It is strangely nostalgic leafing through an old paper logbook, the ink smear, the coffee stain, the half-illegible scribbles at 2. a.m. Yet those days gradually are giving way to the background. Motorists nationwide are hitching themselves to the digital work diary, and it is slowly transforming the way the transport sector is tracking time, fatigue and sanity.

The beauty of the digital work diary is that it cuts the clutter. There is no longer the necessity to flip pages or scramble in search of what happened yesterday under a stack of invoices. It is all stored in your tablet or phone, and it is ready to use. The app tracks your hours, reminds you when you were over rest, and even connects to the compliance systems so you will never be playing guessing games. It is having a sidekick that never forgets, never spills the coffee and does not grumble about the start times.

One of the drivers informed me that the first week was strange, no pen, no diary, only tapping screens. But now, I can’t go back.” And, to be truthful, that is the case of most of us. The online system simply fits into the pace of life on the road. You stop, press a couple of buttons and continue. No fuss.

Nevertheless, it does not sail smoothly all the time. Technology will make you hiccup. Get no signal somewhere in the middle of nowhere and you will be desiring an old fashioned paper backup. That is why there are always people who store a printed version in their glove box, just in case the digital gods decide to have a malfunction. Balance, as always, is key.

The best part? Accuracy. You will not need anymore to second guess your drive times or count rest breaks incorrectly. Everything is documented in the system to the minute. In case an inspector will look at your records, you have got clean data to present. No scribbles. No “oops.” Only hard evidence that you are on the right track.

The most surprising fact is the speed at which the habit sets. In a few weeks, drivers who used to swear by paper laugh that it was so cumbersome. It is strangely pleasant when time is dutifully organising your hours and getting them in a row, so orderly and tidy without the slightest use of a pen.

And then, too, something that renders obedience less agonizing is worth adopting. The online work journal is not only time-saving, it is also stress-saving. It allows you to drive rather than struggle with the paperwork. It is hard to kill old habits, sure–but this? Maybe it’s time to let it rest.