My secret weapon for tricky docks.

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TallInterview7942@reddit

I could hit that dock without a drone.

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ObligationParty2717@reddit

Weird, that guy spreads a bunch of bullshit about drones and then blocks me

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There was another post about drones on truckers and he didn’t know what he was talking about. For instance the mini2 doesn’t need to be registered for one thing. Drones are limited to 18 mph and illegal to fly in windy conditions, wrong again. So now I’m supposedly spreading hatred because I called him on his bullshit and then he blocked me. A lot of people on Reddit are confidently incorrect I notice

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Bldaz@reddit

In Life I noticed !

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ObligationParty2717@reddit

Well that’s true too, but I know quite a bit about trucking and drones and I don’t want people spreading bullshit about either one. I’m not an expert on DroneTrucking yet but I will be!

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Bldaz@reddit

I think it’s a great idea I want a camera set up but that’s me

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ObligationParty2717@reddit

Well it’s all fun and interesting stuff but I don’t think it would help me personally because my experience has been that you have to make your cut at exactly the right time and I don’t think a drone would give me the correct perspective

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Activision19@reddit

Drones flown for commercial purposes do need to be registered regardless of weight and flown under part 107 rules.

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ObligationParty2717@reddit

That’s true but the vast majority of people are never going to be commercial drone pilots. The average trucker has nothing to worry about flying minis, plus it’s a great way to kill time while you’re waiting on whatever

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Activision19@reddit

I agree with you, they are great to have and a good way to kill time, I own one myself for fun (I also have my part 107). But OP using one to spot his truck is a commercial purpose. The FAA says that if you use your drone as part of any activity where you receive compensation, you have to have your Part 107 and abide by part 107 rules. Part of those rules say you have to register the drone even if it’s under 250g. So even if OP flies a mini to spot his truck he technically needs to register it.

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ObligationParty2717@reddit

That’s entirely possible but I personally don’t think using a drone is going to help you back in anywhere

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Activision19@reddit

I have a “360” camera on my F150. I figured it would be a kinda neat gimmick at best when I bought it. The thing is a total game changer in terms of parking in tight spaces, makes it absurdly easy to do. A drone would 100% be useful for a driver backing a truck and trailer up. OP has a great idea, they just need to work on their execution of it a bit.

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ObligationParty2717@reddit

Not so sure about that because you need to use your mirrors to make the cut. Sure it’s something to mess around with. I’ve actually shot a bunch of drone videos at work of loading and unloading excavators and operators digging so work appreciates it because it showcases the company and they don’t care if I fly when it’s slow. So that’s a good example of weaseling a drone in

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ObligationParty2717@reddit

What kind of drone do you have?

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Activision19@reddit

An original Mavic mini

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ObligationParty2717@reddit

The most I ever got out of it was 800 m and then it fucked off, the newer minis have a better operating system

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ObligationParty2717@reddit

They had a habit of disconnecting and then dropping the gps so it couldn’t Return to Home

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Activision19@reddit

I flew mine about that far out once but I was on a hill and had clear unobstructed line of sight to it. But if I fly in my suburban neighborhood I can’t get more than about 200-300 yds away before it starts to have connection issues due to interference.

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ObligationParty2717@reddit

Ya they have poor connectivity because of the wi fi. If it drops the gps it will be gone. The mini2 and the mini3 have ocusync. It’s a much better system

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Activision19@reddit

Im trying to decide if I want to get a mini 3 pro or an air 3.

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ObligationParty2717@reddit

Well if you have $1400CAD burning a hole in your pocket I would get the mini3 pro. I got one a couple months ago and it’s a sweetheart. The attraction was the camera and the fact that it doesn’t need to be licensed. The mavic air 3 is going to be way over 250 grams, plus I don’t think I’ll ever buy into the first run again like I did with the original mini. All of DJI’s drones have bugs in them at the beginning and people find out by losing their drones. I have an air 2 S also that’s way more powerful than the minis and the camera is really good but I think it comes in around 600 grams. The mini3 pro would be my choice, but be aware that the straight mini3 is an entirely different drone without quite a few features that the mini3 pro has that’s why it’s a lot cheaper. Oh ya, another thing with the mini3 pro is that if you buy the flymore kit it comes with 2 extra 47 minute batteries. You don’t actually get 47 minutes out of them though but it’s a big jump just the same

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ObligationParty2717@reddit

Ya I had a flyaway with mine it was a common problem

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Cute-Roll2849@reddit

You could just learn to back up.

