Is there such a thing as too much technology? A truck driver has limited time for learning and using new technology, so the primary question is, “Will this make life easier or more profitable?”. Here are some ways to answer the question.

All new technology requires learning how to use it. The time that it takes to learn I consider an investment. Combine this with the investment of money spent on the technology itself and it can add up to more than you planned on. The producers of new technology are not going to clue you in on the amount of the investment either, especially if they have used proprietary methods. Specialty products may have functions that will never translate to other products of similar function.


You should learn to identify good tech products from bad products. A good way to do this is to find the manual for what you are considering online BEFORE you buy the product. Look through the instructions and see what is involved in learning the use of the product. Compare it to competitors manuals, there may be a better product available.

Software and hardware work together in most tech products. Find out what the product you are considering uses for it’s operating software. For example, if Microsoft is involved, you’ll have an easy user interface with functions you are accustomed to, but it’s probably going to have malfunctions. If it uses Linux, there it will have some strange functionality, but it will be more reliable. If a product has large user base, a problem is more likely to be corrected due to the demand for a fix.

Be careful of claims to solve an entire problem. For example, Drivers Daily Log, a program that claims to computerize your log book, can actually take something simple and create more problems for you. An operation as simple as logging your daily activities, can be turned into a complex adventure. If you are having extreme problems figuring the math, you’re getting fined for violations, and your penmanship is getting complaints, Drivers Daily Log is worth the time and money investment and you will be very happy to have a problem solved. If you
are having no problems with your current logging, don’t spend the money and time to fix a problem that does not exist. If you look further into the program, you will find that it’s very proprietary and you’re skills learned from other software are not portable to this product. There could be something else coming soon that will communicate well with other software.

Simplicity is a virtue with any new technology. Check to see if the problem you want to solve is going to be a simple function. Quality products will have full, easy to understand documentation. They will solve user problems, therefore their website will not have “bug reports” and large forums where users are solving problems on their own. A good company may have a forum, but they solve the problems, not the users. Call the support number provided on their website and see if you get English speaking agents. You want a company’s support to provide you simple solutions, not endless searches on their website.

Don’t believe the sales hype and do your research. Make the salesperson show you how a product can solve specific problems you are having or how it can make you more productive. Give them time, there’s no way a salesperson can know everything, but he should know where to find the answers and also tell you where to find the answers. Try before you buy is common for software, so take advantage of it.

If you’re not willing to make the time investment to research a product, you probably don’t need it. Is there to much technology? No, there is technology that you do not need.