3M truckers, relegated to babysitter duty

3M truckers, relegated to babysitter duty(asserttrue.blogspot.com)

5 points by techdog 10 years ago | 5 comments

kozak 10 years ago |

There is the obvious direct comparison with airline pilots. But it doesn't look like airline pilots became low-paid babysitters. This is still quite a respectable profession.

a3n 10 years ago | |

Because the pilots still have to be able to fly, which takes a lot of training, practice and certification. The skills called into play during a flying intervention are much more than the skills called into play by a driving intervention.

If a pilot walks, it's very expensive to replace him, because the pool of pilots are already trained and certified prior to a job app. An airline can't take anyone of the street and create a pilot. Or at least, they don't. Pilots are rare.

A trucking company can take anyone off the street and create a driver/monitor, in part because virtually everyone can already drive, even if they don't yet have a CDL. Drivers are not rare.

kozak 10 years ago | | |

I don't buy into this logic. If you are able to intervene (i.e. suddenly take control of a large semi at its full kinetic energy in a life-critical situation), then you need skills of the same complexity as an existing truck driver. If you are not able to intervene in a tough situation, then the truck better be riding empty (with a procedure, for situations it can't resolve on its own, to stop and wait for support personnel to arrive on a car).