How do we feel about all this new tech?
Posted by redditor012499@reddit | Truckers | View on Reddit | 163 comments
Feel like all these cameras and screens take up too much visibility
Posted by redditor012499@reddit | Truckers | View on Reddit | 163 comments
Feel like all these cameras and screens take up too much visibility
JOliverScott@reddit
The mirrorless camera system is the least of my concerns. It cannot commandeer the truck's controls in an emergency situation. Those are the tech that bother me because if I'm having to fight the truck for control instead of dealing with the situation causing the emergency then I'm being blamed for the outcome. It's like why we still put pilots in airplanes that can basically fly themselves - they need the pilots for taxi, take off, landing, and scapegoats. If fully autonomous trucks ever actually arrive they'll still need steering wheel holders on whom they can blame all the failures of the technology.
L0quence@reddit
And they still need someone to go and hook up that fuel hose to put fuel in the tanks and shit. I hate the direction trucking has been going, even tho I only got my cmv 3-4yrs ago. Drove automatic for the first 2 and been in an 18speed now the last year n a bit. I think the standards make it so the driver has to pay attention more to what he’s doing and less to watching YouTube and checking his socials with his free hand like we see videos of that happening and causing accidents. I only got time to look at my phone if I’m cruising in 18th which means I’m on a straight stretch of road and I’m only checking it for work related shit or work calls. All companies now tho switching to automatics. I understand some of the perks and reasons. But the “to get new drivers behind the wheel quicker” just sounds like money hungry companies who don’t care what happens as long as that trucks out making them money. And then costing them money cause buddy flipped it 2 weeks into his job as a new cmv driver.
arrynyo@reddit
I love the manuals. Going down a steep hill I have complete control and uphill too. Autos are cool but you lose some of that finesse that a machine can't deliver.
UhOhAllWillyNilly@reddit
Autos are not cool, there is no satisfaction to be had like there is when you smooooothly float up through all the gears from a standstill to cruising speed, every shift an exercise in precision rev-matching with no jerking/lurching. Or when you have to drop a gear (or four) as you start up/down a grade. I’m telling you it is a nice feeling running up & down through all the gears with nary a hiccup and you just don’t get that sense of accomplishment with an auto.
L0quence@reddit
Exactly. Nothing more to say. Autos suck. They’re boring to drive and make you just put the blinders on and go.
TwoToadsKick@reddit
Bro just said he texts and drives
_Tejaneaux@reddit
I mean... i do. But with like... voice commands.
Snobben90@reddit
And blamed in on automatic transmissions...
Agamemnon323@reddit
And said he'd do it more if he had an automatic.
yankee_chef@reddit
So you aren't educated in the technology.. Night vision, trailer lines and trailer tires right turn panning?? Stay uneducated and in the dark ages
Parasite76@reddit
Honestly the taxing could be automated easier than the flying. Just need to make sure every plane has the system. The reason self driving cars fail so much is it’s an open environment with variables that can’t be controlled. Unlike an area like an airport.
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Tractorista@reddit
The irony is thicker than a snickers
_Tejaneaux@reddit
BAD BOT! BAD!!!!
Parasite76@reddit
Hi grumpy bot
Black000betty@reddit
Pilot and driver here. There's an industrial cultural difference that's important.
In aviation, the automation is a tool to help the pilot fly. In driving, there's a disturbing push to treat automation as a driver replacement, or a driver supervisor.
We can make driving easier and safer without compromising the driver's control or autonomy. But we aren't, and that scares me.
elernius@reddit
I have a collision mitigation system that constantly locks up the brakes in any amount of snow. There is no way to override it. They call it a driver assist but if the machine has final authority over use of the brakes, then I'm the assist. So driver supervisor does sound like a more accurate term. The poorly designed machine is in charge but bears no accountability for its dangerously poor performance.
arrynyo@reddit
Ours would slam on the brakes if we followed too close or if somebody cut us off. Bridges and highway signs would set them off more often then another vehicle. And this was in a 10 speed manual. Fun times.
Mindes13@reddit
Don't follow too closely, then.
_Tejaneaux@reddit
Idk y you getting negged. This is legit.
