Tyson Foods is testing a new technology to improve safety for its truck drivers.
The Stoneridge MirrorEye Camera Monitor System (CMS) replaces traditional rear and side-view mirrors with integrated exterior mounted cameras and interior mounted monitors to help give drivers a more complete view of the road and the truck’s surroundings, including common blind spots.
Tyson, which operates one of the nation’s largest refrigerated trucking fleets, says the health and safety of team members is a top priority, and this project is part of its $500 million investment in technology and automation over the past three years.
It worked with Stoneridge, which manufactures electronic vehicle systems, to develop and install the MirrorEye CMS on 55 company trucks. Stoneridge’s evaluation period has included more than 9 million miles of real-world MirrorEye testing involving driver feedback from multiple fleets.
“Tyson advocates for safety and sustainability, making it an exemplary partner to champion our shared values and showcase the safety and sustainability benefits MirrorEye has to offer,” said Jon DeGaynor, president and CEO, Stoneridge.
Tyson is the largest refrigerated fleet to commercially adopt MirrorEye outside the evaluation period, the company said. MirrorEye is designed to improve driver vision and reduce blind spots by providing a wider field of view. It also is intended to enhance vision at night and during inclement weather.
“Installing MirrorEye is about helping drivers make better, more informed driving decisions,” said Kyle Neely, senior vice president of distribution for Tyson Foods. “When drivers have a more complete and real-time view of their surroundings, they’re able to do their job even better. As a carrier of choice and industry leader, we have a responsibility to improve the safety of our drivers, as well as everyone on the road.”
MirrorEye was the first camera monitor system to receive a federal exemption from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), allowing MirrorEye-equipped trucks to operate on the road with an integrated system of cameras and digital displays as an alternative to conventional mirrors.
Stoneridge said it continues to work closely with fleets to further advance its CMS technology, and plans for MirrorEye to become part of a larger system for successive improvements in fleet risk management.