Though there has been quite a vocal outcry by many drivers, not everyone seems to dislike the idea of mandatory Electronic On Board Recorders (EOBRs) in every truck in America. The ATA is supporting the legislation and some executives are already hailing EOBRs as a boon for the industry.
John Elliott, CEO of Load One, LLC, and Clay Merches, Safety Director for J&R Schugel Trucking have already started use of EOBRs with their fleets and are reporting them as a great success. According to Merches “electronic logs are a game-changer [in terms of] safety compliance and productivity.”
John Elliott made moving away from paper logs and toward electronic ones voluntary for his drivers because he was concerned that since the average age of his drivers is in the 50s, they might not be able to pick up on the new technology as quickly. He also said that some drivers had not been very good at maintaining their paper logs, and he was able to keep them on with the fleet by giving them the option of switching over to electronic logs.
When speaking about the topic during a webinar hosted by Omnitracs, Merches said that it has made a measurable difference in office productivity. His job has also become easier because of the lack of paper logs – it is now simpler to check and see if all drivers are in compliance.
Next Story: Check Kiting Company Owner Sued Over Missing Driver Pay
Source: fleetowner
Jerry says
I sure am glad they like it I am 30 miles from home had to stay in truck stop and eat McD last nite. Tell me again how healthy and much safer I will be Ms.FMCSA LADY!! Been at this 21 years now think it is time to hang it up while I still have time to get another 20 yrs in something else. Maybe I will go to school for a skilled labor job this time…
MR. G says
If your only 30 miles from home, call home an get a ride.
Wayne says
Thats not the point call n get a ride,the point was he was inconvenienced period,or how about if he was 30 miles from delivering your yes your stuff hmmmm
Gary says
MR. G. Some people may not have that option. I sure as heck aint calling anyone at 11 pm. to come and get me from no truckstop. What the hell is wrong with him driving home 30 min., thereby freeing up a parking space for someone who is is just passing through and could make better use of it? I’ve been in that same situation. I was only only 45 miles from home, and 57 miles to the customer. I spent the 10 at the truckstop, didn’t sleep a wink since it was daytime and I wasn’t sleepy, (also, the FMCSA has not mandated sleeping pills yet) and after my 10 I bypassed the house and went to the customer. Couldn’t stop at the house because I had already used my 10 hrs. at the Pilot. Customer was closed but there were people there. All I wanteed to do was spend the night so I would have a fresh 10 in the morning. But customer was pissed because the load was late and they had to unload it. It was kegs of beer. By the time they got me empty, I was sleepy. It was now 12:22 am. When the company found out I was empty, they wanted me to kick bricks. I could just see them now, lickin’ their chops and rubbing their hands together, “looky there boys, an empty truck, we cover that 2 pm. Jersey load afterall”. Riiiight, the only thing they covered was that dash with some armour-all and that fifth-wheel with some grease after I dropped their truck off. By the way, I also didn’t take to kindly to them jumpin’ in #@*% when I used the truck to go to the grocery store. We had a 30 min. time limit. If we went over, we had to call safety and explain.why.
Cary says
If he is out of hours then he is out of hours! How would a paper log change that? Are you saying you would be able to “cheat” a paper log and get home regardless? This is exactly the type of drivers EOBR’s was put in place for! I for one and glad you had to stop! Get on board with the program or find another proffesion!
Brian says
If they mandate elogs for the trucks i drive now ill retire from trucking altogether after 16 years. Of course the ATA is all for it. it gets rid of all their competition, a.k.a. small business.
Jim T says
We should demand an hourly wage if we have to punch a time clock.
mr No One says
Exactly! Anything after 8 hours (and our break) so after 8:30 should be paid 1.5! Especially when having to wait at shippers/receivers to wait for after a “2-3 hour period” detention.
Will says
mr No One, your on the right path, but the trucking industry has been preempted from the federal DOL regulations. Therefore, every trucker would have to write to their Congressmen/women and Senitor’s in getting them to formulate laws the would govern an hourly wage for all the truckers.
WING says
that’s the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938.
Congress does not serve us. they serve themselves.. did it to the future of truckers in 1938 and are still doing it..
My, aren’t we a progressive bunch!
Allen says
Watch out – it’ll be $8/hr
WING says
on 168 hours/OTR. You are always responsible for the load on the road…. always.
10.00 hour at 168 hours, out taking care of business and not at home.
If the 168 hour clock is ticking …you should get paid for it… is your time not worth something?
CorkyF says
The fact that the ATA supports it proves it ain’t good for the driver.
