Overdrive Magazine | Trucking Business News & Owner Operator Info
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/93143
VOICES Regulating GPS units to combat bridge hits When politicians try to get funny, it's, well, funny – and maybe a few other adjectives we could mention. Consider this from U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer's September call for federal truck GPS-unit standards to help mitigate what he sees as a growing number of bridge-strike accidents in his state, New York: "These accidents are frequent, costly, dangerous and entirely avoidable. … If we have the technology to send a truck to Mars, we have the technology to prevent trucks from crashing into bridges." First of all, senator, the most recent Mars rover, dubbed "Curiosity," is an exploring/light- article-sampling vehicle, as have been the others. NASA scientists liken its size to that of a small SUV. That doesn't qualify as a full-sized pickup, yet alone a Class 8 truck. And, as so many readers noted in comments on news of Schumer's outcry at OverdriveOnline.com and on our Facebook page, there is no technological excuse that justifies getting caught under a low bridge. Any self-respecting driver ought to know enough to take that mistake on the chin, as it were, as did John Barsness when he hit a bridge in What a GPS unit is not WHAT PIECE OF ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT IN YOUR CAB DO YOU USE THE MOST? Kansas City following a non-truck- specific GPS while moving through a construction zone. "I was so focused on the con- struction and not hitting the cones that I did not look at the clearance. I got a case of 'tunnel vision' and didn't see the forest for the trees," he wrote. "Now, I could say it was GPS' fault. I could blame it on the road construction. Or I could do what I did, which was to be very disgusted with myself and learn from my own stupid mistake." "Don't blindly trust any GPS!" Zharman Prior cautioned on Overdrive's Facebook page. "You were taught to read every sign you pass, pertinent or not, and when in doubt, get out and look." Lee Rexroad, also on Facebook: "I use GPS for help with directions. If there is any doubt on a bridge height, I will stop before going under it. We can blame GPS, when it actu- ally is the driver" who is at fault. Do you use GPS for navigation? Yes, a truck-specific unit or program 44% Never 6% Yes, but only a supplement to an atlas/route knowledge 22% Yes, a non-truck-specific unit or program 28% A GPS unit is not connected to the truck's steering system or the accelerator or the braking system. A GPS is not a "drive by wire" system … A GPS is an information-only unit and does not in any way control the vehicle. Far too many drivers allow it to control them, however. What is needed is a GPS and cellphone that has a button to press to TEST FOR COMMON SENSE. — Owner-operator Gordon Alkire, commenting on news of Sen. Chuck to avoid bridge strikes. Join the conversa- tion at OverdriveOnline. Schumer's call for regulation of GPS units com by scanning the QR code or searching "GPS." 2 | Overdrive | December 2012 Owner-operator leased to C.E. Transport JIM "PAPPY" ROGERS Groesbeck, Texas "My trucker's GPS tells me where to go, and I can choose which way I want to go, too!" Flint, Mich. | Owner-operator leased to Panther Expedited TIMOTHY PARNELL "The Qualcomm – I use it to communicate with dispatch, and I have all of my loads and information on there." Milton, Fla. | Abilene Motor Express company driver "My GPS – I use it to plan my routes and where I stop along the way." KENNY HALL "My Galaxy 3 cellphone – I listen to music with it while I'm driving." Atlanta | Central Refrigerated company driver BRT Trucking company driver STEVE RICHARDS Stone Mountain, Ga. "My Garmin trucker's GPS – we go to Canada quite a bit hauling loads and need one out there." CEDRIC JOHNSON Source: OverdriveOnline.com poll