From revealing who is negligent in a crash to helping to identify dangerous driver behavior, dash cameras have proven valuable tools for car carriers.
Most corporate drivers have become accustomed to the idea of outward-facing cameras, especially when these cameras help to exonerate them in the event of an accident, but video for drivers is often considered a violation of privacy.
In a webinar hosted by the Truckload Carriers Association, Michael Campos, Vice President of Data Privacy and Adam Khan, Netradyne’s transportation technician, shared their thoughts on driver privacy and AI fleet videos.
A sophisticated dash cam
Since the first dash cam was created and implemented, technology has grown dramatically. result? A sophisticated system that uses AI to automatically activate recordings when certain events such as hard braking and impact are detected.
“One thing we see is that the system is starting to almost ‘shadow’ drivers every minute of driving, so there’s a big impact when it comes to risk reduction,” Khan said.
“The information is generated very quickly and provides drivers with guidance, coaching and awareness very quickly,” he continued. “Camera has a strong history of exonerating drivers during an accident.”
Khan emphasized that driver privacy is paramount.
Driver Privacy
“People think about who is watching them. ‘Can you see my sleeper?'” Campos said. “It’s one version of driver privacy. Then there are legal terms and definitions. One of the data types that are thrown at me is not always aware of what it means – biometrics.”
Biometric information is personal data relating to an individual’s unique physical, physiological, or behavioral characteristics.
It’s not just drivers interested in privacy and data collected through AI devices. Some states have enacted laws to limit the collection and use of information, particularly biometric data.
In 2008, Illinois’ Biometric Privacy Act, also known as BIPA, came into effect. It covers both biometric authentication machines and biometric authentication information. Biometric identifiers can include retinal scans, fingerprints, audio prints, face identification, and more.
In addition to Illinois, both Texas and Washington currently have biometric laws, and many other states have adopted comprehensive privacy laws in which biometrics are considered sensitive data.
Campos says that in Illinois, the use of biometric authentication requires consent, or at least a written release.
“But when tuning with visual logins – if you flip through a system intended to authenticate who this driver is, it can have something to do with the law,” Campos said. “But there are debates and circumstances that aren’t.”
Not all dash cams collect uniquely identifying characteristics. What should not be considered a biometric device.
Driver consent
“Getting consent from the driver is helpful given the development, history and landscape,” Campos said. “Be transparent about them and what’s going on.”
When it comes to driver privacy and data collection, best practice is to obtain the driver’s consent to collect specific data. Fleets usually have five or six different options: how to connect drivers to information generated from telematics systems, from visual logins to mobile applications.
Privacy guidelines and consent options may vary from state to state and may have a serious impact on the use of data collected by AI. By not considering consent options in advance, the fleet can limit its revenue by planning the best route.
“There may be great customers who want to serve in Illinois or move their cargo from Ohio to Iowa. “I know that some of these states have different views on privacy, so one of the things you want to do is get there before that.”
For example, he said he recently had been told by a customer that he had stopped all routes through Illinois to avoid complications. However, he said his career changed his mind very quickly.
“They came back and shared, ‘No, that doesn’t make any financial sense to us. Let’s do the right job to keep us from stepping into the arguments that will deflect us from our goals.”
Evolving regulations
Biometric authentication methods may apply as facial scans are often used to log in to safety systems. It is always best to get the driver’s consent.
Regulations regarding the collection and use of personal information and data will almost certainly evolve and continue to spread.
“They will also regulate things like your email address and any other kind of personal data,” Campos said. “The point is that this is a trend towards increasing. It’s not decreasing.”
These changing laws will have a particular impact on the trucking industry as drivers move from region to region, making it important for carriers to stay behind regulations.
“What we know today ensures we will evolve into something else in the next six, 18, 24 months,” Khan said. “I will take the most careful approach to avoid disruptions in your business (recommended).”
The fleet also needs to be aware of how it stores collected data. Always find the time you need it.
Among other things, Campos said it is important to use only personal data for the intended purposes, as outlined in the driver.
“Use the data for the purposes you told them…and be very transparent about what you do with it,” he concluded.
The story was originally published in the May/June 2025 print edition of the Truckload Authority, the official Truck Career Association publication.
Dana Guthrie is an award-winning journalist featured in multiple newspapers, books and magazines around the world. She is currently based in the Atlanta, Georgia area.
