 65 mph zone.
AT&T now has installed sensors to tell if the workers are in the drivers seat, in the aerial bucket, or if anyone is in the passenger seat.
It makes me glad I am retired.

I don’t think GPS systems are unreasonable, but video/audio surveillance is indeed a massive invasion of privacy.

I agree @Darth_Algar they can monitor the truck all day for all I care,but point the damn camera forward not at the driver.
They going to give the driver shit if he scratches his balls, or ass?

@SQUEEKY2: “They going to give the driver shit if he scratches his balls, or ass?”

[annual review…]

“We’re going to need you to go ahead and reduce your ball-scratching this year, mmmkay?

Well, you know, the trucks ARE their property and many of us have cameras around our property. So I it’s legal. Whether it’s “right” or not I’m not sure of. I’m pretty sure they aren’t going to monitor them 24/7. They’ll only review if something happens.

That’s just it @Dutchess_III I have zero problem with them monitoring the trucks, these cameras are being installed to monitor the DRIVER.
Which is a huge window for abuse on the companies part.
They can monitor truck speeds via the trucks computer, or the electronic log book.
These cameras are simply to view the driver through the day, his words and actions, his professionalism behind the wheel.
Is the driver their property as well?
Go ahead install a dash cam to see the road as the driver sees it, and is a good tool in case of an accident great, but to focused on the driver I have a problem with it.

So have you spoken to an attorney about it?

Are they concerned about the driver talking on the phone or drinking on the job? I agree they need to point the camera at the road.

This isn’t the company I work for.
So no I haven’t spoken to an attorney, but if our company all of a sudden headed in this direction I sure as hell would be bitching to our union about it,and maybe speak to an attorney at that time.
@snowberry drivers talk all the time on the phone but 98% of them use a hands free set, myself my phone is OFF while I am driving who ever wants to get in touch with me can leave a voice mail or go away.

It would be easy enough to drink without raising any suspicions, by putting whatever in a foam cup from a convenience store.

Most of us use travel coffee mugs while driving, they couldn’t tell what was in them.
Let me tell you this, if any of us knew a driver was drinking while on the job it wouldn’t take the company to install cameras , every driver I know would turn them in them selves.

Have you heard their explanation for what they’re looking for?

From what I have heard, they want to make sure the driver stays in perfect composer no matter what the situation and acts in a true professional way with the companies best interest.
And they want to make sure the driver doesn’t text and drive.
You know in a way it might not be a bad thing for transit drivers,and in case a passenger harasses the driver.
But for commercial transport drivers I think it’s just an invasion into the life of the driver,they have tons of means to monitor their truck without watching what the driver does every second behind the wheel.

*composure

For being from a different world ,you sure are extra anal about proper grammar and spelling, why is that ?^^

I enjoy asserting my superiority.
With emphasis on ass.

So, the trucker version of customer service. Wow.

Are they going to point another camera at the road?