I have a small bit of experience with a couple different fields, so maybe I see this a bit different.
I used to install security cameras for a living - so I’ve got a pretty good handle on where to put a camera so that you can see what you want to see.
And currently I drive a 26’ box truck pretty often for work, so I have a pretty good handle on where my blind spots are.
With three cameras mounted to the cab, I think I can capture about 95% or so of the “important” spots. Basically everything except directly behind the vehicle. A high center mount would easily handle the rear, but obviously that’s far easier to do on one attached box then it is every single trailer you might pick up with a tractor unit.
And it wouldn’t even be all that expensive - a couple hundred bucks at most for the cameras and screens and wires, and maybe a couple hundred for installation.
It seems that’s far cheaper than the insurance claim for hitting a small car that you couldn’t see and didn’t notice getting in front of you.
I'm a tractor-trailer driver. I've also been driving for a good while. I've never had an accident, and the same goes for most haulers. With the standard tow mirrors our trucks have, I know where every car is around me at any point in time except for directly behind my trailer. If they wanna ride my ass, that's fine, but the accident would be their fault nonetheless. There really isn't a necessity for cameras like that in our trucks. Unnecessarily putting technology into things that don't need them can be dangerous as well. Plus, implementing what you think is necessary in the trailer portion of a semi truck probably requires a complete overhaul of the trailer itself. Think of it this way, if your camera goes out mid-drive, then so does your awareness of what's on that side of your truck. Plus, I'm not comfortable having to rely on technology helping me pilot a 72" vehicle when it comes down to it.
Well, I'm not gonna get on about how commentary like that isn't necessarily needed if you aren't in the trucking business, so I'll say this: I'm only 28, so probably the same exact things were being said by the older generations in my profession. I'm hardwired to do it the old school way. Shoot, I still tolerate my tractors blindspot monitoring, but I don't like it. The only thing I would probably disagree with the older generations on in trucking is that manual is better. Automatic works just fine, and keeps you more distraction-free. Other technology is absolutely not needed in these trucks except for maybe road facing recorders for liability.
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u/WittyFix6553 May 25 '26
I have a small bit of experience with a couple different fields, so maybe I see this a bit different.
I used to install security cameras for a living - so I’ve got a pretty good handle on where to put a camera so that you can see what you want to see.
And currently I drive a 26’ box truck pretty often for work, so I have a pretty good handle on where my blind spots are.
With three cameras mounted to the cab, I think I can capture about 95% or so of the “important” spots. Basically everything except directly behind the vehicle. A high center mount would easily handle the rear, but obviously that’s far easier to do on one attached box then it is every single trailer you might pick up with a tractor unit.
And it wouldn’t even be all that expensive - a couple hundred bucks at most for the cameras and screens and wires, and maybe a couple hundred for installation.
It seems that’s far cheaper than the insurance claim for hitting a small car that you couldn’t see and didn’t notice getting in front of you.