Technology and Today’s Truck Driver

      Welcome to another day of BlogFest 2012!!  Our host today is Kate at Traveling Forever. I would like to thank her ahead of time for her interesting writing prompt: how technology makes travel easier today.

        While I haven’t traveled much myself, my father was an over the road truck driver his whole life and my husband is also an over the road truck driver.  A lot has changed since my Dad was behind the wheel of his own rig.  When I was growing up my Dad would locate a pay phone and call home every Wednesday and Sunday night like clock work.  On all the other days of the week he might as well have been on the dark side of the moon for all we knew because it was near impossible to reach him.  In case of an emergency my mother had to contact the state police and have him tracked down.  I can’t imagine the lonely life he lived without complaint and wish that technology in those days would have been more advanced so that we could have had daily contact with him instead of a single phone call twice a week.

        Thanks to the development of technology my husband is a phone call away.  He carries his android phone with him at all times allowing daily phone calls home and the opportunity for us to send pictures back and forth.  His truck is tracked by satellite so his company knows approximately where his truck is at all times.  Inside his truck is a fancy dancy computer system where he not only receives his dispatches for loads, but also directions to his destinations.  If he is unavailable by phone, there is always the possibility his company can relay a message through his QUALCOMM.  The invention of the GPS navigation device also made his job a whole lot easier with step by step route directions. With the invention of Google Earth, truck drivers are able to type in their destination and get a bird’s eye view of where the docks and parking are located before they arrive.  Technology also makes the concept of satellite radio possible making his daily travels a little more enjoyable because he never travels out of range.  

        The power of satellite signals power television and internet access so he can enjoy the comforts of home right inside his semi truck.  Technology has made the life of a truck driver and his family a lot more bearable bringing us all closer together though technology no matter how many miles separate us.  In my way of thinking that is pretty cool until next time when I give you another glimpse into the life of a trucker’s wife.