Senator wants on-board recorders

[Markk9]

It's not a driver problem, it's an industry problem.

Mark

[old-six-pack]

after 49 years and 11 months,(and 308 lbs) i consider myself a grown boy. I need no one to tell me when to get up or when to go to bed....nor to tell me when i'm sleepy or not. I also have the guts to tell anyone who thinks they can tell me to disreguard the rules, where they can put their load! Think you're going to lose a customer? So what ??!! My life is more important!!!! So what again. after 30 years , i'm still driving. When you take a load , do the math. If you can't do the load on time,tell someone up front . Don't wait until the load is already late. Dispatchers always tell shippers and recievers a bunch of #### . Get on the phone and and advise the reciever or shipper the truth yourself.. The truth ALWAYS prevails.

[Markk9]

oldsixpack, the current HOS rules already dictate the hours you can work and hours you need to rest. Your employer already has a records of your time behind the wheel and time you are working, as well as your off duty time.

Please explain what an EOBR will do that you are already not doing? As long as you are already in compliance with HOS then EOBR's will change nothing. If you have a Q-Comm or other type system then you are running under an EOBR anyway. Even if your a single truck company you still have to in compliance with HOS.

Mark

[lobshot]

Seems to me that if you are running legal and not speeding the recorders are your friend. Recorders in airlines also initially met with resistence but they are now accepted as a fact of life. They are no big deal if you are doing what you are supposed to be doing and they can be your witness to that fact in court.

[raindancer]

Does that mean she also wants to mandate how long a shipper/reciever has to load/unload or there is a fine and hopefully detention? Does she also wnt to mandate that there be rest areas that can handle enough trucks that we dont have to park on ramps? ( love to see that in IN and OH). And lastly does she want to mandate that drivers be gaurenteed a percentage of the linehaul so that we not getting .98 amile on a 4.00 a mile load and little to no fsc. THEN WE CAN AFFORD TO RUN COMPLIENT.

[Markk9]

raindancer, once all the companies are forced to comply with HOS, they will be tell the shippers and receiver about load and unload times. It will have to be done for them to forecast trucks in load planning. If you can't afford to run compliant now, you work for a bad company.

Why would you want a percentage? Once they go to EOBR, either they start to pay for all time on line 3 & 4, or you will see a mass exodus of drivers. EOBR's are a way to push out the O/O and single truck companies, FMCSA & ATA doesn't like or want you to be in business. Remember that you chose to work at .98 a mile.

Mark

[Brickman]

Originally Posted by ssbowles

EOBRs are already here...maybe not to the extent that the establishment wants, but they're here. Especially with the Qualcomms....you think your company doesn't know exactly what you do and when you do it? When I was with Schneider, they had the ability to dump the Qualcomm and tell when we missed a shift....more than I want 'em to know about my business.
But, at the same time, what's the chance that this may help in the HOS fight? If they can see cold hard facts about how the rules force us to "get creative" maybe some real change would take place.
Oh man, did I actually say that? Jeex, I need a nap.......

Your cell phone will also tattle on you if it becomes necessary for the fuzz to really find out what you were doing. Usually in a death accident they'll pull that info. Most all of us would be 100% screwed, blued and tattooed if that info is looked at.

[Brickman]

Originally Posted by Markk9

EOBR's are a way to push out the O/O and single truck companies, FMCSA & ATA doesn't like or want you to be in business.

Mark

Man isn't this the truth!

[379 Peterbilt]

Originally Posted by rex

I've often stated that those who resort to name calling, stereotyping, and misinformation are among the more poorly educated of people who post on these forums. Posts such as this one would seem to reinforce this premise.

I've also often come out in favor of on board recording devices since these may help alleviate problems of laggard shippers and receivers who waste so much of our workday. On the other hand I'm the guy who just fireballed eleven hundred miles in a little more than sixteen hours in order to not be late for Thanksgiving dinner. I have mixed feelings about recorders...
rx

That made very little sense. Are you arguing with yourself in public?

Anyways, as I said, I am totaly against them. I keep hearing predictions that OBR's will happen, when not if. I dunno about that. Money ALWAYS comes into play with issues like this. By money, I mean the increased cost to ship goods, when drivers are forced to shut down for the day only running 250 miles in a day, after taking 9 hours to empty and reload. The demand for drivers would go through the roof.

The cost of fuel is already adding alot. Needing to create another 25-35% driving possitions in the country overnight, would be more than unreachable.

Maybe placings rules in effect of alowing 60 ft trailers and weight limits of 100,000 pounds, the day they mandate OBR's would address the new "shortage"...but I don't see that happening.

If you think you'll make more money with OBR's....well you will - per mile. But you'll be driving a fraction of the miles in a year that you used to.

[Dry Throat]

Originally Posted by Markk9

What is the DOT, trucking companies, shippers & receivers going to do when an unload takes longer then planned and you are over the 14 hour driving rule and must drive 15 to 60 minutes to find a truck stop?


Mark

you guys can drive 14 hours??
here in belgium we are allowed to drive 4 1/2 hour then have to take a rest for 45 minutes and then drive 4 1/2 hour again, once a week we can drive a bit longer (it's a real pain in the #####) specially if you drive heavy loads like caterpillars, volvo's (excavators bulldozers) mostly i also have 14 to 18 hours workday