Experts Fear Features Intended to Aid Drivers May Distract Them From the Road

The cab of a Class 8 tractor increasingly resembles the cockpit of a 747 jumbo jet. Crammed into a small space are gauges, switches, buttons and display screens to operate electronic systems and deliver information to and from the driver. The truck pilot, like his or her airborne cousin, must process a steady flow of information while operating a large piece of machinery.

The modern truck more and more is equipped with an array of navigation, communication, diagnostic and security systems, all pumping information to the driver and the home office. But government regulators and experts worry that the proliferation of technology can tax the ability of the driver to digest all this information without being distracted from the primary job — focusing on the road ahead.

So truck manufacturers, equipment suppliers and users are working on ways to streamline the flow of information through a central point that would replace the hodgepodge of displays.

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