As a team, usually hauling time sensitive loads, my hubby and I usually drive 10 hours each, per day... I think I can live with the 10 hour part of this...BUT losing the 34 hour restart really bites. After playing with number a bit, we figured out that we could only work 8.75 hours to not run out of hours. That includes all on-duty not driving time. That's just not going to cut it when you figure in the time waiting at shippers, receivers, getting fuel, eating meals. If, under the new ruling, a driver uses up his 70 hours in 5 days (14 hours a day), it will take 3 days to regain any hours; in 6 days, 2 days until you can drive again; 7 days, 1 full day. Correct me if I am wrong on those figures. I am wondering where all these trucks are going to park on their down time... and how much more fuel is going to be burned by those who have to sit for 3 days at a truck stop. And there is the obvious issues of getting the freight to a customer on time. No, this may not affect EVERY driver out here... but I think it will affect more than not. AND I'm sure it will affect the cost of all consumer goods, in the long run. After listening to the Midnight Radio Network last night, they made some very valid points... One thing I agree with is that until we ALL drive legal, no one can truly gauge the effectiveness of the HOS rules. If we all drove legal, I think there would be a huge negative impact on commerce. Personally, I don't see that happening. Truckers are the most creative people I know and are pretty much forced to "make it work" in order to maintain a decent income, but by doing that,we send the message to these groups like Public Citizen, that their rules actually work. All I forsee is more and more creative logging in the future.

I still haven't seen what the impact is, tho'. Are we talking about less hours to drive during 24 hours? Are they going to increase the hours (unlikely) or severely limit them to less than the 11/14? I just caught this, but I have to go to work. I planned on registering in the truck driving program at the local JC in October. What role will this play on one's income and job security?

I'm not too well versed in the DOT regulations, although I know they're trying to restrict things so much that truckers will be earning $5.85 an hour soon. What is your understanding everyone? Thanks for your replies.

I don't remember the whole article. But the part I remember is it is felt that the 34 hour start over time doesn't suppress the fatigue of a long time driving over the road.

Just reading between the lines here...but if the reason to eliminate the current HOS regulations, for new reulations, is to prevent driver fatigue, ensure safe and efficient motor carrier operations and save lives...as they say...tells me that you will be driving less then 11 hours a day and reseting longer then 34. Time will tell.

Yep
Isnt that what I just said??

ATA is taking action to keep the current rules in place, OOIDA wants some things changed, but their action was dismissed, you have teams of so-called experts supporting all of this nonsense fighting it out in front of glorified lawyers,and we wonder what happened. This whole process has become a political and legal football, that keeps getting fumbled and picked up, and the refs are the courts. This issue will never be settled to everyone's satisfaction.
Meanwhile we drivers have jobs to do, some of which are impacted heavily by the 14 hour rule, and some will be impacted heavily by reduced driving time. I hate that everything in this country has to be politicized to do anything with it. There is nothing rational about any of this, and safety isn't anything but window dressing. We make a driver sit that can drive and then force a driver to drive or lose their hours even if tired. It makes me want to go back to dairy farming so I could work till I drop again.

I meant the problem with companies making you pick up something in the morning drive 300 and deliver it at 1130pm or so. Have turned out to be 20+ hr days for me. I say no, they convince me I can take a break, I think about it and think I can take a nap or something. Time comes around, I fall asleep for an hour and the alarm goes off so I am back to work. Really safe.

On the second part of your quote, and to change the subject, I had my first full log the other week. 13 hrs driving, 780 miles in a 62mph truck, full 10 hr break in the middle, fueled twice/cleaned windows/pretrip/postrip completely legal right up to the minute.

I used to be 10.5 hrs or right on 11 on a night schedule, it is easy to plan where to park and know there's a spot. I was talked into driving during the day by my fleet manager but I think it will be all nights from now on especially with the new rules. Day driving just kills my 10 hr break and sucks my average speed down with all the traffic, stoplights (they stay green longer after 10pm...makes big difference). There was an accident today on 465 that delayed me for over an hour. I wouldn't have gotten far with 10 hrs. I would've been in the middle of Nowhereville, OH instead of a rest area.

In my best Steve Martin...."well excuuuuuuuuuuuuse me"

Thats pretty much what I was thinking, that reset is very valuable to a lot of drivers!!! I hope that they do change their minds.

These new possible changes will really screw up the job I'm doing now.

I'm working for Taylor Propane hauling crude oil. 3 loads a day is the quota. Its taking every minute and every second of 14 hrs to complete. And you drive as fast as you can get away with, which isn't a good idea with a load of hazmat. And I am NOT taking any breaks thru the day. I pack a big lunch box with samiches, cookies, fruit ect and eat while either driving or pumping the crude on/off. 5 days on, 2 off. Cutting the daily work hours will really mess things up, and cutting the reset will also really put a real hitch in the get along.

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