PM_ME_FLOUR_TITTIES@reddit
Because it's unrealistic and fucking stupid to act like it is.
gfinchster@reddit
Getting downvoted because anybody here who is actually a truck driver knows that every damn day multiple vehicles change lanes right in front of your bumper all the while slowing down and setting of the collision avoidance alarms and activating the f’ing brakes. I personally love my following distance,, I’m just not allowed to keep it! Piss poor truck drivers do this as well. I get on the CB to bitch about it nut no one replies because they don’t have, don’t listen or just don’t give a flying fu€k.
FantasticAd410@reddit
I had an International with all that safety shit on it. It would read speed limit signs and ding if you went 5+ over. The stupid thing would read exit speed limit signs and it would apply the brakes. Going 65 and it sees the exit is 35 and the fucker would lock up. Not safe at all
Broad-Ad-1015@reddit
Oh im glad it's not just mine I hate that damn radar detector
Lopsided-Move6309@reddit
Truck did it to me yesterday, I was actually slowing to come to a stop behind a pickup and it slammed on the brakes completely. This could be dangerous on the highway. All this babysitting tech is ridiculous. I think we're being put in greater danger. It's like having a backseat driver that can just take control .
A_Dash_of_Time@reddit
Airlines don't have to worry about their planes getting hit by, and subsequently sued by the handi-capable guy in his Cessna, his scumbag insurance company claiming it was your fault for existing, or a judge/jury agreeing.
But yeah, I just switched to an east/west company after not having to deal with places like wyoming in the winter in like, 89 years. I am terrified this truck is gonna decide to slam on the brakes while I'm driving in snow because it thinks I'm gonna hit the guardrail in a corner or because some clown cuts me off.
PocketSizedRS@reddit
The only system akin to auto brake/collision avoidance i can think of is Auto GCAS, but even that can be easily overridden, I'm pretty sure. It's also pretty unprecedented in the context of aviation.
JOliverScott@reddit
Exactly!
Tricky_Big_8774@reddit
New Zealand navy just lost a (very expensive) survey vessel because the autopilot system overrid the crew's control inputs. Admittedly, they had the ability to turn the autopilot off and didn't for some reason, but it highlights the consequences of system failure.
Responsible_CDN_Duck@reddit
Pilots have way more automation and layers between the controls and the vehicle or system.
darkhorse1075@reddit
Pilots can assume full control at any moment, truckers are slowly losing that ability.
guestquest88@reddit
That's only if you can guarantee the manufacturer didn't fuck up.
mrockracing@reddit
The first few 737 Max crashes come to mind. Exactly what happens when you remove the operator's authority over the vehicle.
JOliverScott@reddit
I have a rather long dissertation on this very topic, contrasting Airbus and Boeing philosophy right up until the 737 Max.
TrollSlap619@reddit
That Makes a lot of sense little grasshopper
JOliverScott@reddit
I was anticipating a call all week and it came this morning. They want me to take a new truck. I asked if I have a choice. So I'll go take a look but I'm absolutely sure the new trucks think they're smarter than I am.
seanfmcgee@reddit
Been running this system on my truck for the last almost 4 years with 0 problems I love it and if I ever buy another truck I’ll make sure it’s installed.
mrockracing@reddit
What kind of hauling you do? Also, how do you get views at weird angles without adjusting the mirrors?
L0quence@reddit
He probably just uses the mirrors lol. A system that has been working for ppl who know they have mirrors for decades.
seanfmcgee@reddit
My truck doesn’t have any traditional glass mirrors only the camera mirrors
L0quence@reddit
So in the case that you had a short or the screen died, what happens?
seanfmcgee@reddit
I did reefer when I first got the truck but now do power only tow away currently. The view is able to be adjusted there’s a knob that can adjust each mirror view but over a certain speed they return to the original position.
TruckeronI5@reddit
I only care about the paycheck.
redditor012499@reddit (OP)
Sadly it’s not great 🤣
pancho61917@reddit
For those of you complaining about truck driving pay, what is "not great" about the pay? How much are you making per week?
redditor012499@reddit (OP)
1k after tax
Mountain-Stable4033@reddit
1k after tax? Otr? 🤢
SchadDad@reddit
This can vary a lot depending on what kind of trucking you do. I do regional otr and can bring home 1300 per week. At face value, seems pretty good. But when you look at the hours that go into it, it's not great. No overtime, and most trucking is per mile pay.
