In February, 2000, National Public Radio's All Things Considered featured a news story about the use of laptop computers by long-haul truck drivers. These independent contractors travel around the nation hauling loads from one city to another. In a good week, they may transport loads to several cities, while arranging the trips to end up back home at the end. Wherever possible, they avoid driving with an empty truck since this costs them considerable money in fuel and lost fees.

Once they deliver a trailer to its destination, they go online to web sites that serve as brokerages both listing the companies with trailers ready for hauling and offering each trucker the chance to bid on the jobs. Within a few minutes, the trucker can find his next job and conclude the business details to haul it to the next destination city. The driver described how without the computer, he used to waste a couple of days in a motel room calling around to find the next load ready for hauling.

According to NPR the drivers also report using web resources to keep track of traffic delays caused by highway construction, and microcomputer databases to record all operating expenses. Traffic delays are often very problematic for drivers whose profitability depends on prompt delivery of each load to its destination.

The lesson here is that the information revolution is impacting even blue-collar jobs where one might not readily anticipate the need for online information. Nearly everyone is fast becoming an information worker.