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WontSwerve@reddit

I can't wait until the day I'm at a busy warehouse and the lot stops because somebody is gonna spend twice as much time fucking around with a drone instead of getting out to look or just learning how to fucking backup.

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functional_moron@reddit (OP)

Busy warehouses aren't places where this would be needed. Now tiny food distributor down a narrow gravel road in the woods with wierd obstacles? Drone comes in handy. Not everyone runs linehaul, bro.

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WontSwerve@reddit

I do LTL peddle work on a mostly rural route, 10-20 stops a day. 53 footers only. Hospitals, dorm buildings at universities, municipal offices, alleyways, malls, residential, construction sites.... everything. You should be able to learn how to back up in 6 months tops. You know what else you could do instead of flying a drone down a path? Walk it.

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kaliyuga88@reddit

Calm down, tough guy

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Hypnowolfproductions@reddit

Google earth before I arrive. I can during a back hookup my phone to the back of my trailer when I get out to look and then look via my second phone on video chat. It’s better than droning. And in windy weather a drone is illegal to fly. Also you need permission of places to fly. It’s not always legal to fly a drone. But always legal to hang your phone on video chat in a waterproof hanging bag to look behind you.

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WontSwerve@reddit

So let me get this straight, you're going to get out of your truck not to go and look but to hang a camera in a bag to help you? This isn't the right career for you.

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Hypnowolfproductions@reddit

I get out and look all the time. In very tight docks maybe 1 in 100 I’ll hang the phone to insure it’s not hitting the trailer next to me. I’ve at times gotten out 5+ times even using the camera. I’m more making fun of the guy using the drone. Can’t use it in winds over 12 mph with most drones. The drone is mostly worthless in my opinion. The camera setup I use is worst case docks. Get out and verify myself is always number 1 option.

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functional_moron@reddit (OP)

The drone will hold position in winds up to 30mph. If you had your windows down I could fly it through your truck without hitting you.

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Hypnowolfproductions@reddit

Another question. Is your drone registered? If not then you need register it immediately. https://www.faa.gov/uas/getting_started/register_drone

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ObligationParty2717@reddit

Almost none of what you say is true about drones. For starters the mini2 doesn’t need to be registered because it’s under 250g

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Hypnowolfproductions@reddit

I gave him links to the FAA so he can insure of his legality. And I gave correct info. If it’s under 250 that’s fine. But the FAA giving the fines is public record. Reason was proof of date of crimes. Other YouTubers doing similar but posting later haven’t been fined. Lawyers have said it’s because it was live and therefore proof of date of crime. And flying a drone over private property whether a home or business is restricted without permission. So not false either. So what’s falsehood are you accusing me of? I gave links for education you give hatred.

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Hypnowolfproductions@reddit

Okay how fast does your drone fly. Most are limited to 18 mph and you can only fly it in winds of 2/3 max speed. So your drone goes 45 mph? That’s a high speed drone. Very few exceed 25 for the price you quoted. Please tell me drone type. FAA says that at 17 mph they are grounded. According to the FAA, drones should not be flown in winds exceeding 17 mph. This regulation applies to all drones, regardless of size or weight https://ts2.space/en/what-is-the-expected-maximum-wind-speed-for-a-safe-drone-flight/#:~:text=According%20to%20the%20FAA%2C%20drones,regardless%20of%20size%20or%20weight.

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functional_moron@reddit (OP)

Dji mini 2. Max speed is listed at 36mph but I've never gotten quite that fast.

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Hypnowolfproductions@reddit

Still FAA says max wind 17 mph. And advertised speed isn’t actual speed. 2/3 is max recommended to wind speed. But half wind speed prevents trouble. 30 mph wind got a YouTuber big fines. He did live broadcasts in windy conditions. So be careful where and how you fly the drone. According to DroneXL news, in early November 2020, Philadelphia drone pilot Mikey received 123 infractions from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Each letter he received fined him $1,500 for various violations. The total amount in civil penalties adds up to $182,004.