Mountain-Stable4033@reddit
1300 take home ?? Kurwa
redditor012499@reddit (OP)
We’re hourly. Thankfully. Also local
Savagemocha@reddit
Spent it on tech so they could hire worse drivers
redditor012499@reddit (OP)
Sounds like amazon haha
ANiceDent@reddit
I already have enough cameras recording everything I do & everywhere I go.
We now have one in our mirrors….
wtf
Ok_Replacement5811@reddit
I'd rather have cameras in my mirrors than a cmera watching the inside of my cab. Actually be able to prove the @$$#0le cage crossed the line into me rather than I glanced away from the road 30 seconds before they hit me
yankee_chef@reddit
Just proves you're uneducated
arrynyo@reddit
Point blank period.
MCryptoWars@reddit
😄
kane_eightee@reddit
Can you pan and tilt the camera view? Because I can move not only my mirrors, but I can move my head for even more viewing area.
notacatacaton@reddit
Yeah they have panning, both auto and manual.
kane_eightee@reddit
How does the auto panning work? Like, what does it focus on or how does it decide where to pan or tilt to?
moonduckk@reddit
Like in a turn it can follow ur trailer.
yankee_chef@reddit
Absolutely yes
69trkr77@reddit
Have seen this setup on a Walmart truck. I will never drive one with this. Too many screens in the cab will severely affect night vision. Can't be for safety. It's only to save miniscule amount of fuel and reduce cost of replacing/repairing mirrors.
redditor012499@reddit (OP)
You can adjust brightness. I’m already getting used to them. You can move them too so I can blindside park more easily.
William-Burroughs420@reddit
More and more and more technology because tech companies want to make money.
Not everything that you can think of needs to be invented but you've got to realize that it's tech bros pushing this garbage even though factory mirrors have been great for how many decades?
Tech companies will never stop piling on with the next big thing, chasing money.
It's ridiculous.
truckinfarmer379@reddit
Can’t stand it. Just one more electrical device that will inevitably fail.
yankee_chef@reddit
I bet you're the one leaving piss bottle on the exit ramps too..
truckinfarmer379@reddit
Hell no. I can’t stand the new age drivers who do that and somehow think it’s acceptable.
Kind_Man_0@reddit
Back when I was OTR I had the collision detection system, it sucked. I'm doing 65, left lane is doing 75, but the douche behind him wants to do 85. This usually meant that he had to pass as soon as his bumper clears my front end and it would give the brakes a good hard tap each time.
I've had cars honk passing me because they though I was brake checking them.
Lane assist is just as bad. There are more times than not that I'm actually trying to be on the edge of the lane because the Owner op peterbilt next to me can't stay off the middle line.
Parasite76@reddit
Gotta say I have a backup cam on my trailer and it’s used more than my mirrors these days. Certainly some technology is a huge boon. Unfortunately most is focused on cutting cost not on general usefulness.
homucifer666@reddit
Mine does this with bridge supports and vehicles in the lanes beside me. Even worse, it always brakes like the truck is on dry pavement, which is absolutely terrifying in heavy rain, ice, or snow.
ScaryfatkidGT@reddit
At least you still have mirrors.
I like the idea of cameras that cover a larger area and eliminate blind spots vs relying on line of sight light reflection but I don’t agree with removing all the mirrors and only relying on cameras… they do it because it’s better aero dynamics but you now are relying on a lot of tech to diplay the vision you need
CashWideCock@reddit
It’s not how granddaddy did it, so it’s bad.
redditor012499@reddit (OP)
Do you prefer cameras or mirrors?
yankee_chef@reddit
Both
Chemical-Scholar-486@reddit
Mirrors look pretty useful for a blind backing. Outside facing cams are doable for me. The fuckin adaptive cruise can go fuck itself.
AnimeRoadster@reddit
Adaptive cruise is alright, not perfect but you can work with it
Predictive cruise? Whoever made that deserves straight up hell as that system barely ever makes a right choice in terms of speed
tommior@reddit
how can u hate adaptive cruise...?
Rzymatic@reddit
You learn to hate it real quick driving in the east coast.
