Driver Technology: Savior or Undertaker?

Solution. This has to be the most over used word in my vocabulary. Anyone who has had more than a five minute conversation with me in my office knows they’ll hear the word “solution” anywhere from one to ten times before we adjourn. I have respect for someone that shares the challenges of the day and immediately backs the dilemma up with a solution. Where I don’t hear the follow-up, I’m always quick to say “Solution?…” if for no other reason but to engage thought and ownership.

 This being said, I have the utmost appreciation for companies and individuals who are trying to provide solutions to problems in a complex environment. Good leaders however immediately consider the costs, viability, long-term effects, ROI and a multitude of other possible ponderings to determine whether a solution is truly that. Keep in mind; the definition of ‘solution’ is to solve a problem. Not to employ the potential of solving a problem. These are the eyes that I use to look at problems in the transportation space, the latest of which; truck connectivity, seems to now come up daily.

 Collecting data on how trucks and drivers are operating has great potential to increase safety and improve efficiency while the replacement of paperwork with electronic methods of submission for drivers is truly a beautiful thing. When putting on my driver hat, I have to ask, are we possibly going too far too fast without considering the full breadth of possible outcomes? In other words, will this encourage or discourage drivers to join or stay a part of the industry?

Through some new technologies, real time feedback on how efficiently a driver is operating a truck is displayed indicating when to shift and how much to depress the gas petal. Self-driving trucks are all the rage with nearly everyone in technology except the truck driver.

Here at Go By Truck, we know first hand through our social media channels that drivers are none too happy about many new driver technologies in which they call things like “babysitting” and feel employers adopting some of these programs have “no trust (in) or loyalty to their drivers”. To marginalize the professionalism of the truck driver or to perpetuate the devastating industry problem of driver loss would have an immediate and opposite affect that these technologies are trying to achieve.

 Again, I can respect an environment of professionals unwilling to sit on their hands and watch safety, efficiency and driver retention deteriorate. We still must ensure however that these technologies are truly long-term solutions where the benefits outweigh the costs.

 Much remains to be seen as we take this path of automation over manpower. I find myself torn as I hear increasing concerns from the professional driving public and have a strong belief in the power of innovation. What say you?

Photos Courtesy: Triad Freightliner, istockphoto.com