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functional_moron@reddit (OP)

Well that's good to know. Thankfully the dji app shows no fly zones and will block takeoff or restrict maximum altitude based on faa regulations. I should probably familiarize myself with the laws to avoid any issues. Thanks for the Info.

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Hypnowolfproductions@reddit

One more thing. Never do a drone live stream. That’s how that guy got in trouble. Live streams verify date of crime. So never give flight date either. Be ambiguous when posting it all. It’s what that big fine I read about taught me. Don’t live stream while driving either.

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Hypnowolfproductions@reddit

Not trying to be a butt. But don’t want you in trouble at all. Though the guy following a lot lizard at the Flying J in Dallas was funny. Just ask before flying the drone if it’s okay. Most won’t object. But better to ask first. And please register it. That’s an easy thing to do. Have fun. I use mine to inspect the roof of my house after each hailstorm.

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MichelAflaqStepOnMe@reddit

Honestly, this ^

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Th3_Gh0st_0f_Y0u@reddit

Just a heads up, doing this violates multiple FAA regulations. You're not in line of sight of the drone, you're not paying attention to the area around it, and if you're doing both of those I assume you don't have your part 107, which would be required because you're using it for a non recreational purpose. I don't know if you knew these things and just don't care or if you just didn't know. Chances are you'd never get caught, but if by chance a manned aircraft were to collide with your drone or something along those lines, the fines and jail time might not be worth the convenience. I read awhile back it was up to 20 years in jail, I might be remembering wrong though. Point is, do some research. I had this idea too but decided against it after I did some research.

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Activision19@reddit

Don’t know why you are being downvoted, you are entirely correct. OP is using the drone for commercial purposes and assuming they are in the US they need a Part 107 certificate to legally fly for spotting his truck. He also needs to be within line of sight (or have a spotter keep it in line of sight) and be in control of it at all times. Setting the controller down while they back in their truck violates both the LOS and maintaining control rules.

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Th3_Gh0st_0f_Y0u@reddit

I'm being downvoted because people are children who think they can do whatever they want and don't want to be told what to do. They think I'm just a goody two shoes for giving honest advice. If OP genuinely didn't know they were breaking rules, they might be thankful for the heads up. At the end of the day I don't give a shit what you people do with your lives, as long as it doesn't affect me.

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wildcard1050@reddit

Nice. You can have it scope out lot lizards before you even get to the truck stop. Save so much time looking for one.

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NinjaFocus222@reddit

If it has teeth you already know it's a cop before approaching!

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Cubsfan11022016@reddit

Most valuable piece of advice I ever got, if she looks good, she’s either a dude or a cop.

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tenshii326@reddit

💀

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DuncanDicknuts@reddit

Does it have a stationary mode? So you set it where you want then can hands free it, then back in?

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ObligationParty2717@reddit

Ya they’ll just hover wherever you leave them

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TamponTom@reddit

Yeah the DJI series do this. I think most drones do this. Nothing like those garbage dual blade mall helicopters we got as kids. I was FAA certified to fly them for commercial purposes and flew the DJI mavic pro 2. Honestly this is a pretty good idea. Top down and you would only be 50-100 feet AGL so you would avoid any potential red tape

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ObligationParty2717@reddit

Isn’t there any commercial work for drone pilots in the states? With the DJI minis you don’t need a license to fly them because they’re under 250g so there essentially is no red tape as long as you’re not doing stupid shit like flying around airports. To give you some idea how far drones have come in the last 5 years, the battery on the mavic 2 pro weighs more than the entire DJI mini and overall the later series minis are a better drone than the mavic 2 pro. What put the mavic 2 pro so far above the rest was the hasselblad camera

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apt64@reddit

You must have a Part 107 license in order to be compensated for drone photography and imagery in the United States.

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ObligationParty2717@reddit

Holy Toledo!