ShoebillJoe@reddit
Did you mean predictive cruise? Because adaptive cruise is great, predictive can get fucked
Practical-Wave-6988@reddit
It's not terrible. My truck is governed to 67, but Predictive cruise overrides that periodically and will feed fuel to 70-71 for several miles at a time.
ShoebillJoe@reddit
For me I'll be heading up a hill with it set to 68 and it will get down to 55 if there's a big drop on the other side. This is despite having it set to +/- 2
Chemical-Scholar-486@reddit
Adaptive cruise. it's the one with the radar on our trucks front bumper. Had it on my Cascadia. Bridges sucked ass but night driving with it in general was horror. It slams on your brakes outta nowhere because it thinks there's a car in front of you. Had it happen on multiple occasions. Kept it clean and had it recalibrated every 3 months. Still loved giving false positives.
ShoebillJoe@reddit
Oh yeah that bit sucks. It has conditioned me to slam the accelerator every time it slows down lol. But it's nice when it's working.
fmccloud@reddit
Adaptive cruise is the best feature they’ve put on trucks.
TrollSlap619@reddit
Fuck yea, when you reach down because you dropped your burger the ACC will reduce the speed when a soccer mom on her phone cuts in front of you unexpectedly,! I’m all for it I like the lane assist also it leaves me time to piss in my Gatorade bottle
Chemical-Scholar-486@reddit
I'm crying 😂
TruckinTuba@reddit
Hell yeah
Foxlen@reddit
The only tech I want is power steer and A/C
I'm indifferent to transmission being automatic or manual.. as long as it isn't some stupid 6 speed
redditor012499@reddit (OP)
lol they make 6 speed trucks?
Foxlen@reddit
Yes, I hate them
2016 western star 4700 2025 freightliner 114
Are trucks I've driven with 6 speeds
JakeJascob@reddit
Cheap unreliable bs
devilinblue22@reddit
I mean, I could have used it this week in the northeast. Fucking mirrors and windows have a permanent layer of filth that I'm constantly fighting.
Does the camera have a spray button like some modern off road vehicless?
redditor012499@reddit (OP)
No spray button
Thick-Pipe3908@reddit
Can’t bitch about a blind spot anymore
xLost_Illusionsx@reddit
I personally hate it. These systems are too sensitive. Literally just today got put on a safety hold til next Tuesday for supposedly braking too hard in a 25' International LT
Dangerous_Ad4451@reddit
Have you noticed that they are working on camera for everything except camera for backing assist? Won't it be nice to have a camera at the back of every trailer to avoid unnecessary collision? I guess that's not as important as watching a driver pick his nose.
krice9230@reddit
I think it’s neat and can be helpful tool. I however don’t believe it should replace physical mirrors. If used together like this then more power to you and why not utilize it.
thewolfesp@reddit
You're not allowed to look at your phone screen! (Proceeds to fill the truck with tablet screens)
redditor012499@reddit (OP)
Yeah haha
ExplanationThen747@reddit
I thought the screens were supposed to take care of the mirrors???
redditor012499@reddit (OP)
My guess is they’ll come off in the future. This is the first truck in my company with this camera setup
Present-Ambition6309@reddit
Is it easier to back though?
redditor012499@reddit (OP)
You can move the camera around so I guess it could help that way. I’m just so used to mirrors
A_Dash_of_Time@reddit
I assumed the side cams were just more insurance crap. If the lens stays clean in snow, and the system has some kind of night vision, it'd be pretty handy for all y'all reefer drivers and your 1:30am deliveries at them shitty warehouses.
redditor012499@reddit (OP)
Yes you can change brightness and has a nightmode
MasterZorgus@reddit
The polarization with LED police and fire lights cancels out and you won't see them on your monitor. It's got a little ways to go yet.
EVOChi@reddit
All this tech and we can’t get a camera system on trailers that hooks up to a system via the coiled trailer cable.
redditor012499@reddit (OP)
Yeah that would help out a lot specially when blindside parking
TheElitist921@reddit
Can it scan farther out if i need to blindside? If so fuck yeah, that'd be super helpful.
redditor012499@reddit (OP)
Yes you can move the camera around. Also has brightness settings and a night mode
Little5Green0Bean9@reddit
The real mirrors have a better field of view.
smiley82m@reddit
To those who don't use their mirrors already; this won't help either. It's a good tool, especially the night vision, but it won't make a bad driver good.
