Working trucks spend their days in places where visibility matters most. Tight jobsites, crowded yards, roadside work zones, and active construction areas leave little room for blind spots. That reality is driving a new safety and efficiency upgrade now entering production.
Daimler Truck North America has started factory production of a new Exterior Camera System that delivers full 360-degree visibility on vocational and medium-duty trucks. The system is now available on select Freightliner and Western Star models and is designed to reduce blind spots while simplifying truck builds.
Instead of relying on a mix of aftermarket cameras and separate screens, the new setup integrates multiple camera views directly into the truck’s existing in-cab touchscreen.
Full Perimeter Awareness Built into the Cab
The Exterior Camera System expands beyond the standard backup camera already included on these trucks. It adds left-side, right-side, and forward-facing cameras to create a full perimeter view around the vehicle.
All live feeds appear on the same in-cab touchscreen, regardless of body type or application. That consistency matters for trucks that cycle through different drivers, routes, and jobsite conditions.
“Clear visibility around the vehicle is important for the work our customers do every day,” said Aaron Scates, vice president of vocational and medium-duty market development at Daimler Truck North America. “Offering an exterior camera system that covers all sides of the vehicle improves operator confidence. The breadth of camera options and system integration with our interactive touchscreen display make this one of the most complete visibility solutions available for vocational products today.”
Cameras That Respond Automatically While You Work
The system is designed to function without extra steps or added driver workload.
Side cameras activate automatically when turn signals are engaged. The rear camera comes on when the truck is placed in reverse. A forward-facing camera, mounted in the grille, can be manually turned on whenever additional visibility is needed ahead of the vehicle.
Because all video feeds run through the factory touchscreen, operators can monitor surroundings without switching screens or dealing with separate controls.
Built for Custom Bodies and Real-World Jobsites
The camera system can be configured during the build process using DTNA’s Custom Hardware and Electronics Configurator. This allows camera behavior to align with specific vehicle inputs such as turn signals, reverse gear, or body equipment operation.
That flexibility is especially useful for trucks working in refuse, utility, dump, and construction roles where vehicle movement and body functions are tightly linked.
DTNA noted that this level of integration is difficult to achieve with typical aftermarket camera setups.
“The advantage of this comprehensive system is that everything works together seamlessly from day one,” Scates said. “Customers benefit from the performance and quality of a factory-installed system that’s designed specifically for how their trucks are used out in the field.”
Factory Install or Prewire Option Available
For those who want a fully integrated solution, the Exterior Camera System is factory-installed and designed to work with existing vehicle electronics and displays.
For operations that prefer to supply their own camera hardware, DTNA is also offering a prewire option. This includes the necessary wiring provisions while still allowing the truck to support integrated functionality.
Backup cameras remain standard equipment. Side and forward-facing cameras are available based on how the truck is specified.
Focused on Visibility, Safety, and Upfit Efficiency
DTNA said the system is intended to improve awareness around the vehicle, reduce upfit complexity, and support safer performance in demanding work environments.
Those interested in adding the Exterior Camera System to new truck orders can review configuration options through Freightliner or Western Star dealers.
Source: Heavy Duty Trucking
