Logistics AI Safety Operators Checklist

Skipping the pre-trip AI checklist creates serious liability risks for you and the company. If you have an accident and AI system wasn't functioning properly (but you didn't verify pre-trip), you lose the protection that footage would provide. Insurance companies and courts expect operators to verify safety systems before departure—failure to do so suggests negligence. Additionally, most companies have policies requiring pre-trip system verification, so skipping it violates your responsibilities and could impact disciplinary decisions if incidents occur. The 5-7 minute checklist is far less painful than explaining to your supervisor (or an attorney) why you didn't verify a system designed to protect you. If you're consistently running late and feeling pressure to skip pre-trip checks, talk to your supervisor about adjusting start times—safety systems are non-negotiable, and your schedule should accommodate proper procedures. Remember: your personal time logs and system activation timestamps create a record of when you started your shift, so skipping pre-trip checks is usually obvious in the data anyway.

Never ignore AI alerts, but do report excessive false alerts to your supervisor for system recalibration. Here's the distinction: most alerts are legitimateâ€"system detected actual risk factors even if you disagree with severity. However, if you're getting alerts that are clearly wrong (harsh braking alerts when you stopped gently, distraction alerts when you were checking mirrors, speed alerts on roads with recently changed limits), document specific examples with times/locations and request review. Modern AI systems can be fine-tuned for individual operators and specific routes. Your supervisor can adjust sensitivity thresholds, exclude certain false-positive scenarios, or identify system malfunctions. But ignoring all alerts because some seem excessive is dangerous and defeats the purpose of the safety system. Most operators report that after 2-3 weeks, the system "learns" their driving patterns and false alerts decrease significantly. The key is giving feedback about problematic alerts so the system improves, not giving up on it entirely. Also consider whether alerts you think are "false" might actually be identifying behaviors you don't realize are risky—ask your supervisor to review specific incidents with you.

Most AI safety systems only record when the vehicle ignition is on, so the camera isn't capturing you during breaks when the truck is off. Verify your company's specific system behavior with your supervisor—some systems do have "parking mode" that records if motion is detected even when parked, but this is usually configurable. If your system records while parked and you're uncomfortable with that, your company should have a policy for privacy during breaks. However, physically covering the camera (with tape, stickers, or objects) is never acceptable because you might forget to remove it before driving, which creates a safety hazard and violates monitoring requirements. If you're genuinely concerned about privacy during breaks, the solution is turning off the ignition completely, not covering cameras. That said, understand that privacy expectations in company vehicles are limited—the camera is company property monitoring company equipment during work hours. If you're eating lunch or taking breaks in the cab while on duty (even with ignition off), you're still in a workplace environment. The real question is whether your company policy permits cab breaks or requires you to take breaks outside the vehicle—if privacy is a concern, take breaks in designated areas away from the truck.

Storage duration and access permissions vary by company policy and system configuration, but typical arrangements are: Normal footage (no incidents or alerts) is usually retained 30-90 days then automatically overwritten. Footage with alerts or safety events is flagged and retained longer (6-12 months typically). Incident footage where accidents occurred is preserved indefinitely for liability and insurance purposes. Regarding access: Your direct supervisor and safety manager typically have access to all footage from your vehicle. Company executives and insurance representatives can access footage related to claims or serious incidents. Law enforcement can access footage via subpoena or company voluntary cooperation in investigations. YOU should also have access to your own safety footage—ask your supervisor how to request copies if needed for personal records. Most modern systems have audit logs showing who accessed footage when, preventing unauthorized viewing. The key point: AI footage is business records that can be used in legal proceedings, insurance claims, and internal investigations. Anything the camera captures while you're operating company equipment is potentially discoverable evidence. This is actually in your favor for most incidents—the camera doesn't lie, and it's protected you from false accusations more often than it's revealed mistakes. If you're uncomfortable with footage access policies, review your company's written privacy policy, which should define who can view footage and under what circumstances.

If AI system fails during your route, your immediate priorities are: notify dispatch immediately with description of malfunction (cameras offline, display frozen, error messages, etc.), document the time and location of failure, and ask dispatch for guidance on whether to continue or return to yard. Most companies allow you to complete your route if system failure occurs mid-delivery, since returning would significantly disrupt operations. However, you MUST operate with extra caution knowing you don't have AI monitoring protection—follow all traffic laws strictly, maintain conservative speeds, increase following distances, and avoid any behaviors that could generate alerts if system were functioning. Document the malfunction in your post-trip report. The critical thing is prompt notification—don't wait until end of shift to report system problems, because timing of failure affects liability assessment if incidents occur. If you're in an accident with a non-functioning AI system, the fact that you reported the malfunction immediately protects you. If you didn't report it and later claim "the system wasn't working," that looks suspicious. Some operators worry they'll be blamed for system failures, but legitimate malfunctions happen and companies understand that. What's not acceptable is knowing the system isn't working, not reporting it, and continuing to operate. That's when liability shifts to you. For guidance on recognizing system malfunctions across different vehicle types, waste collection supervisors face similar diagnostic challenges outlined in the Waste AI-Safety Safety Supervisors Roadmap.

How companies use AI safety scores varies widely, so ask your supervisor about specific policies. Common approaches include: safety scores used for coaching and improvement (most common approach)—scores identify training needs but don't directly affect pay or employment. Bonus/incentive programs where high safety scores earn rewards (positive reinforcement). Progressive discipline for persistently low scores—occasional poor performance days are normal, but patterns of unsafe behavior trigger coaching conversations, then formal warnings if no improvement. In extreme cases of repeated serious violations, employment can be affected. Insurance implications—some companies face premium increases for high-risk drivers, which indirectly affects hiring decisions. Generally speaking, one bad safety score day won't end your job. Consistent patterns of unsafe behavior might. The key is treating the system as a development tool: use your daily scores to identify areas for improvement, ask your supervisor for coaching when you don't understand why you got certain alerts, focus on continuous improvement rather than perfection. Most operators improve significantly within first 30-60 days as they adapt to being monitored and become more conscious of risk factors. If your company DOES tie pay or employment directly to safety scores, make sure you understand the exact thresholds and timelines—what score is considered acceptable, how long do you have to improve if below threshold, what happens if you have one bad day. Get these policies in writing so you understand expectations clearly.