BlindRPD129@reddit
I do like the top door cam, definitely better than a real mirror and you're usually some place you can stop to wipe it off if it's covered in gunk I don't have a truck with them so gunk might not he an issue but something I wonder about Esspecially in the winter with the road spray, on the trucks that just have digital mirrors
Jagdtiger_44@reddit
I drive a truck with them. They don’t get covered in gunk easily. Just went through the last set of winter storms with them. They did great. Kept a perfectly clear view the whole time. I was impressed.
goldenm1nd@reddit
It’s only a distraction.
probablyonshrooms@reddit
Oh fuck yeah, gimmie that shit. I love gizmos
ProperKing901@reddit
🧸 : driver told me last night about these lights you can stick right under the camera. It reflects off the windshield and blinds the camera. Anybody heard of that?
chuckinalicious543@reddit
The way I see it, a pointed camera will always perform better than a mirror, so long as the system is operational. Technically, the cab could be completely closed off, given there are enough cams and screens.
Fair_Ad5264@reddit
Nice
Alternative-Jury-981@reddit
Today the entire dashboard went black on my peterbuilt… thank god I don’t have digital mirrors too lmao
Deep-Sample4460@reddit
Just another thing to break and send you to the shop . If you’re lucky it’ll break when at a terminal or truck stop. If not then it be one heck of a tow bill for a mirror
FreeAndRedeemed@reddit
I haven’t driven a truck with cameras instead of mirrors. I know the biggest driver of that tech is fuel economy, as mirrors add drag. I can’t stomach the idea of having no mirrors at all, because if the camera fails, then you’re screwed.
RepresentativeAd560@reddit
And the cameras will fail. If a mirror is busted in some fashion I can, assuming I have a spare, swap it out. When the camera fails I'm 100% off the road.
FreeAndRedeemed@reddit
And good lucking finding someone with the camera in stock, which means another item that can sideline a truck at the dealer for a week.
RepresentativeAd560@reddit
Yep. Just one more half-baked innovation.
Feral-Bullfrog@reddit
Just more tech to fail ain't it? More down time for maintenance and updates I fear.
ramanw150@reddit
Not a fan
Salt_Bus2528@reddit
It's just a baby monitor made to look manly with sharp edges.
Nothing new.
YourLocalTechPriest@reddit
It’s a good idea. I’ve seen at least three accidents in my almost three years involving mirrors. Back roads with trucks going in opposite directions being the usual setting.
Not automated stuff that can control the truck, not so bueno in my opinion but except for auto cruise control and that’s mostly because some people will not get off the pedal and use their own cruise control.
prospect151@reddit
My company has camera on the sides of some vehicles. In fog and low light I can see better with those than with the mirrors. Other than that it seems stupid.
redditor012499@reddit (OP)
Yeah it helps with fog for sure
LowtaxORnotax@reddit
I just use my drone to back
JesseLivermore86@reddit
It's dumb! Another piece of tech that will break where the truck becomes inoperable. The cherry on top is another overly inflated expense.
TonytheTrucker@reddit
I turn mine off. I’ll be damned if I have 3 flat screens distracting me while I’m driving
hooligan-6318@reddit
Seems like that'd be wildly distracting.
pianodude01@reddit
I'm fine with cameras, but I'd like mirrors on the truck too.
I prefer mirrors, but I pull heavy haul so having the ability to position a camera at an odd angle while I'm backing up an oversize load would be cool.
Also cuz my mirrors are incredibly magnified so I can see further back, having something for up close would be helpful too
avm95@reddit
A distraction
MadMysticMeister@reddit
I’ve only driven with camera and mirror combos, and honestly I don’t think i would ever want to drive without cameras.. they’re way too nice, don’t have to worry about blind spots, they let you see more, and aren’t a problem when it rains or snows. Still love my mirrors though when it comes to backing, but even then I’m still glancing at cameras and adjusting them to see more of what’s happening.
livinglavidaloca82@reddit
I have diplopia and photophobia. Can fuck right off with the computer screens
liswat@reddit
I dislike them very much! Our company uses them in conjunction with these small standard mirrors. DFW at night with all the hot white headlights.....
