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Trucking-related technology, ranging from novelty add-ons to serious business tools, lagged behind mainstream consumer electronics for years, says John Lewis, CEO of GeoLogic Solutions. But within the past three years or so, “it’s caught up in spades.”
The number of high tech tools available has proliferated for the 21st-century trucker. But for veteran independent owner-operator Randall Sanders, the gadgets are pretty simple.
What’s on his top list of trucker gadgets?
- The Cell Phone: “It’s the best thing that ever happened” for truckers, he says, using the very thing. “It wasn’t unusual to go into a town, looking for a drop-off location and getting lost. But now you can pick up the phone and call the customer. No more looking for a pay phone.” And he can call his wife several times a day.
- Laptop: “I’ve got routing software and bookkeeping software on it,” Sanders says. “It’s an accounting firm’s software. The firm does a lot of taxes and accounting for trucking companies.”
- Satellite Radio: “When I’m driving through the mountains, I might get no local radio reception for 15 minutes,” he says. “Now I can listen to ’60s music, talk shows, XM radio, and I don’t have to constantly look for another station.”
- DVD Player: Although he’s got one for downtime, Sanders admits he is often too busy to watch anything.
Of course, the next generation of truckers may choose to explore the next generation of technology tools. Many individual gadgets may be here today and gone tomorrow, and many are in development, but in general they can be divided into a few key categories.
Communication and Navigation
Global positioning systems (GPS) are becoming standard tools for truckers and their employers to both navigate and stay in touch. GeoLogic’s piece de resistance, MobileMax, includes an integrated transceiver/antenna that can automatically switch between cellular and satellite communications. Lewis says the forthcoming program Maptuit features touch screens, truck-specific directions and routing and auditory prompts. So at the touch of a button, a trucker can decide which bridges and streets to avoid and be told by a friendly electronic voice where to turn right.
As far as assisting employers, Qualcomm is the big kahuna, providing technology that allows transportation companies not only to manage fleet operations and communicate with drivers, but also to monitor vehicle location and status. Still, Qualcomm has plenty of competition.
For example, Prophesy offers TrackerBase, which also can keep employers abreast of a truck’s exact location.
“Most of the tracking and mobile communications companies can provide services that report, over the air via cellular or satellite, when trucks have ventured off predetermined routes or are close to a delivery point,” says Jim Beach, technology editor for Newport Communications, which publishes several trucking-specific magazines.
But GPS and other technology are helping truckers do their jobs better, too. Beach points to PeopleNet Communications, which has a whole fleet of communications technologies for truck drivers. These technologies are being used for communication, vehicle monitoring, automated messaging, automated arrival and departure notification, programs for logging miles driven, fuel tax reporting, and accident reconstruction and detention times.
Automatic driver logs also are becoming popular programs on driver’s laptops. These can eliminate cumbersome paperwork and keep dispatchers from assigning them loads when they’re about to run out of hours, notes Susan Fall, an industry expert. “Or some drivers could go online midnight and pick up loads even though the dispatcher is off duty.”
Driving Safety
Scores of gadgets that help in this area are coming on the market. They can “monitor vehicles components like engine, brakes, trailer temperature, when the trailer door is opened or closed, vehicle speed, etc.,” says Beach.
Vizualogic offers high-resolution cameras in the cab that offer truckers a better view of what’s behind them when backing up. The PathFindIR is a nighttime camera that reduces collision risks by detecting subtle differences in temperature, which the driver can view from the in-cab display, letting drivers see five times farther than with headlights. FLIR, an infrared technology firm, offers a camera that fixes to the truck’s grille and helps the trucker to see the road despite total darkness, smoke or bad weather.
Sav-A-Life, the company that patented SAV-A-LIFE Deer-Alert -- the bullet-shaped devices you mount on the front bumper to scare deer away -- now offers Doze Alert. The device slips behind your ear and if your head tilts forward, it emits a buzzing sound to make sure you aren’t falling asleep at the wheel.
