The Blind-Side Nightmare: Why I Got "Digital Eyes"

Backing a 53-foot trailer is an art form. Doing it in the rain, at night, into a tight dock between two expensive Peterbilts? That’s extreme sport.

I was at a breathless standstill in New Jersey. The angle required a blind-side back. I couldn't see the rear corner of my trailer in the mirrors. I got out and looked (G.O.A.L.), but as soon as I got back in the cab and started moving, I was blind again. One wrong move and I’m hitting the truck next to me; that’s an insurance claim, a safety violation, and maybe my job.

I remembered the Wireless Backup Camera I had magnetized to the back of the trailer earlier that day. I flipped on the monitor.

There it was: a clear, lit view of my bumper and the dock lock. I could see exactly how much room I had. I slid the trailer in smooth as silk, without sweating through my shirt. It eliminates the blind spot. It’s like having a spotter who never gets tired and never lies to you.