Fleet Management News & Business Info | Commercial Carrier Journal
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/716013
32 commercial carrier journal | august 2016 Another set of eyes While backup cameras help, they shouldn't replace mirrors BY JASON CANNON E lectronics have infiltrated practically every corner of the modern truck cab in an ongoing effort to make driving safer and easier. An often overlooked afterthought when it comes to driving – backing up the vehicle – has been thrust into the foreground, with plenty of techno-aids in tow. Rearview cameras were implemented as standard equipment on passenger cars beginning with the 2016 model year and have become more common. In 2014, the U.S. Department of Transportation mandated that automakers include backup cameras on 10 percent of ve- hicles built from May 1, 2016, to May 1, 2017. That jumps to 40 percent the following year and 100 percent effective May 1, 2018. Bigger backing While the DOT mandate only is applicable to vehicles less than 10,000 pounds, rearview camera systems also are finding favor with heavy trucks and fleets that operate within close proximity of sidewalks and driveways. "[Refuse and sanitation] vehicles are often driving on narrow roads and constantly around pedestrians," said Tyler Waugh, Rear View Safety Systems' content strategist manager. "Camera systems are also becoming more popular with box trucks and delivery trucks." Ford has taken the rearview camera concept a step further on its Super Duty trucks by including three high-resolution cameras on its Trailer Reverse Guidance platform, which helps drivers see more angles, monitors the area around the truck and even provides coaching while backing up a trailer. Trailer Reverse Guidance includes a dynamic steering wheel icon that indicates to the driver which direction to turn the wheel in order to back up a trailer in a straight line. No substitute for safe driving Rearview camera systems also are popular with food service, energy/bulk fuel hauling and moving and storage fleets, but they aren't necessarily designed to make backing up easier, said Amy Ahn-You, Rosco Vision Systems' marketing and web manager. "The backup camera and monitor view should be used as a reference and aid to the mirror information," Ahn-You said. "Neither the mirrors nor the cameras should be used exclusively without proper investigation of the vehicle surroundings." The goal is to make backing safer for children and passersby who find themselves in a truck's blind spot. The systems are not designed to replace time-tested means of checking for clearance. "Never back up while looking at the monitor alone," Waugh said. "You should always check behind and around the vehicle when backing up in the same way you would if your vehicle did not have a camera system. Backup cameras are meant to be a supplement aid to mirrors that exist on your vehicle." Installation, cost The camera typically is mounted at the top-center of the rear of the vehicle or trailer and angled to eliminate the driver's blind spot. A quick connect/disconnect system installation takes around three hours and costs about $300 per truck, Waugh said. The sys- tem is portable, allowing trucks and trailers to be wired separate- ly and easily connected/disconnected with a single cable to any 12-/24-volt power source. "This allows you to easily swap trucks and trailers while keeping your backup camera system," he said. Ahn-You said Rosco's wireless transmitter/receiver kit can be adapted to nearly any of its backup camera kits and allows for tractors to exchange trailers and see the proper camera image without adding more coil cords for hardwire connection. While installation can range from $500 for trailers to $350 for straight trucks, any upfront cost is offset quickly, Ahn-You said. "Whether the system helps prevent truck damage and property damage or elude the catastrophic backup accident, the payback is swift and effective," she said. in focus: REARVIEW CAMERA SYSTEMS Rear View Safety Systems' Backup Camera System is available with the company's Trailer Tow Quick Connect Kit. Ford's Transit commercial van is available with a rearview camera system, and the company also has taken the concept a step further on its Super Duty trucks.