There have been numerous discussions about this topic
This has been posted here previously, but here it is again:
TITLE 47--TELECOMMUNICATION
CHAPTER I--FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
PART 25--SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS
Subpart D--Technical Operations
Sec. 25.271 Control of transmitting stations.
(a) The licensee of a facility licensed under this part is responsible for the proper operation and maintenance of the station.
(b) The licensee of a transmitting earth station licensed under this part shall ensure that a trained operator is present on the earth station site, or at a designated remote control point for the earth station, at all times that transmissions are being conducted. No operator's license is required for a person to operate or perform maintenance on facilities authorized under this part.
(c) Authority will be granted to operate a transmitting earth station by remote control only on the conditions that:
(1) The parameters of the transmissions of the remote station monitored at the control point, and the operational functions of the
remote earth stations that can be controlled by the operator at the control point, are sufficient to insure that the operations of the remote station(s) are at times in full compliance with the remote station authorization(s);
(2) The earth station facilities are protected by appropriate security measures to prevent unauthorized entry or operations;
(3) Upon detection by the license, or upon notification from the Commission of a deviation or upon notification by another licensee of
harmful interference, the operation of the remote station shall be immediately suspended by the operator at the control point until the deviation or interference is corrected, except that
transmissions concerning the immediate safety of life or property may be conducted for the duration of the emergency; and
(4) The licensee shall have available at all times the technical personnel necessary to perform expeditiously the technical servicing and
maintenance of the remote stations.
(d) The licensee shall insure that the licensed facilities are properly secured against unauthorized access or use whenever an operator
is not present at the transmitter.
(e) The licensee of an NGSO FSS system operating in the 10.7-14.5 GHz bands shall maintain an electronic web site bulletin board to list the satellite ephemeris data, for each satellite in the constellation, using the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) two-line orbital element format. The orbital elements shall be updated at least once every three days.
[58 FR 13421, Mar. 11, 1993, as amended at 66 FR 10631, Feb. 16, 2001]
So, after doing my reasearch I would submit; if as the operator of the truck you are the person responsible for finding the satellite, accessing and powering up on the correct transponder, then YOU are to stay at the controls during transmission.
However, if your vehicle is equipped with systems allowing the access operators to bring your vehicle up to power on their transponder, and take your "shot" off the satellite, the arguement can be made that they, not you are in control of the earth station. Then, and only then, would I allow my staff to do solo satellite transmissions.
Another question; what does your station's contract with theier satellite provider say? That contract may very well dictate how satellite transmissions are conducted, despite management's thoughts to the contrary.