Shortly after picking up a load, I got an unsolicited text message asking me to reply which I promptly ignored since I was driving. I then received more text messages over the next hour and even a robo-call -- all of which I ignored. I'm not in the habit of installing dubious technology on a whim and I'm even less inclined to install pushy dubious technology...
When I stopped ~8 hours later, I did a little research. The messages came from Macropoint, which does seem to be a "legitimate" product that uses your cell phone's location based on cell tower data (not GPS so it does not require a smart phone). It does use SMS & data -- something to keep in mind if either are not unlimited. Turns out it does not require the installation of an app, but it does require your consent to let your cell provider give them your location information.
Mainly I have 2 issues:
1) I'm not in the business of providing additional services for free. If this service is important to the customer, then its inclusion needs to be mentioned in the negotiations & reflected in the rate -- not sprung on me after the fact.
2) I am not comfortable with their privacy policy, specifically that I have no expectation of privacy while using this service and that they are free to share my location information, not just with the shipper/broker, but any of their customers. If I was in the business of hijacking trucks, I'd certainly want to be a customer of Macropoint!
What do you all think -- should I make a tinfoil hat now? How many have accepted tracking? Did you terminate tracking after the load? Did you negotiate for additional pay to allow a cell tracking service?
Macropoint cell phone tracking
Discussion in 'Ask An Owner Operator' started by double yellow, Dec 1, 2014.
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