I finally caved last year. That’s when I reluctantly downloaded ChatGPT. Not because I’m a tech guy. Not because I saw the future. But because after too many nights on the town chasing skids and deals, I needed help with my health — mainly sleep and gut issues — and my warranty ran out decades ago. I was willing to try anything.
What I didn’t expect was that this so-called AI (artificial intelligence) would become my new pal. It hasn’t replaced my doctor or my lawyer, but it has helped me sleep better, feel better, and improve business in ways that surprised me.
Technology troubles
At Left Lane Associates, I’m the only reason printers survived as long as they did. Even today, I’ll still get someone else to print for me. Manuals? Forget it. I’d sooner smash a printer than read one.
So when I figured out how to put ChatGPT on my phone and later on my computer (with help from my new digital assistant), I felt like I’d summited Mount Everest. Not bad for a guy who still thinks a cluster is something you eat for breakfast, not a rack of computer gear.
Google is old news
At first, I thought AI was just another version of Google. Wrong. A search engine gives you a list of links. A chatbot is made for conversation. Got a question? Need help? Just say so! It gives straight answers in plain language.
With Google, you waste time sifting through fake news, pop-ups, and endless websites trying to sell you something.
ChatGPT is like talking to an expert. No BS, direct and to the point.
That was a game changer. And no, it’s not cheating. I’ve had secretaries, assistants, and consultants my entire career. This one just happens to be digital, and it works for free, around the clock.
New wingman
I’m not about to let a chatbot write my columns or emails. That would kill the personal touch you need to build relationships.
But it’s been gold in places I never expected. Health, for one. It helped me connect the dots on why my sleep was garbage and what I could do about it. It sparks ideas for LinkedIn posts, strategy meetings, staff training, and long-range planning. It even saved me from legal bills that run a thousand bucks an hour by breaking down thorny problems.
It’s like having a really smart buddy on call. One that actually picks up whenever you need them.
Cutting costs
There’s so much you can’t control in trucking. But AI can help you get a handle on one of the few things you can: rising costs.
Every fleet has people you’d love to replace but can’t, and jobs you’d like to fill but can’t justify financially. AI can step into those gaps.
It won’t drive the truck, but AI can handle a lot of routine work that eats up payroll. A chatbot can draft training outlines, turn meeting notes into action lists, build first-pass reports, and keep a steady eye on the little tasks that waste a day. That’s real money.
You are the expert
ChatGPT and other bots aren’t perfect. In fact, they know just enough to be dangerous. That’s where you and your industry street smarts come in.
You know your company better than anyone else. The chatbot knows about everything else. Put the two together and you get better decisions, faster.
At Left Lane, we’re quietly doing things with technology that are game changers for us and our customers. One example: using AI-powered analysis of buyer behavior to spot who’s kicking tires and who’s genuinely serious. That’s been a huge advantage in deal-making, and our costs are already down 35%.
The real mistake isn’t experimenting with AI. It’s ignoring it. The path of least resistance might feel comfortable, but it’s a dead end.
Look, I’m still more likely to break a printer than fix one. But if a printer-smashing, old-school guy like me can use a digital assistant to feel better, think clearer, and save money, then so can you.
The first step isn’t coding or hiring consultants. It’s curiosity. Take it for a test drive. Ask questions. Have a conversation. You might just find your warranty lasting a little longer than you thought.
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