MrFedEx
Engorged Member
First, let me say that I don't have a complete understanding of the UPS Telematics system. What I do understand is that it apparently measures, tracks, or monitors nearly every phase of vehicle operation, from seatbelt usage, to how many turns you make, to backing speeds. This doesn't sound like much fun, but given what we know about FedEx, how far behind can our version be? If UPS invents something, you can be fairly sure that FedEx will copy it, in an attempt to be as efficient as Big Brown.
The PowerPad is bad enough, but can you imagine having to account for your backing speed, idle time, or even more than you already have to worry about with the PowerPad? When I drove Seasonal Feeder for UPS, there was a rule that you couldn't idle your tractor more than 30 seconds without shutting it off. That meant if you were waiting at a security gate at the airport, you'd have to shut it down for fear that you'd end-up on the "Idle Report". Even as a temp, I was held to the same standards as the regulars. One night, one of my trailers had an air leak due to a bad glad hand seal, which had cracked around the edges and was slowly leaking air. I usually carried a few replacements, but that night I'd left my grip at home, so I had to keep it running to prevent the brakes from setting-up. The next day I was read the riot act, for leading the Idle Time list, even though there was no danger and I'd gotten the freight to all of the remote centers safely and on-time. No matter. This was also a great policy on freezing cold nights.
Anyway, the Idle Time Report was mild compared to Telematics, but it begs the question of when we will get Fredmatics or whatever FedEx decides to call their copy of UPS technology. This will be great fun if we get it, because it will be impossible to cheat the Powerpad like a lot of people do now. They will know that you've been driving during break and can track you exactly. Watch the new people drop like flies, because that's the only way a lot of them even get close to surviving. Same for the old people with bad habits, like not always buckling-up or speeding. They'll know...everything.
Cheating Fredmatics sounds possible from what I've read on the UPS threads, but since that's also a terminable offense, it wouldn't be a good idea to mess with it.
Knowing what we all know about FedEx, it's love of technology, and it's obsession with monitoring us, how soon can we expect to get to the next level?
The PowerPad is bad enough, but can you imagine having to account for your backing speed, idle time, or even more than you already have to worry about with the PowerPad? When I drove Seasonal Feeder for UPS, there was a rule that you couldn't idle your tractor more than 30 seconds without shutting it off. That meant if you were waiting at a security gate at the airport, you'd have to shut it down for fear that you'd end-up on the "Idle Report". Even as a temp, I was held to the same standards as the regulars. One night, one of my trailers had an air leak due to a bad glad hand seal, which had cracked around the edges and was slowly leaking air. I usually carried a few replacements, but that night I'd left my grip at home, so I had to keep it running to prevent the brakes from setting-up. The next day I was read the riot act, for leading the Idle Time list, even though there was no danger and I'd gotten the freight to all of the remote centers safely and on-time. No matter. This was also a great policy on freezing cold nights.
Anyway, the Idle Time Report was mild compared to Telematics, but it begs the question of when we will get Fredmatics or whatever FedEx decides to call their copy of UPS technology. This will be great fun if we get it, because it will be impossible to cheat the Powerpad like a lot of people do now. They will know that you've been driving during break and can track you exactly. Watch the new people drop like flies, because that's the only way a lot of them even get close to surviving. Same for the old people with bad habits, like not always buckling-up or speeding. They'll know...everything.
Cheating Fredmatics sounds possible from what I've read on the UPS threads, but since that's also a terminable offense, it wouldn't be a good idea to mess with it.
Knowing what we all know about FedEx, it's love of technology, and it's obsession with monitoring us, how soon can we expect to get to the next level?