With the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration voting to allow the use of in-cab cameras last December, several major carriers have begun installing the precautionary devices in their trucks. While this decision was initially met with outcries of privacy violations, companies maintain that the new practice is being made in an attempt to protect both themselves and drivers from fault in accidents and lawsuits.
Despite the complaints, companies are already seeing the benefits of the new camera systems, especially when the new cameras are joining previously installed safety systems such as lane-departure warning, reactive cruise-control, and stability control. In Nashville, M&W Logistics CEO Mike McFarlin says his company has seen a 34 percent decrease in total accidents inside twelve months of installing the cameras. Additionally, occurrences of the two most severe types of accidents, Level 3 and Level 4, have been cut in half.
There are several different systems available which vary from one another is small ways, but the overall approach is the same. The systems usually have two lenses, one facing forward that captures everything happening outside of the cab, and a second lens positioned towards the driver and passenger inside the cab. The cameras are connected to an accelerometer that detects sudden movements. While the cameras film continuously, the video is only saved when the accelerometer detects an event such as hard braking or sudden deceleration. Most systems offer an override option that allows carriers to record and save up to 40 hours of footage.
TBS Factoring Service is excited to offer insight gained over its 50 years of experience in the industry, as well as assistance with a variety of services to help truckers and trucking companies, including insurance offerings and freight factoring. Call us today at (800) 207-7661 to learn more about what our team can do to help you.