This Question May Have No Definitive Answer

Some years ago, when I was in construction, I was asked what I thought was the ONE biggest advance in construction over the previous 20 years. I still wonder about that question to this day. There have been so many advances and everyone might give a different answer.

So what about trucking? What has been the SINGLE greatest advance in the trucking industry over the past 20 years? Is it mechanical? Is it technology related? People related?

I'd say communication.

Having instant direct communication between driver and dispatch has created a very different industry than how my father described his trucking days.

Hands down it has to be the cell phones.

It's funny because trucking hasn't changed a whole lot in twenty years. I highly agree with the communication idea. That and the logistics software developments are really the major changes.

Maybe not 20 years but.. power steering/brakes. Most women didn't have the strength to handle the machines back in the day. Opened up all new possibilities for women and married teams, handling children as spouses swap on and off the truck. and allowed a double income of the same amount.

And how about the INTERNET/CELL PHONE combo with sites like TT where you can do continuing education in your spare time, plus have some fun thrown in.

Construction related, I was in the residential end of the business for over 2 decades. Although not new, I have always been impressed with Tilt Up construction on the Commercial end. It amazes me how quickly they can build a 1,000,000 sq ft warehouse or Distribution Center. Not to mention a square mile of concrete tarmack!

Trucking related, I agree with communication. I could not imagine relying soley on paper maps and pay phones!

It has to be affordable cell phones. When I started driving flatbed in 1995, almost nobody had a cell phone on the road with them. I had one, but it cost so much to use just in my local area it was ridiculous, let alone "roaming". Couldn't afford it. Now you can talk all day if you want to. Anybody else remember the long-distance prepaid phone cards sold at all the truck stops? Then waiting to use a phone to call home in the long rows of pay phones?