Trucker 883 Dcow Mad

Dash Cam of the Week: Keep calm and truck on

Sept. 30, 2016
We all have bad days. The problem is, in this age ubiquitous video recording devices, the chances are very good that your bad day will be captured, posted, and spotted by the staff of the Dash Cam of the Week. And, in the case of this YouTube clip, the truck driver’s company saw it as well—and it wasn’t his best moment on the road.

We all have bad days. The problem is, in this age ubiquitous video recording devices, the chances are very good that your bad day will be captured, posted, and spotted by the staff of the Dash Cam of the Week. And, in the case of this YouTube clip, the truck driver’s company saw it as well—and it wasn’t his best moment on the road.

Of course, we are not here to judge, and we don’t know all of the circumstances. But we do know, regardless, it’s never a good idea for a professional driver to let his anger get the better of him. No one benefits in this situation—except maybe lawyers if the angry party doesn’t know not to lay a finger on the other guy. This driver had that going for him, at least. Otherwise, we get the impression that he just doesn’t care. (Not suitable for work advisory: Those who don’t appreciate a stream of fundamental American invective (and even a little casual British profanity) might want to mute the audio—the video gets the point across.)

Perhaps more interesting than an angry truck driver are the comments about the incident. While there are plenty that follow the YouTube post, the somewhat more civil and informed discussion thread on Reddit takes several interesting twists and turns, ranging from whether the truck driver got out of the cab with the tractor still in gear, to a debate over safety technology like radar-controlled braking—and then a long discussion on speed limiters and elephant races (but don’t get us started, again, on that.)

Count to 10, driver, and move on. Or consult a professional (or at least professional resources: Here's a link to the American Psychological Assn.'s brochure, "Controlling anger before it controls you").

About the Author

Kevin Jones | Editor

Kevin has served as editor-in-chief of Trailer/Body Builders magazine since 2017—just the third editor in the magazine’s 60 years. He is also editorial director for Endeavor Business Media’s Commercial Vehicle group, which includes FleetOwner, Bulk Transporter, Refrigerated Transporter, American Trucker, and Fleet Maintenance magazines and websites.

Working from Beaufort, S.C., Kevin has covered trucking and manufacturing for nearly 20 years. His writing and commentary about the trucking industry and, previously, business and government, has been recognized with numerous state, regional, and national journalism awards.

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of FleetOwner, create an account today!

Sponsored Recommendations

Is your fleet ready for California's Clean Truck Check program? Our guide helps you navigate CARB compliance, avoid costly fines, and keep your trucks rolling. Learn how telematics...
Boost truck leasing profits with telematics insights! Reduce maintenance costs, improve uptime, and strengthen customer relationships. Learn how data drives success.
This free guide outlines simple steps for hiring and onboarding commercial drivers while ensuring that you meet Regulation Part 391 and maintain fully compliant driver qualification...
Ready to boost fleet efficiency by up to 50%? Learn how AI-powered dispatch and next-gen tech are transforming TMS workflows, improving driver planning, and streamlining operations...