Odd Lots What Truckers Already Know About the Future of Electronic Worker Surveillance
Jan 9, 2023
Karen Levy, an Associate Professor at Cornell University and author of 'Data Driven,' dives into the world of electronic monitoring in the trucking industry. She discusses how electronic logging devices (ELDs) are reshaping the dynamics between truckers and fleet owners, bringing both safety benefits and concerns over worker autonomy. Levy highlights the ethical dilemmas of surveillance practices, the impact on trucker compliance, and the broader implications for workplace monitoring across various industries, raising questions about privacy and trust.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Trucker Surveillance and Safety
- ELDs aim to improve trucker safety by enforcing driving time regulations.
- However, the core issue is the payment-by-mile system, which incentivizes overwork and fatigue.
ELD Technology
- ELDs capture basic data like location and driving time.
- However, they often include additional features like messaging, driver behavior monitoring, and even biometric sensors.
Data as a Commodity
- While the ELD mandate requires basic tracking, companies add extra surveillance features.
- This data becomes valuable to trucking companies, insurers, and third parties, but not to the drivers.