Will says
Hi CorkyF. To tell you the truth, the big businesses do not care about a one man business. Its all about pushing the small businesses out, so they can make more money, the same as playing the MONOPOLY game such as all the big trucking companies have been doing. Yet the US Government has not made any attempt in control this, in keeping small businesses alive. Also, can a small business man even afford this equipment for their truck? For what I can see, the FMCSA doesn’t even care about small busiesses??? Believe it or not, that is what made America SMALL BUSINESSES. All of us must remember that big buinesses are running this country by putting people in Washington that they want which they call (lobbyist), what we need as small business owners would be to get some good drivers to lobby for us.
Roadghost says
My mind wanders back to the days of a free society, when highway trucking paid a decent (hub not book) mileage rate and it was all the miles you could eat on 3 log books. I’ll be interested to see how this works out.
Slipkid says
The only problem I have is the inflexibility of EOBR’s. Ask a broker if there is parking at the consignee. They will always say yes. Usually you can’t.
If you give yourself three options to stop for your 10hour break and you find I’ve at your first option then you’ve not been able to utilize all your driving hours so you make less money. If you get to your third option and you cant find a place to park you take the chance of getting fines for parking illegally or ticketed for driving illegally. The system is set up for drivers to fail and pay, fail and pay. Fail and pay. While the businesses still make money because its still on the driver to make a parking spot appear by magic. Start making businesses match the drivers fines for illegal parking or driving over time and maybe the shine on those EOBR’s won’t seem so shiny.
mike says
when it is forced on us i will be done.I am a owner/operater not a company driver
time to sell the truck
Cary says
Well bye!
Gary says
Cary, you seem to be just the type of driver the ATA, the FMCSA and the large trucking companies are looking for, a YES man. You can love this job but still have to fight for what you believe in, instead of rolling over, playing dead and almost thanking the FMCSA for coming up with this crap. When will the FMCSA and you learn that it’s not how many hrs. you take on your break as much as it is when you take it. A 15 hr. break does you no good if you are not sleepy. All it does is stress you out because you feel pressured to sleep and you know what will happen to the paycheck if you don’t roll when that 10 hrs. is up. But hey, freedom of choice is cool right? Now the driver can choose between being unsafe and driving when he is now sleepy and stressed out, or he can stay parked and be stressed out from seeing everything he or she has worked for slip away, all the why trying to maintain pride and his or her pride. By the way some of do have families you know. I’ll let you in on another secret alot of these companies out here today, were built on the hard work that the FMCSA is now trying to prohibit. alot of companies started with one truck. I would love for the FMSCA to be ordered to switch their 9 to 5 schedule to 11 pm to 7 am, just to get a small taste.
Scott says
Its all about money and people behind desks who must justify their jobs. 2.8 million accident free miles. We all know that the “harassment” is more forcing drivers to go out with faulty equipment instead of fixing issues, more so than the HOS thing.. I’m hanging it up when this goes into effect. The answer to “30 miles from home” is “get a ride”. Mr. G, you are part of the problem, and you probably don’t drive. Just shaking my head; I’ll find something else to do for a living.
Cary says
You can only blame yourself if you go out with “faulty” equipment! That’s what a pre-trip is for. You are the last line of defense. If you are worried about backlash then you don’t know as much about your chosen proffesion as you would like to think you do!
ET says
How about this. The EOBR’s should be a choice not mandatory for the safe carrier !!!
shakeval says
well, looks like the mouth breathers like it, time move on to greener pastures
Cary says
Well, BYE!
Brian White says
Always some smart a$$ like Cary has to weigh in with their inane comments.
LilKW says
Decades ago, if someone knew they would be passing through, by or near the house, he would call home for his wife to meet him, bring him fresh clothes, pick up a bag of dirty clothes, and even pack a nice goody bag filled with sandwiches, cigarettes, peanut butter and bread. It was exciting for a marriage, brought some unexpected spontaneousness to the meeting. The wife got to travel somewhere different to meet her loving husband, got to spend 3 hours to a night with him, then travel home happy to have spent some time with him. The good ol’ days.
LilKW says
The company I worked for was great when it came to EOBRs. At first, they had paper logs. Then they used both. Now all their equipment has EOBRs installed. At first I didn’t like it, then whenever I was stopped, and when I had both paper and EOB logs, the officer wanted to see both of them, to compare for accuracy. The company had to fax the Electronic logs to the officers car. Now, being totally electronic, there is less hassle. The company placed Electronic Logs on the bottom edge of door, and since then, officers rarely ask for them. They look at the computer, and like us, they are just as dumbfounded as we were when we had to enter data. So don’t worry about electronic logs. If the DOT touches the wrong button and erases half of the data, that’s not your fault.
CLASSIC1 says
well if the big companies wouldn’t have abused drivers for so long we wouldn’t be having this discussion about EOBRs and now they want it all in their pockets,if they think they can put guys like me out of business and then come to work for them and have to work more hours and see my family less,ain’t happening, if its easier for the bigger companies then let them do it i personally don’t need them or the extra cost