Picture a top-performing trucker in your nine-unit fleet. He loves the job—the freedom of the open road, the opportunity to take in the country’s grandeur—and he has high regard for his seasoned fleet manager, a true road warrior who’s been everywhere and seen it all. The two have always been on the same wavelength, except for the occasional comment about cornering too hard.
But one day, the driver starts to have doubts about his trusted manager’s intentions. Picture the driver in his cab, skeptically eyeing the new dual-facing camera on his dash. He’d been told it was coming. But there it is. Installed.
Worries spring to his mind, driven by misconceptions about the purpose (“Is it watching me eat my sandwiches?”) and suspicions around issues of privacy (“Who sees this footage, anyway?”) The driver thought his company and trusted him and cared about his well-being. Is it possible he’d been wrong about his boss all along?
As the fleet manager, you know that the dashcam is there to keep the business in top shape — that its deployment is a crucial strategy, in fact, for competing in a freight market that’s more competitive than it’s ever been. Fuel prices and insurance premiums are at a high, load prices have been dropping, and a single accident could put the company out of business.
In a small fleet, your goals center on safety and cash flow. With turn-key safety programs such as Cover Whale’s Driver Safety Program, fleet managers gain access to the technology, processes and insights they need while avoiding expensive investments, learning curves and the additional payroll cost of hiring a dedicated Safety Director.
Such turn-key programs can flag risky driving behavior, coach truckers to encourage safe driving practices and improve a fleet’s safety record, all while protecting its hard-earned cash flow.
But absent a thorough communication plan, you might worry that dual-facing cameras (DFCs) will cause a mutiny. Misconceptions and privacy concerns can erect barriers between you and your drivers. Here’s what you can do to tackle these issues:
Your Drivers’ Co-Pilot, Not Your Spy
There are many ways to address driver privacy concerns. A good place to start is to distinguish between event-based recording and continuous recording. Event-based recording only captures footage when specific events or incidents occur, such as sudden braking, swerving, or collisions.
The event-based approach ensures that only safety-related incidents are recorded, offering a more privacy-conscious solution. In contrast, continuous recording cameras capture footage during the entire time the vehicle is in operation.
It can also help to discuss the way the data is siloed by use case: for instance, insurance companies who require dash cams are primarily focused on promoting road safety and reducing losses, not keeping tabs on drivers’ personal lives. Their main objective is to lower accident rates and provide affordable policies while respecting drivers’ privacy. One way they address driver privacy concerns is by disabling any audio capture on the devices.
While it’s natural for drivers to have concerns about their privacy, it’s critical to understand that DFCs serve a greater purpose by encouraging safer driving practices, rather than scrutinizing drivers’ behaviors outside of their duties. The primary aim is to create positive outcomes for all parties involved: drivers, fleet managers, and insurers alike – promoting a safer and more efficient industry for everyone.
Debunking Misconceptions about Driver-Facing Cameras
Our skeptical driver might be pleasantly surprised to discover that understanding DFCs will almost certainly change his perspective.
According to ATRI’s “Issues and Opportunities with Driver-Facing Cameras” report from April 2023, drivers who have used DFCs are twice as likely to approve of them. Even more interesting is that truck drivers with less than one year of experience also have higher overall approval ratings for DFCs than more experienced drivers who haven’t used them.
One standout fact from the ATRI report is that drivers with event-based cameras gave DFCs an overall approval rating that is 22% higher than drivers with continuously recording cameras. This suggests that comparing DFC types and opting for event-based DFCs can address some privacy concerns and make the technology more acceptable.
This data more than suggests that overcoming DFC concerns often comes down to practical exposure. Those who have not been subject to industry-wide preconceptions about DFCs find that they are not the boogeyman other drivers may perceive.
And as those who have faced these misconceptions gain experience with the technology, their initial concerns fade. Often they even become advocates for the benefits of DFCs.
Addressing DFC Privacy Concerns
The data is clear: embracing DFCs leads to a safer and more efficient future. But trust transparency is a vital step to maintaining trust between fleet managers and their drivers, and honest communication is imperative to lock in the full benefits of DFCs.
