It's a Team's Life

Mid-America Truck Show (MATS)

Mid-America Truck Show (MATS) Review

Last week Dave and I along with our dogs Rocky and Barkley attended this year’s Mid-America Truck Show (MATS). While Rocky and Barkley received most of the attention, Dave and I also enjoyed meeting up with old friends, attending corporate sponsored breakfast, lunch, safety meetings and updates of future corporate and industry expectations. We also left with many unexpected door prizes and bling from vendors at MATS.

For those of you who may not know, Dave and I are leased on to Landstar, Inc. Landstar has always been very focused on safety. One thing that was encouraged was that every driver should consider putting a forward facing camera in their truck(s). We currently have a 5-camera system on our truck. One camera faces forward, another is on the back of the truck, there is a camera on each side of the truck and the fifth camera is inside the box of the truck. Our camera system has a four terabyte SD card that can hold nearly 30 days of data. We also looked at a camera option that could be part of the GPS system. Unfortunately, that system is not something that would work for us right now. What we have works for us until newer technology becomes available.

Lately, others have brought up the subject of not only forward facing cameras but cameras that face the drivers as well. I was asked what my take is on a camera facing the driver. In all honesty, I do not know how I feel about that scenario. On the one hand, I think I would be so stressed out due to being caught doing something wrong. Some see a camera that is focused on the driver as an invasion of privacy. If a camera could  be used as a learning tool without have negative results, then more drivers might be accepting of it. Companies will have to decide if or how a camera on the driver will work. Until then, I will let the process evolve. I will then have a better basis to form an opinion. 

We also spent some time in the Landstar booth. We had the opportunity to talk with many corporate employees as well as meet drivers that might one day find themselves leased on to Landstar. It gives us great pleasure to talk to other drivers about Landstar as a company as well as all that they can achieve if they choose to come to Landstar. We talk about our success and the relationships and friendships that we have made with other drivers, the agents (freight brokers) that have work for us as well as at the corporate level. We had the opportunity to ask questions and offer suggestions to vice presidents as well as the CEO. Every person cares about our success. When we succeed the company succeeds. It truly is a win-win for everyone.

Here’s to millions of safe, profitable and WIN-WIN miles.

Kelly Plumb