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TamponTom@reddit

Yeah i forgot all about the minis

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ObligationParty2717@reddit

There’s some commercial work in Oilberta, like pipeline inspection and shit like that but you pretty much have to know someone to get on

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TamponTom@reddit

That makes sense. I know there is one dude who is crazy successful because he has a sports drone and works for movies. I’ve seen pictures of like 2 meter diameter drones that’s have 6 props I’d imagine those are for like industrial inspections. I can’t imagine the certification process for those. I had to learn about NOTAMS and pilot weather reports just to get cert for Small Unmaned Ariel’s Systems

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ObligationParty2717@reddit

Ya it’s weird how they do it, in Canada they treat them exactly like airplanes and they make the licensing as difficult as possible. There’s a recreational license, which is difficult and then there’s a commercial license, which is nearly impossible to get unless you’re already a pilot. It’s just stupid. They have questions about hypoxia and shit like that and ignore the fact that the drone pilot is actually on the ground. I’m not sure exactly what type of drones they use for pipeline inspection but it wouldn’t have to be anything special. It’s interesting stuff though and would make a good retirement job for when I’m too fossilized to drive anymore

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Good_Sailor_7137@reddit

Hey, Virtual Reality can really take you breathe away. lol

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ObligationParty2717@reddit

Ya VR sounds interesting but I like getting outside and flying around, they’re almost as good as an ultralight plus if you crash you just go get a beer. I used to rent airplanes just to go up and fly around but it’s expensive and modern drones are way more advanced than people think

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Alarmed-Positive457@reddit

They can automatically hover and some drones have cameras that can track targets.

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YooAre@reddit

For most normal off the shelf drones (not the ones with the goggles called fpv) the default is to hover. If the camera is pointing at something and you stop proving inputs it will just hang there with the camera in place. Many have settings or modes that will have it follow you or a vehicle.

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Zanurath@reddit

Not sure if his does but the fancier ones definitely have a hover mode.

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DuncanDicknuts@reddit

I can’t wait for some engineer to design an AI drone that is just a parking assist and possibly able to scout ahead

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A10110101Z@reddit

Just get a dji drone it does all of that and it will track your truck for OTR shots in scenic locations

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Christon_hagiaste@reddit

This is using the DJI app. In other words, this one does hover.

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stewarta003@reddit

Get out and look....I can't with u fucking people

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functional_moron@reddit (OP)

You're going to hate my next post.

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Comfortable_Gain1308@reddit

Dude is living 20 yrs ahead of its time 🤣🤣 ! Nice solution to a common issue in your line of work .

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ImpressionAsleep8502@reddit

That dock was hard? Or is this an example?

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Bldaz@reddit

Hell yeah

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Chad_Tachanka@reddit

This is the smartest thing I've ever seen

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PalpitationLong4353@reddit

That's cool, and tempting to get one, but I'd be worried about shippers/receivers not being ok with it

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NeoAcario@reddit

Not trying to be a dick... but that's a pretty easy back. It's a sight-side 45-60. Only tricky part is that you don't have much room in front. So You'll have to wiggle a bit to make yourself perfect if you miss by too much.

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Shadow_1986@reddit

Brilliant!!

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Browncoatinabox@reddit

Why did I never think of that when I was driving

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Nasty_Rex@reddit

I can't believe I've never thought of this. It's fucking obvious when you think about it. I've often thought about how awesome it would be to have a top-down view like a videogame when backing into tight spaces.

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ObligationParty2717@reddit

That’s interesting, what kind of drone is it? For $500 I would guess it’s something like a DJI mini

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KielbasaPosse@reddit

You can get them even cheaper now. I remember buying the full setup and extra batteries 2 years ago for like 200 or 250 total

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ObligationParty2717@reddit

Yes that’s true but DJI rules the roost and they start around $500. It’s worth the money, nothing else even comes close although there’s literally 100’s of drone manufacturers

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KielbasaPosse@reddit

Really the DJI minis are that much now? I remember paying way less.

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ObligationParty2717@reddit

It depends on which mini you’re talking about. The original mini 1 is less than $500, the mini 2 is around $500 used and the mini 3 pro is $1400

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KielbasaPosse@reddit

Yep the original mini. That's why I was confused lol. It does what I need it to do and I've gotten good at getting it between small places.

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ObligationParty2717@reddit

I didn’t have too much luck with the original mini1 I only ever got 800m out of it then had a flyaway, it was a common problem with the early ones, the mini2 and the mini3 are much better because they use a different operating system. Drones are actually a good hobby for drivers if you’re out on the road

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KielbasaPosse@reddit

I've gotten mine pretty far out as well don't remember the distance but I know I wanted to keep going further. I might look into something a little newer now.

