Only logged in members can reply and interact with the post.
Join SimilarWorlds for FREE »

I Sometimes Hate Technology

I drive a truck for a living and have done so for the last 25 years, recently my company has begun installing all kinds of technology supposedly designed to make truck drivers safer. I absolutely hate it all! Today for the first time I was assigned to one of our new "automatic transmission" trucks. First there is nothing "automatic" about them, they are actually MUCH more complicated than the manual transmissions. Second (and I know most won't understand this) these trucks shift up and down based upon some sort of artificial intelligence and do so unexpectedly. This could lead to major accidents in bad weather. I have been working for my company for 25 years, I have accumulated over 2 million miles of safe driving without all of this technology and now I am forced to put my career and my safety in the hands of a machine, one which cannot make decisions based upon anything other than what programmers have put in place. Today I was so frustrated that I almost gave up, I strongly considered quitting my job because suddenly I am too stupid to be a truck driver! I should just eat a bullet!!!

Top | Newest First | Oldest First

MarkPaul · 26-30, M

Are you sure you're not exaggerating?

View 2 more replies »

istillhaveanameitsrick · 56-60, M

@MarkPaul Well I can tell you the system we have is based upon GPS it speeds the truck up to climb hills slows it down to go down hills, but I wonder what it will do if I get into a situation such as the one the other day, I was using my gps and also reading signs, I was trying to get to interstate 55 I saw a sign that said "recommended truck route I-55" so I turned, according to the gps the road I turned on did not exist! The tech would have had me on a road not designed for trucks, likely with many sharp curves. Instead I used my own intelligence and found a much safer route.

MarkPaul · 26-30, M

@istillhaveanameitsrick Wow! Sounds like there are still some "kinks."

istillhaveanameitsrick · 56-60, M

@MarkPaul For what it is worth it doesn't matter what Elon Musk says if his "driverless technology" comes to fruition trucking companies will do one of two things, either eliminate drivers completely or drastically reduce pay for drivers.

texasdaddydom · 51-55, M

no bullet eating allowed

istillhaveanameitsrick · 56-60, M

@texasdaddydom well if the day comes that I cannot drive a truck I won't have any other option. The reason one becomes a truck driver is generally because they are too stupid to do any kind of normal job.

texasdaddydom · 51-55, M

@istillhaveanameitsrick 2 mil of safe driving isn't done by the stupid. technology will always advance (even if at first it is NOT better) eventually the WILL be autonomous vehicles but I doubt trucking will be autonomous before you will retire

Add a comment...