Backup Cameras Enhance Safety

When you consider the hazardous conditions workers frequently have to contend with, creating a safe work environment for service personnel should be a priority for any fleet manager. 

One safety-related issue with service trucks is blind spots, which can be problematic for operators wanting clear, unobstructed views of what is happening behind them. This is why backup cameras are now becoming a popular addition to many service truck set-ups.

“The past several years we’ve seen an increase in the request for backup cameras on the vehicles we build. Over a third of our builds are being equipped with them,” says Tom Wibben, sales and service manager at Maintainer Corporation of Iowa Inc., which is based in Sheldon, Iowa.

Wibben indicates that larger fleets are now requiring these cameras on many of their vehicles. He says the addition of backup cameras is primarily due to safety concerns, but other benefits, like enhancing driver visibility while hooking-up to a trailer hitch, are also a plus.

“We’re also seeing customers request backup sensors as an added safety feature; and many of the chassis OEMs now have backup cameras available as an option when ordering a new chassis,” Wibben says.

Wibben explains that it typically costs $500 to $1,000 to install a backup camera, which he says have “greatly improved” when it comes to picture and range.  However, he notes there can be installation challenges on some vehicles, especially those equipped with rear-mounted cranes and other equipment that can limit camera positioning. Nonetheless, he expects the market for backup cameras will continue to grow.

Costs dropping as benefits rise

“The cost versus the added benefit has become less of an obstacle in recent years, especially with backup camera equipment coming down in price,” Wibben says.

The price of any add-on to a service truck is something fleet managers need to consider, but Al Kuhlman, an assistant product manager at Garner, Iowa-based Stellar Industries Inc., says one cannot overlook the correlation between price and quality.

“As with anything, there are additional costs and you get what you pay for. The cost of a camera can be prohibitive if the individual operator is experienced and doesn’t necessarily feel the need to have a backup camera system,” explains Kuhlman, who says a system can cost $1,000 or more. “However, we’re seeing backup cameras become standard in fleet packages. It’s like an added insurance policy for the fleet manager.”

Kuhlman also points out that adding a backup camera can be challenging due to space limitations at the rear of many service trucks. For maximum use and the best sightlines, he recommends cameras be placed as close to the center of the truck as possible, as well as close to the hitch. Though the ideal placement isn’t always possible thanks to how trucks are configured, there are some other things he thinks customers should also consider.

“I tell customers to look at aspects like camera clarity and monitor aspect ratio. If they are going to be driving in reverse a lot, then a higher quality system is best for them.  Also, a customer can choose between monitor mounts … they can go with a rearview mirror replacement, with the monitor integrated into it, or they can use a pedestal mount that would be attached to the dash,” Kuhlman explains.

Kuhlman estimates backup cameras are installed on about a quarter of the service trucks Stellar builds and says they are more of an “add-on item” at the time of the service body installation onto the chassis, as opposed to the chassis being delivered with a camera already installed. Regardless, he anticipates many more future installations.

More backup cameras anticipated

“I foresee growth in backup camera utilization. There is already legislation that mandates backup camera systems being factory installed in all chassis that weigh less than 10,000 pound, which is to be implemented by May of 2018,” Kuhlman says. “My feeling is this type of legislation will also migrate into larger trucks as we move into the future. Backup cameras are not a trend, but are going to be a standard product in the years to come.”

This is good news to companies like ASA Electronics LLC, an Elkhart, Ind.-based manufacturer of electronic entertainment and safety products, including the Voyager brand of rear and side camera safety systems.

“A good camera system should provide a crystal clear picture representation and performance in low-light conditions, like night-time viewing, as well as the ability to withstand differing weather conditions, like rain, snow, and dust, and have conformal coated circuit boards to protect internal circuitry,” says Joseph Camacho, the company’s commercial vehicle OEM sales manager.

Camacho notes many industries have been using backup and rear cameras for a years, but he expects use of this technology will increase because more emphasis is now being placed on safety.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration “is phasing in new safety regulations, so companies that were not already taking advantage of the technology will soon need to in order to comply,” Camacho says. 

Cost is always an important consideration for any service vehicle add-on, but Camacho says the cost of a backup camera is mostly dependent on the type of system and features desired. However, he says companies using the technology are realizing the value and return on investment the systems can provide.

“There aren’t many limitations when it comes to backup camera systems, as new technology is being introduced all the time,” Camacho says. “The challenge, which is more of an opportunity, is helping match customers to the type of technology that best fits their need.”

Cameras used in a variety of ways

Given the number of different industries currently using backup cameras, the marketplace is filled with companies working to develop systems for all types of environments. One of the leaders in the manufacture of high-end cameras is Orlaco Inc., whose North American headquarters is in Jasper, Ga. The company manufactures durable, industrial-grade cameras that are sold to 16 different markets in 74 countries worldwide. Orlaco is especially known for its compact, “eyeball” cameras, which have multiple uses on all types of vehicles.

“Many cameras can be used in a variety of ways on a truck, so we don’t talk about backup cameras only,” says Kurt Dekker, Orlaco’s chief business development officer, who says 75 percent of their work is developing custom products, mostly for OEMs. “How a camera is used depends on the application, because every truck and job site have different requirements.”

Orlaco also specializes in developing new products to meet the demands of an ever-changing marketplace. For example, the company introducing a “corner eye” camera that Dekker says will provide an “enormous improvement in safety” thanks to its 270-degree, 100 percent live camera view.

In fact, Dekker predicts technology will eventually make all vehicle mirrors obsolete, as panning cameras will offer drivers clear, real-time views of all angles in all types of conditions (day and night) via interior-mounted monitors. This scenario may be a few years away, but he believes you should be discerning when shopping for a backup camera system, as a connection between price and quality definitely exists. 

“You want something to work in all types of conditions and you don’t want delays in the picture, which is why all of our cameras are 100 percent live,” Dekker says. “Don’t just buy a camera for your truck. Buy a solution for your truck and make the right choice based on the angles used.”

Mark Yontz is a freelance writer from Urbandale, Iowa.