Who doesn’t remember the romantic age of the US trucking industry? Powered by cheap diesel, drivers could do pretty much as they pleased on the open road. The days of open-throttles were made famous by Bert Reynolds’ 1977 movie, “Smokey and 
The Wall Street Journal’s article (July 11,2011), “Firms Put Brakes on Truckers”, describes the technology trucking companies are using to wring better fuel economy from their fleets. Firms are putting computerized governors on trucks’ engines, cutting top speeds from 70 mph to 65 mph. Titan Transfer is even paying bonuses to drivers who get the best fuel economy–and chewing out drivers who don’t. Every decline of 5 mph improves an 18-wheeler’s fuel use by 1/2 mile per gallon–big savings to the shippers.
Today, a driver’s every move is electronically recorded and relayed back to dispatch centers. The black box in the cab is wired to a satellite dish near the roof that beams the truck’s location, its speed, and even what gear it’s in back to the company in real-time. When one driver tried to shift into neutral going down a hill, to override the truck’s governor, a red light immediately flashed telling him to pull over and call HQ for a tongue-lashing.
Drivers, understandably, are not happy about covering less distance each day, as they are paid by the mile. This cuts take-home pay and makes the old-time, cross-country run stretch from 3 days (at 80 mph) to 4 or 5 days. But even some reluctant drivers agree that 65 mph saves not only fuel, but lives.
Discussion questions:
1. What are other ways that technology can help make the trucking industry more efficient?
2. Make the case, from the driver’s perspective, why the changes are not efficient.