Editorial: Great Scott, Marty!
This Editorial appears in the Aug. 17 print edition of Transport Topics. Click here to subscribe today.
In 1989, with the release of “Back to the Future II,” moviegoers got a glimpse at the world of 2015, with Marty McFly on a hoverboard, Doc Brown piloting a flying car and the Chicago Cubs winning the World Series.
Twenty-six years removed from first viewing the film, none of this has happened yet — though the Cubs still have a chance.
Yet, it does feel for trucking that 2015 will be remembered for the proliferation of technologies at an unprecedented pace.
Two stories on this week illustrate how far several technologies have matured in just a short period.
The first one looks at onboard video cameras. Not only are they successfully used to monitor and improve driver behavior, but they also offer liability protection.
It is understandable for truckers to have some privacy concerns, when all of a sudden it feels every move is being monitored. Yet, it’s hard to argue with the upside when Volpe Express Inc. says it has saved $500,000 and $750,000 in liability costs in two years.
It always has been common for truckers to be accused of being at fault in an accident. In the past, that may have led to settling claims. Now, with the power of video technology, carriers can fight back and prove what actually happened.
The popularity of the cameras is leading to more interest in placing additional ones around the vehicle to help drivers get a better view of their surroundings or to monitor driver fatigue. (A story in the Sept. 7 edition of iTECH will look further into these developments.)
Though still a bit farther away than onboard cameras, another story looks at Peloton Technology’s platooning system. Peloton CEO Josh Switkes told Transport Topics that a fleet will begin testing the system, which can electronically link one or more trucks to a lead truck with active drivers, in real-world operations early next year.
Through active safety and cruise control systems, Peloton said platooning can significantly raise fuel economy, improve safety and take some of stress away from truck drivers.
When hearing about automatic braking and trucks safely traveling together at close distances, it seems not even the creators of “Back to the Future” could have thought this up.
Yet, the more you learn about platooning — and the computerized system that makes it all work — the more intriguing the concept becomes.
Just as interesting is imagining what the trucking industry may look like at the end of this decade.
