The Payback Challenge

First, let us explain how we build TruckTrek.

TKE is populated with database and geospatial computer programmers. We have collected lists of the resources used in TruckTrek from a host of different sources, both online and on paper. The reliability, timeliness and accuracy of these sources of course varies, and so we have created procedures to attempt to attain a high level of accuracy. Most often we attempt to locate all the resources using online mapping, such as Google and MS Maps in order to verify our locations. If we can find the resource on the map, then we can pinpoint it with great accuracy.

Of course, doing this is not foolproof. Published sources can be inaccurate or out of date. In fact, the images used in the mapping programs are themselves out of date to some extent. For example, we have added an advisory for the I-90 bridge in downtown Minneapolis that collapsed in the summer of 2007, but as of this writing in December of 2007, the imagery from Google and MS Maps both still show the bridge intact. The images may be of low resolution, or the features we seek to find may be hidden by trees or extensive late day shadowing. Sometimes things are not what they appear to be from overhead. In general, if we cannot locate a truck stop or weigh station from above, we will mark it with a warning (the icon will have a red outline), and we note the difficulty in the notes.

The best way to improve the data is to actually visit the locales and determine where everything is placed. We do have some drivers who do that for us on a regular basis, but it's true that no single driver ever drives all the Interstate Highway system, let alone the secondary highways. We decided that what we need to do is hire you, our users, to help us improve TruckTrek. What we've decided to do is to create a contest where you can earn back some or even all of your TruckTrek purchase price by reporting errors or omissions back to us. It's win-win; you get back some of your purchase price and knowledge that your feedback really counts; we sell a better and increasingly valuable product.

The Challenge

The rules are simple: send us any errors you find in the data within TruckTrek and we will credit you up to the value of your purchase price. Ultimately, a prolific submitter of errors located in TruckTrek can earn back the entire purchase price, and will enjoy the use of a free copy of TruckTrek. In general, an error can be anything in the TruckTrek product that does not meet the specifications discussed in this User Guide; for example, we determine a rest stop is a "turnout" if there are no rest room facilities available on a rest area site. An error occurs where TruckTrek declares a rest area is a turnout when a rest room is actually located there, and vice versa.

Here is a partial listing of the sorts of things that may be major or minor errors in TruckTrek. The list is probably not exhaustive; when in doubt, send it to us and we'll make a determination, and you may make back your purchase:

• General errors:
• Misplacement of the icon (the feature should be centered on the images)
• Incorrect road/mile marker/city/state information (we don't consider an error of up to two miles in the marker significant, but would still like to hear about them; accuracy is always cool), or supplying a mile marker where one is not given (as on a secondary road)
• Incorrect phone/fax numbers
• Bad URLs for images or for the features themselves, or locating an incorrect information page
• Misspellings and typos
• Wrong identification of a resource (labelling a rest area as a weigh station, for example)
• Information which resolves a "warned" feature (locating one that is marked "Can't find", for example)
• Suggestions for things that you think TruckTrek should be covering but isn't. For example, WalMarts have been traditionally trucker and RV friends, allowing them to use their parking lots, but many are stymied by less friendly local ordinances and neighbors. I may branch out to cover these where truckers give me WalMarts (or other parking) that is actually in use. Suggesting that would be a suggestion, had I not suggested it myself (sorry!).
• In general, any rest area or weigh station not covered are good; uncovered truck stops, though, will be minor, with weight given to those away from their brethren, since there are roughly 8000 of them out there that TruckTrek doesn't yet cover.
• Answering any of the specific questions posed on the TruckTrek Observer's page.
• Rest and Service Areas, Turnouts
• Mislabeling a rest area as a turnout (see the definition on the rest area page), or vice versa, or a service area as a rest area, etc.
• Incorrect access direction (should be both sides rather than just EastBound, and so on)
• A service/rest area/turnout shown where none such exists, or on that exists but isn't on the map
• An incorrect remark, or no remark where one is appropriate (a barricaded rest area, for example, should always be noted)
• Weigh Stations
• Many of the same situations as for rest areas
• Truck Stops
• Size information incorrect where egregiously wrong, as these numbers can be very flexibly applied; there are, however, lots of stops for which the number is not known, and they are fair game
• A missing remark about an overnight parking fee where one is always assessed
• There are estimated to be some 10,000 truck stops in the continental US, of which we only list at this time a fraction. We will be adding more, but if you have one that saved your bacon in the wilderness, send it in.

Some considerations come into play:

• The error detections will be rewarded based on substantiveness. While we are interested in hearing about any error, spelling typos are considered minor; misplacement of an item from where it really is a major error. A telephone number error is considered minor because they change for lots of reasons, but identifying a rest stop as a weigh station is major. Being 100 yards off in a location is minor; being five miles off is major, and so on.
• The award will also depend on how complete the report is. A report of a truck stop not in TruckTrek should include all the data that can be reasonably determined, particularly name, number, phone and FAX numbers, an address or explicit locating data (for example, "the southmost of the two truck stops in the northwest corner of I-70 x256, in OK", in general enough to locate it unambiguously from an overhead image), and so on. Perhaps there will be a partial awards for a partial description, but don't count on it.
• TKE will assign a pecuniary value to each error detected, and will give back that amount to the user. This will be done through Paypal, so each person who enters the challenge and submits errors will need to have both a working email address and a PayPal account (the PayPal accounts are free, and may be applied for at www.paypal.com); PayPal has individual accounts for Paypal payments and credits, and, optionally, will link that account to a real bank account for free direct transfer of funds. Paypal identifies its accounts with an email address; unless you say otherwise in your email containing the error, we will submit the payment to the email address that sent the error. All communications about errors will be via email to our email address, and should have the words "TruckTrek Errors" in the subject line.
• Error severity will be controlled by several things. First of all, only the first submitter of a particular error will be rewarded. Documentation of the correction will be considered (a photo of a weigh station sign along with it's pinpointing on the map, or detailed directions for finding a "Can't find it" weigh station, for example, would be really good; simply saying that a location is wrong is weak. Citing of a bad link would be good; sending a corrected link would be excellent. Errors received will be listed on the observer page, so you will know when something has already been reported.
• It is thought that, to begin with, major errors detected may earn up to $3, while minor ones may earn $1. This may (likely will) change as we go along. Once a submitter has earned the full value paid for TruckTrek, we will see what reward might be appropriate for continued error submission.
• The sole arbiter of quality and reward will be TKE. The contest is only open to registered purchasers of TruckTrek. TKE reserves the right to suspend or discontinue the contest or change the rules posted here at any time at it's sole discretion and without advanced warning.

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