Fuel for Thought
OM...OM...OM
Anytime I have ever tried training someone to drive a car or truck, ride a motorcycle, bicycle or jet ski, I have always said to them to “be one with the vehicle”. Being one with the motorcycle or bicycle means to move with the machine. Lean into the turns, feel how the bike handles and adjust yourself to the movements of the machine for a better ride. Being one with the truck (or car) means about the same thing. While it is not important to lean into the turns in a truck, “being one with the vehicle” will mean understanding the limitations of the truck and using the vehicle’s capabilities to your benefit. Being one with the truck means learning the braking ability of the vehicle so you can safely maneuver or stop when needed. It means learning the acceleration ability of the truck so that you know if you will be able to safely pull out into an intersection with reasonable assurance that you can accelerate at a rate needed to join or avoid traffic. It also means knowing the cornering ability of the truck. Being one with the truck will allow you to feel the lean of the vehicle when turning corners or taking curves and be able to safely navigate the turns. For new truck drivers, being one with the truck especially means constantly being aware of the height of the vehicle to allow low clearances, tree limbs, power lines and door heights. Being one with the truck also means listening to the hum of the engine for unusual sounds, feeling the ride of the tires and suspension, watching the gauges and even being aware the smells of the truck like the rotten egg smell of bad batteries or the distinct smell of burning oil or overheated brakes,
Being one with the truck used to mean all these things… and they all still apply today, however, today, it means so much more.
Not only are today’s trucks more technologically driven (no pun intended), but so are the drivers of these high tech machines (even those drivers who might not realize it). Drivers of modern trucks are more connected to the drivers, reinforcing the “be one with truck” mantra. Newer trucks not only alert the driver of potential problems in the dash display screen(s), but they can also send the driver email messages regarding the fault code that was triggered, including possible causes and possible remedies. Many of the newer trucks also can perform some of the driver’s tasks, if the driver fails to do it for himself or herself. Things like automatic braking for those times when the driver was NOT “one with the vehicle”, thus failing to react to a situation. Today’s trucks can warn the driver of obstacles to the left or the right when a driver indicates their intention to move left or right, with audible and/or visual alerts. Tire pressure monitoring systems can alert a driver about a tire with low air pressure or even an overheated tire right from the cab of the truck, while driving down the road. Years ago, you had to manually check your tires when you stopped (something you should still do whenever you stop).
Even with all the safety features available on modern trucks, this is no time to become lax in your duties as a driver. Now more than ever you still need to “be one with the truck” to achieve greater efficiency, work in tandem (no pun intended) with the new features and remain a safe driver. If you have a truck with some of these newer technological features, learn to work with them rather than fight against them. You will likely not win the fight. Use these new safety features to your advantage. Make proper use of the new technology, but do not rely on them too much. You are still the captain of your ship. Be vigilant. Be aware. Be prepared. Above all, “be one with the truck”.
We will not only use the machines for their intelligence, we will also collaborate with them in ways that we cannot even imagine.
- Fei-Fei Li
See you down the road,
Greg