WokeLib420@reddit
I don't mind them. It's not like they took away your old mirrors.
reika1397@reddit
Bro I can’t believe they’re actually trying to roll that out.
I drove around a van awhile back as a pilot program bc they wanted driver opinions and all I could think of was one more thing to break that would take far too long to get parts to repair. On top of general unreliability on cameras in general.
Ok_Internet_5058@reddit
It’s a good thing they’re not made out of the cheapest parts possible, with their main purpose to make money for the corporation that produces them, which means they undoubtably be broken within a short while.
SawyerJWRBLX@reddit
I know, I'm so grateful for the grace and ingenuity of these truck manufacturers. They really know how to build a strong truck free of extra nonsense like one-piece disposable computer dashboards! I really love how they decided to keep analog gauges and the square body design!
/s
Ye_Yuan@reddit
I’ll take mirrors everyday of the week unless I go back to WM ( still mainly used my mirrors, not the backup camera). Can we get all this “safety” tech out of trucking please? I about died this week bc truck camera thought I was gonna crash into a person in the left lane.
L0quence@reddit
I agree. Drivers need to come together and tell these corporations and make them understand, I am the fckn driver, I will decide what to do in an emergency, the truck deciding for me is a major hazard and if I decide wrong when I have full control of my truck, I will take the consequences without arguing it. That shit is fine in passenger vehicles as they are light and can maneuver far easier. When I’m loaded with 16,000L of fuel, or the trailer guys have 40,000-60,000L of fuel, you can take that shit out or I ain’t driving it.
taco-force@reddit
I have a really hard time actually perceiving these screens quickly rather than just using mirrors. It's really not a problem that needs to be fixed.
For garbage trucks though I bet these are great for all the tight spots they've got to get out of.
homucifer666@reddit
My guess is that it'll be nice when it works, and sucks when it doesn't. Lots of new failure points that low tech stuff like traditional mirrors don't have.
MCryptoWars@reddit
In a reality, it doesn’t look too bad. But I like my mirrors more. Little by little, Big Tech is implementing their devices into the trucking industry. Soon, they will take over. Remember, no one is above the law, only Big Tech is above the law.
guestquest88@reddit
I drove one in the EU winter. No thanks.
Prestigious-Current7@reddit
I can’t stand anything like it. It’s all built like garbage and when it fails it’ll cost a fortune to fix. Same with DEF and other emissions shit. Give me a b model cat or an N14 Cummins any day over this new nonsense.
austinproffitt23@reddit
Kind of redundant with both the camera and mirror. But think they do that for legality reasons.
tommior@reddit
why on earth u have both? main benefit of cameras is that u have less air drag = better fuel economy. but mirrors being there it defeats it
NoMasterpiece2063@reddit
Hate it
mrockracing@reddit
I don't mind the cameras being there. It's the view screens that drive me nuts. Have them viewable on the dash or something.
Also, don't replace real mirrors. Rea mirrors have uses that cameras can't do. I can't blindside back with those properly. I can't move my body physically to get a better view of something in the mirror, and I'd probably have to adjust them, which by then, you could already be in an accident.
I also don't like that there are so many people acting like it's just matter of tech moving on... I don't care if the truck runs on spiritual ether, and sounds like rainbows and unicorns. If that's the times I don't care. But these things are a safety concern, and I don't get what people don't get.
Outlandah_@reddit
In the shown example of this post it’s pretty much the epitome of stupid, because you still have the physical mirrors on the truck. Therefore it’s a distraction. If it ain’t broke don’t try fixing it.
scottiethegoonie@reddit
I'll take one of those screen mirrors over the giant Volvo mirrors any day.
Responsible_CDN_Duck@reddit
From your picture it takes up less than the current mirror, and much of what it does take up is the pillar Wich is a seperate item blocking the view with the older mirror.
Firedog_09@reddit
When it works it's good!
Wildcatb@reddit
We hatses it.
lone_jackyl@reddit
I've heard they do great in inclimatw weather like fog and rain
Mirindemgainz@reddit
That’s dumb lol