Technology and trucking are becoming better all the time, but is it helping to make us safer? In the last decade technology has really improved with a focus of safety developments such as crash avoidance and lane safety systems. Things have moved into the cab and now it’s giving drivers many technical advancements but is it really making a safer driver? As technology gets better people get more reliant on it and less advanced in the skills that they actually need such as trip planning and safe driving. Those kind of things we rely on in cars and now we see it in trucks. Are we’re starting to fill the roadways with so much technology focused on the drivers with no skills instead of improving skills and improving all drivers on the road.
Where should we focus, technology or professionalism?
Technology is a tool to add on to the driver’s toolkit not be relied on as the way to perform. It’s meant to be a tool to make life easier helping to complete those mundane tasks that really need attention, but aren’t the focus of your Professional Driver job. What we’re finding in the industry is new drivers relying so much on the technology, they’re not learning the fundamental skills of professionalism and how to drive properly to be the safe professional truck driver they should be.
This month we have investigated a number of technology tools such as apps and programs that will help with data collection or help you find loads, run your business, or improve the security of your operation. It is important for the efficiency on the road to look into some of the new technology for equipment and we have a number of people we will be talking to about things like new technology in mirrors so you can see and eliminate blind spots. Some of the newer trucks are coming with high-tech mirrors, which are actually cameras that can help you be safe on the road. Technology should be able to help the driver safer.
Professionalism doesn’t just start because you get your license. Professionalism starts because you understand the importance of what you’re doing, you have superior training to other people on the road, and you have a dedication to your industry. That is what we need to look for in the Professional Driver of today. The road crashes are happening too often. We need to stop the deterioration of our industry and everybody needs to step up in their own small way.
In a recent training class I was talking about the importance of professionalism and the one message that I got across was don’t come into the industry if you think you’re going to just get a job or if you’re just looking as a way to put some money in your bank account. This isn’t the industry for you! This is the job for people who believe in keeping the nation moving, people that like to work independently, or people who are interested in being part of a special culture that not everybody can do. If that’s you then being a professional driver may be the profession for you. We’re not looking for what we call “steering wheel holders”. We’re not looking for people who can come in and think they’re they know the job after two weeks of a training system. We need people who are dedicated, we need people who are safe, and want to build a better industry. If that’s you we welcome you with open arms.
Make sure you listen to the podcast and subscribe so that you can catch all of the important conversations we’re having this month and if you are using technology for your job, then do it to make you more efficient and make you better.
About the Author
Bruce Outridge is an industry veteran for over 40 years with 25 of those behind the wheel as a professional truck driver. For the last 15 years Bruce has been working in training and media for the industry and is currently the host / producer of Lead Pedal Media, The Lead Pedal Podcast, and Lead Pedal Radio. He is a member of a number associations in the industry and can be found covering and attending many industry events within Canada. Learn more about Bruce Outridge and Lead Pedal Media at www.leadpedalmedia.com
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