I had a conversation with my brother last night about on-board recording technology for trucks. Apparently it’s on the trucks in Europe, and in fact most industrialized countries across the globe already use these devices to track their trucks movement. It records when the truck is moving and when it’s still, among other things, which would stop the fudging of the driver logs and make drivers more accountable for their rest periods, reducing fatigued drivers, and hence reducing fatigue related death. As we begin to research this topic, to put together our fight to make them mandatory, we are trying to see both sides of the issue. The trucking industry doesn’t want them installed. Drivers use the argument that they would be invasive to their privacy, industry management argues that they would cost too much.

Brother P found a Wickipedia article that described how devices similar (though analog) were used in the 50’s in Europe and how the drivers felt the same invasiveness then, fearing that their bosses would dock them for pay for times they were resting. Though I wouldn’t use Wickipedia to make any important decision, it does provide interesting background material. P said something interesting too; that he thought trucking companies should WANT on-board devices installed because it would level the playing field. That no one wants to play by the rules and rest if it makes them less competitive against others that are not resting but driving straight through to get the load delivered faster. So everyone breaks the rules and there is little in the way of consequences…until someone dies.

So I’m thinking about this leveling concept early today as I set out on my trek to Ann Arbor. I’m thinking about how to use this idea with my Senators and the members of the House that represent Michigan. About how to use it with trucking industry officials I know. It feels like an “aha” moment to me. Something to use to get what I want to be what they want too. I’m so deep in thought that I am miles down the road before I realize I am not supposed to be driving to town for groceries, but to Ann Arbor for class. Which is in the opposite direction.