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ObligationParty2717@reddit

800 m is nothing compared to what the mini2 and mini3 will do. I’ve had my mini2 out to 4 km and back. The mini1 just uses regular wi fi but the mini2 and mini3 use ocusync and it’s a much better operating system

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ObligationParty2717@reddit

If you liked your mini 1 you’ll really like something a little newer

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ObligationParty2717@reddit

I’m in Alberta if that makes any difference

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ObligationParty2717@reddit

Looking at the flight screen I’m pretty sure it’s DJI

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functional_moron@reddit (OP)

I use the dji mini 2.

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ObligationParty2717@reddit

Those are a pretty decent drone, I have one actually. They’re probably the best bang for your buck drone wise. I have a couple other ones with better cameras but for the price and performance you can’t really beat the mini2

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RichAbbreviations965@reddit

You could’ve just used google maps

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Stratix314@reddit

Is that a fucking moogle?

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Drinkie_Zilla@reddit

Looks like a simple dock?

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KielbasaPosse@reddit

I'm 32 and I notice my depth perception is going slowly. This here is big brain moves. I keep a drone with me in my truck because I see some cool places, but this here is going into my bag of tools.

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keytiri@reddit

My go to is struggle until either the yard dog offers or the person next to my duck leaves or they give me an easier door.

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Alarmed-Positive457@reddit

Smarter not harder in the modern age.

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Parasite76@reddit

My company cashed up for backup cams on all our trailers. I would find it frustrating to drive a truck without one now.

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mstomm@reddit

My company did the same, but cheaped out. I've seen 1 work well, about 5 barely work with a horrible image, and the rest give a black screen.

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this_underscore@reddit

Imagine if trailers had cameras

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cavehill_kkotmvitm@reddit

Homie uses 3rd person to back irl, can't tell if I should laugh or clap

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rugerscout308@reddit

That's fucking brilliant what

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Snoo-6053@reddit

I use Google Earth

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EasyAF@reddit

D.U.A.L. Drone up and look.

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toastyhoodie@reddit

I mean. Google Satellite View is a thing, albeit not with current conditions

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dsdvbguutres@reddit

Sat view is great but does it show my truck in real time?

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TamponTom@reddit

Not when I buy your info off the dark web it doesn’t

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dsdvbguutres@reddit

Lol you don't need to pay any money bro, you can have my 450 credit score if you just ask.

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TamponTom@reddit

Pshhh I’m not paying my credit cards anymore. I’ll wave as I pass by

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j_martell@reddit

I use sat view to scope spots out ahead of time almost daily. Any time we’re moving bins/packers (roll off) for another waste management company I’ll check the spot out on sat view for probable locations and best access. Or the res calls we do. With street view I can eyeball ahead of time to see what way I likely need to come at the address and off I’ll even physically fit….

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functional_moron@reddit (OP)

Sat view is great but having a birds eye view of your truck and the obstacles around you while backing is a lot more help.

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toastyhoodie@reddit

I can see where it has its benefits

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Mental_Chef1617@reddit

That works if you have the room. But there are many docks where you won't have that opportunity.

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TamponTom@reddit

? The drone is like a foot wide. It needs like 5’ square to launch/land preferably an 1’square to launch/land necessarily

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Mental_Chef1617@reddit

Underground deliveries, buildings with just enough height to get a trailer in, obstacles that block the view. These are just a few examples. And then there are places where flying a drone can come with serious consequences up to and including jail time.

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Ok_Pineapple_9571@reddit

Yeah you don't want to use these at the Port outside a Naval Base.

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Mental_Chef1617@reddit

Target practice

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Ok_Pineapple_9571@reddit

First drone never taken out by a rail gun.

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Mental_Chef1617@reddit

Nah. Cruise missile

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TamponTom@reddit

Okay you got me

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Street-Airport-4327@reddit

Controlling two machines at once is really impressive

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AlDenteApostate@reddit

That's pretty cool, Jason.

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Traditional_Ad_1360@reddit

I always would walk and check it out, could that exercise. But if you must…..

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BannedCuzCovid@reddit

It's for use while backing in. It's a live feed video of what you're doing.

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dsdvbguutres@reddit

I have often thought of this. You could send your little eye in the sky to scout ahead real quick just to see what's behind that curve or if that one lane road is going to lead somewhere or if you gonna have to back up. If it saves you from a sticky situation just once, then it will have earned its price tag. I consider this a safety aid. Good on you.

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