3 Reasons Your Work Trucks Need More Cameras – Drivers

Correcting unsafe driver behavior based on road- and driver-facing video footage has changed the game for fleets, no matter the size, type, product, or services offered. But is it enough to capture only two video perspectives, one of the driver in the cab and one of the road in front of the vehicle?

The answer is no. “Auxiliary” cameras, positioned on a vehicle’s side, rear, and/or cargo areas, deliver big wins for new or existing dash cam safety programs. Video events captured by these cameras support fleets, their drivers, and operations in three key areas:

1. Litigation – increasing the chance of driver exoneration and reducing the impact on legal action
2. Security/Theft – enhancing driver security and deterring and documenting cargo loss
3. FMCSA Compliance – supporting non-preventable crash determinations

Let’s examine each area in depth to understand the benefits of auxiliary dash cams.

INCREASING THE CHANCES OF EXONERATION & MINIMIZING THE IMPACT OF LITIGATION

Video coverage of all sides of the vehicle can show a more accurate picture of a crash and improve the likelihood of driver exoneration. A driver can also be coached and trained proactively based on these additional views.

According to the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI), driver exoneration rates when road- and driver-facing camera footage is available are:

• Road-facing cameras (RFC)           63 percent
• Driver-facing cameras (DFC)         49 percent        

A subsequent study by ATRI, The Impact of Small Verdicts and Settlements on the Trucking Industry, released in 2021, discovered that litigation payments skyrocketed in cases settled for less than one million dollars.

Many of these cases were groundless, but companies paid settlements due to a lack of evidence. Auxiliary cameras could have changed the outcome of these cases with a video that removed the doubt.

Consider these alleged causes of crashes and average settlements from the study:

• Recklessness $493,673
• Improper lane change $420,409
• Sideswipe $385,986
• Improperly secured cargo (internal or on an open deck) $378,840

Since video footage can provide evidence of whether the driver or the other party was negligent, litigation that includes video footage often results in less costly settlements instead of court trials. In the ATRI study, legal experts estimated that between 86 and 89 percent of the time, video evidence leads to settlements.

Nuclear verdicts (over $10 million) can put a company out of business, and the frequency of these has exploded. ATRI’s study Understanding the Impact of Nuclear Verdicts on the Trucking Industry in 2020 found that:

• From 2006 to 2010, there were 26 cases over $1 million, and
• From 2015-2019, there were nearly 300 cases of over $1 million

DETERRING CARGO THEFT AND HARM TO DRIVERS

Video cameras have long deterred theft and vandalism in trucking yards and distribution facilities. On work vehicles, visible exterior and cargo compartment cameras can also prevent cargo theft and provide proof in the event of a crime.

Cargo theft has increased significantly in recent years. Adding video surveillance to parked vehicles is a countermeasure. In 2022, approximately $223 million worth of cargo was stolen in the United States and Canada, which is a 20% increase in losses and a 15% increase in theft events compared to 2021, according to CargoNet. Also, the average cargo theft in 2022 was $214,204.

If the odds of getting caught stealing cargo increase, there will be less of this crime in the first place. You can increase those odds with cameras.

A significant safety issue is a lack of designated truck driver parking for rest breaks. Illegally parking on the side of a road, on-ramp, or in a high-crime area on the street is not the solution, but it often occurs out of desperation when tired or running out of hours.

Two surveys illuminate that lack of truck parking is a significant driver concern:

1. ATRI’s 2022 update of the Critical Issues in the Trucking Industry survey found that commercial drivers’ number one issue was truck parking.
2. ATRI’s 2021 survey Truck Driver Perspectives on Truck Parking Information Systems found that 63 percent of drivers reported having difficulty finding safe and legal parking, and over 90% said that the parking shortage negatively impacted their quality of life. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) estimates a nationwide shortage of more than 40,000 truck parking spaces.

Investing in auxiliary cameras visible to perpetrators may reduce the chance of harm to a driver and help drivers feel safer.

SUPPORTING NON-PREVENTABLE CRASH DETERMINATIONS

Companies can challenge crash preventability for sixteen different crash types under the Crash Preventability Determination Program (CPDP). If a crash is found not preventable, the crash will not be scored in the carrier’s Crash Indicator in the Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA) program.

Carriers submitted nearly 40,000 preventability determination requests through the DataQs system. Approximately 72.5% of those requests fit within the current crash types. Of the eligible crashes submitted, 96% were deemed non-preventable. (FMCSA data from 5/1/20-12/30/22 submissions under the CPDP)

Carriers can submit video clips along with a copy of the police accident report (PAR) and any other documents to support the request for review.

Auxiliary cameras provide additional views which are ideally suited to assist with some of the current sixteen crash types and with the four proposed types, which are:

• The CMV was struck on the side by a motorist going the same direction (would require a PAR indicating the other party hit the CMV).
• The CMV was struck because another motorist entered the roadway from a private driveway or parking lot.
• The CMV was struck because another motorist lost control of their vehicle (would require a PAR indicating the other party lost power before hitting the CMV).
• Any type of crash where video provided by the carrier demonstrates the impact was not preventable.

CLOSING THOUGHTS

Augmenting your current vehicle camera system with auxiliary cameras can tremendously enhance an existing safety program. Or, if you have been considering a purchase of a vehicle camera system (dash cams), ensure you include auxiliary cameras as a part of that conversation to maximize the return on investment.