Experienced, Respected
Civil Litigation Attorneys

2 ways truck cameras cause issues for transportation companies

On Behalf of | Mar 23, 2023 | Transportation And Trucking

Cameras can help clarify liability after a car crash. When there is video footage of a wreck, much information may be provided concerning who is to blame for the collision. Of course, not every stretch of road has traffic cameras or nearby security cameras capturing footage, so dashboard cameras have become increasingly popular.

People put cameras in their own vehicles to prove whether they were at fault for a wreck or not, and many commercial transportation companies have also started installing cameras in their fleet vehicles. It has become quite common for trucking companies to include both forward-facing cameras that capture traffic near a truck and also inward-facing cameras that show what a driver does inside a vehicle while they are working.

Unfortunately, although cameras may help with liability in some cases, they can also cause issues for transportation companies. What are some of the problems created by the technology that is ultimately intended to solve business issues?

1. Employees dislike the cameras

It is common for transportation professionals to question the use of cameras in vehicles, especially if their employer wants a camera in the cab of the truck. Workers have even gone viral for complaining about what they perceive to be abuses of this surveillance technology, including cameras that continue recording even when someone is sleeping after their shift.

Some drivers will avoid working for companies that require inward-facing cameras, which can reduce the company’s pool of talent. In cases where office workers abuse their camera access, the company could end up facing a harassment lawsuit.

2. Cameras may misrepresent the situation

The problem with only having outward-facing cameras looking at the road is that they may only capture part of the story.

Sometimes the footage may make it look like what a driver did was unsafe, but that is only because there is no footage of what happened two lanes to the left of the truck or 30 seconds before the crash occurred. The limitations of what the cameras actually capture can lead to unfair outcomes in which truck companies are their drivers end up blamed for a crash for which they were not truly responsible.

Installing truck cameras can lead to challenges and they can reduce liability for a business. Considering the benefits and drawbacks of different camera systems can help those in the transportation industry make the best choices for minimizing company liability in the event of a crash. Asking questions about this technology can, therefore, be beneficial as transportation professionals strategize with a lawyer to implement a broad-based liability mitigation strategy.