Integrating advanced fleet management technology such as DFCs is a data-driven approach to enhance the safety, cost-efficiency, and competitiveness of your fleet—and highlighting this fact can be a crucial element to gaining buy-in and overcoming DFC worries.
By prioritizing these factors and taking a direct approach to address DFC privacy issues, fleet managers can send a clear message to their drivers that safety is a responsibility shared by everyone in the fleet and that everyone’s well-being is taken into account. This genuine focus on creating a secure working environment and providing appropriate tools for professional growth helps build trust, as it shows that the company is investing in driver safety solutions for the well-being of every driver.
As a result, both drivers and management can reap the benefits while management works on debunking misconceptions and clearing any doubts about the advantages of DFCs.
Turning Drivers From Skeptics to Evangelists
As our seasoned truck driver gradually familiarizes himself with his dashcam, the entire fleet can reap the rewards of safer operations, and the resulting savings will make a notable impact.
Some of this comes naturally: as time passes, the driver’s on-the-road habits slowly change, and he starts to practice better cornering. One day, he realizes he’s been smoother on the turns for some time now—thanks to the camera. This is when the seasoned Fleet Manager gets to flash the winning smile, remembering the driver’s initial skepticism in the face of this transformative technology.
To expedite fleet buy-in, proactively address privacy concerns, outline DFC benefits, and foster open communication. By highlighting DFCs’ positive impact on drivers and fleet efficiency, you can naturally mitigate camera concerns and alleviate DFC worries.
Manage driver expectations by explaining the cameras’ functions and their role in enhancing safety on the road. Drivers are more likely to appreciate the advantages of DFCs when they understand the intention behind their implementation and experience improved performance as a result.
Creating a transparent and inclusive environment helps fleet managers build trust with drivers, promoting a spirit of collaboration and the adoption of new technologies to secure a safer and more efficient future for the entire team.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do trucking companies use driver-facing cameras?
Trucking companies use driver-facing cameras (DFCs) for several essential reasons. Firstly, DFCs promote driver safety by encouraging responsible driving habits and reducing the occurrence of accidents. Furthermore, DFCs increase fleet efficiency, as safer driving can lead to lowered operational costs and maintenance expenses. DFCs can also help reduce liability, as objective evidence can be provided in the event of incidents, allowing for accurate claims management. Finally, they may help lower insurance premiums. Cover Whale’s Driver Safety Program, an integral part of our Auto Liability policies, helps trucking companies ensure low insurance premiums and improved safe driving performance.
How do driver-facing cameras work?
Driver-facing cameras capture real-time video footage of the driver and their environment. These devices are typically mounted on the dashboard or the windshield and are synchronized with GPS and other sensors. The recorded footage is stored locally or transmitted to a remote server. As part of its Driver Safety Program, Cover Whale provides all Auto Liability policyholders with AI-enabled dashcams to help identify and rectify unsafe driving behaviors, ensuring better performance and safety.
Do truck cameras record all the time?
Truck cameras can operate in either continuous recording or event-based recording modes. Continuous recording cameras capture footage during the entire time the vehicle is in operation. In contrast, event-based recording cameras only record when specific events or incidents occur, such as sudden braking, swerving, or collisions. Cover Whale’s dash cams are designed to ensure driver privacy by not recording audio and only saving footage related to coachable driving events and accidents. These event-based cameras effectively address DFC privacy issues by limiting the amount of recorded footage to safety-related incidents, offering a privacy-conscious solution.
Why do trucking companies install cameras in the vehicle to monitor forward movement?
Trucking companies install forward-facing cameras (also known as road-facing cameras or RFCs) in their vehicles to monitor traffic conditions, road situations, and driver performance. RFCs can identify and analyze unsafe driving behaviors, potential hazards, and near misses. Similar to DFCs, RFCs also provide objective evidence in case of accidents or disputes, assisting fleet managers and insurers in making informed decisions. By adopting the Cover Whale Safety Program’s three components – cameras, coaching, and coverage – trucking companies can enhance safety, efficiency, and keep drivers on the road, earning while lowering insurance costs.
