Just the mention of the words, “you are being watched” produces an emotional response. Creepy? Afraid? Insecure? Violated? How does it make you feel if this were truly the case? It has been two years since Edward Snowden blew the whistle on the NSA’s practice of spying on U.S. citizens. To some Snowden is a traitor, revealing deep U.S. secrets to the world. To others, Snowden is a patriot, bringing an alarming truth to light in the hopes our freedom will not be stripped away from us. The right to privacy is both a controversial and touchy subject. How is “privacy” defined, however, when it comes to the workplace? More specifically, in the waste hauling industry, does a driver have the right to privacy when it comes to the details of their route? How fast were they moving? Did they make a quick stop at a Starubucks? Did they collect extras like they said they did? When did they go to the landfill? or did they miss a stop? Most employers would say, “No, they are on our clock and with our truck”, most drivers would say, “Yes, how I do my route is my own business “.
The drivers perceive there is an invasion of privacy because they never had much transparency to begin with. The routes were “theirs”, the trucks were “theirs”, the hours it took were “theirs”. Frankly, the technology wasn’t even available to accomplish this level of “invasion” until now. Alpine Technology Corporation is in the busi
ness of equipping haulers with office and truck software to help them run their operation more efficiently and profitably. While Line-of-Business Waste Software for the office has been accepted with open arms over the past 30 years, the in-cab software has not been so widely accepted. Why is that? Is it not a foregone conclusion that the future of any hauling operation will have to include such in-cab applications? The lack of acceptance of such technology lies not at the feet of those who chart the future path of the company but at the feet of those who use it. Once this simple truth is understood, owners and IT individuals alike will be able to take the first step toward a successful implementation strategy. Driver acceptance is absolutely critical to the implementation and integration of in-cab computer systems. A few thoughts on this matter:
- Drivers are less afraid of accountability than they are of losing their freedom. Most drivers are ethical, loyal and are very hard workers, they drive because the freedom it affords them. Understanding this and emphasizing the financial/operational value to in-cab solutions over the oversight/accountability value to them will help this process greatly. Such systems actually give them more freedom to do their work with more accuracy and ease.
- The first generation that has to use the software will always be the most difficult to work with. Once you have your fleet equipped and using the software, it becomes the standard of how things are done. The next generation of drivers will better see and value the help it brings to their job.
- Drivers can read leadership extremely well. If a leader is not committed to the change, unyielding drivers will sense this and will try everything in their power to sabotage the change effort. At an implementation meeting, one GM said to his fleet, “This is the way we are going, we have crossed a bridge and will not go back. Not only have we crossed the bridge, but the bridge has been blown up. If you want to stay on the other side of the bridge, then you will not be happy here and I would ask that you leave now.” He lost a few drivers to begin with but kept the ones that were willing to walk with them into the future.
- As time goes on, it gets easier. Drivers begin to experience first-hand how the software helps them do their job better. Then, over the period of a few months, they become the greatest evangelists for the change.
In-cab solutions have come a long way and the fact is…they work. They help the drivers communicate with both the office and customer, they help the customer representatives provide better communication and service to the customers, and they help owners financially by managing costs and increasing revenue. One reason they have not been accepted is because implementation is not exact, complex, can be difficult. Too many failures have “bloodied the hillside”. Resolute leadership coupled with a committed force of drivers is the only combination for success when it comes to change.
Alpine Technology Corporation has been a leader in the Waste Industry for over 35 years providing powerful software for both the office, Visual RAMS-Pro, and trucks, Visual On-Route.