This work presents an on-field validation of an in-house built real-Time phase-OTDR for monitoring the status of roller bearings. The acoustic sensor prototype was designed and assembled at RISE and evaluated on a 1 m diameter bearing at SKF AB facilities in Göteborg, Sweden. A 0.24 numerical aperture single-mode optical fiber was installed in the bearing lubrication groove, which is 50 mm large and 5 mm deep. Tests were performed to verify the response of the phaseOTDR to acoustic emissions in the bearing such as hammer hits and running the rollers at different loads. The fiber optic sensor results agree with the measurements performed by a standard industrial high sensitivity electronic accelerometer used for comparison. Moreover, as opposed to the reference electronic sensor, the phase-OTDR proved to be insensitive to electrical disturbances present on the environment.