Healthy Trucking Kiosks Offer Innovative Advertising Opportunities
Ramp Media Group Announces Important Promotions
Quote of the Day
Given the theme of the issue’s lead story regarding military and trucking careers, here are a few famous military quotes:
“Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few.”
– Prime Minister Winston Churchill, talking about the Royal Air Force
“Come on you sons of bitches! Do you want to live forever?”
Gunnery Sgt. Dan Daly, June 4, 1918, while leading Marines at Belleu Wood
“No bastard ever won a war by dying for his country. He won it by making the other poor dumb bastard die for his country.”
– Gen. George Patton Jr.
“I have not yet begun to fight.”
– Captain John Paul Jones, aboard the Bon Homme Richard after the captain of the British ship Serapis asked Capt. Jones if he wanted to surrender
Gaining Driver Support for New Technology
By Tom Flies
As in most industries, technology will continue to shape and advance the logistics industry. Specifically for the trucking industry, one critical component to successfully implementing a new technology within an organization is to get buy-in from the organization – particularly from the drivers. There is no question that motor carriers can greatly benefit from technological advances, but what managers ponder is whether their organization can effectively manage the changes that implementing a technology involves. Within this scenario, driver acceptance is a very real concern. Negative perceptions of any change on the part of your drivers can, at best, mean ineffective implementation. At worst, negative perceptions can lead to higher operating costs, which is, of course, the opposite result of what you wanted when you bought the technology.
Fortunately, once the decision is made to implement new in-cab technology, there are effective steps you can take to get buy-in from your drivers. For example, one of the most important considerations in your technology selection process is how you expect your drivers will perceive and react to the new technology. Look for a solution that provides a combination of delivering quick and substantial return on investment, but is also driver-friendly, reliable and will make your drivers’ lives easier.
Before purchasing any in-cab technology, consider implementing a pilot program and soliciting input from your drivers. Demonstrating the technology to drivers before installation and asking for their feedback will allow you to make the best purchasing decision, and it will provide initial insight into how your drivers will react to the new technology. Giving drivers a role in the selection process is going to help increase acceptance. Plus, product familiarity among the drivers will help them feel more confident with the new technology.
Ease of use is another important factor in the technology decision-making process. Choosing a solution that does not distract and irritate drivers with equipment that they have to struggle with is critical. Technology that is difficult to understand and use will only frustrate drivers and detract from one of their main obligations as a driver: safe operation of the vehicle.
It is also important to be sure the new technology eliminates as many manual record-keeping processes as possible for the driver. This allows drivers to focus on the primary jobs of delivery and safety. In your quest to gain driver acceptance, it is equally important to educate the drivers on how the new technology can help them do their jobs better, faster and more efficiently. Technology that makes the driver’s life easier will result in a positive attitude toward the new technology, and may increase job satisfaction and driver retention.
Drivers are a critical piece of a new technology solution, so take the time to let them know they are an important part of creating this solution. Otherwise, the technology is likely to fail. Driver acceptance is a key factor in successfully implementing any new technology and in effectively using it to produce better operating results for the motor carrier.
Tom Flies is senior vice president of business development at XATA Corp. in Minneapolis.
