Rest breaks need to stop on-duty clock - Truckers' Trucking Forum

Cybergal · **^ Top** #1 01.18.2008

Rest breaks need to stop on-duty clock
1/17/08

Quote:

The inability of truckers to stop the on-duty clock when taking short breaks has been put in the spotlight by a federal commission charged with making highway funding recommendations.
The National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study Commission released its report on Tuesday, Jan. 15. The report, among other things, recommends an increase in the federal fuel tax, tolls and congestion pricing.
In a portion of the recommendation that backs congestion pricing – higher tolls during times of higher traffic volume – commission members acknowledged that truckers have several hurdles facing them, which may be in conflict with the congestion pricing strategy.
The report addressed three big problems truckers face on a daily basis. The report touched on schedules dictated by shippers, the difficulty in passing on toll costs, and restrictions within the HOS regs that keep truckers from adjusting their schedules.
“Shippers determine pick-up and delivery times and trucking operators have little or no influence over these decisions,” the report states. “Because tolls are not easily passed directly by the carrier to the customer … there is little incentive for the shipper or receiver to adjust their schedules.”
The commission pitched the idea of approaching shippers and receivers with some sort of incentive to influence truck delivery schedules.
But, in addition to trying to adjust delivery times, the commission members also recognized that there need to be changes to the HOS regs to provide truckers with some flexibility.
The report points out that truck drivers no longer have the option of a “log-off” during rest breaks. That means that truck drivers who might want to alter their driving schedule through a peak-period congestion pricing scheme by taking a rest break, can’t.
“Therefore, it is recommended that an adjustment be made to the hours-of-service regulations to take into consideration the need for rest breaks to accommodate congested metropolitan areas,” the report concluded.

http://www.landlinemag.com/todays_ne.../011708-01.htm

Truckerjo · **^ Top** #2 01.18.2008

Now this would be a step in the right direction for once.... They finally are addressing REAL issues...

A man should be able to take a nap if needed......

ChromeDome · **^ Top** #3 01.19.2008

It would be great if they could go back to doing that.
The reason they changed it though was because it was being abused so badly by drivers.
Many would go back to the old way.
Hit a traffic jam, log out
Hit a large city, log out, pass the city, log back on.
Ect. Ect.

It is funny that many drivers like complaining about current freight rates. I will admit that they are low. But they are low because of supply and demand. There are more trucks looking for freight than there is freight to haul.
If ALL drivers drove legal all the time, then rates would have to go up, because less trucks would be available to haul the freight. An added benifit would be less stress, less tired drivers and lower accident rates.
I know this will not happen, but I will continue running legal and keep making money, like I am now.

Truckerjo · **^ Top** #4 01.19.2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChromeDome

It would be great if they could go back to doing that.
The reason they changed it though was because it was being abused so badly by drivers.
Many would go back to the old way.
Hit a traffic jam, log out
Hit a large city, log out, pass the city, log back on.
Ect. Ect.

They still do that today... But its just not legal... So, they could profit of of it if they caught somebody not updating thier logs to cover that..
So they didn't stop a thing really..

Stopping the clock so a man can take a nap (avoid rush hour all together cause it would be legal to do so) should be legal..

krisjack · **^ Top** #5 01.19.2008

So u should log as off duty when you pull in a rest area?I thought that was what u are supposed to do as long its not over 15 min.

MommaKay · **^ Top** #6 01.19.2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by krisjack

So u should log as off duty when you pull in a rest area?I thought that was what u are supposed to do as long its not over 15 min.

You can log off-duty, but your 14-hour clock doesn't stop from the time it starts unless you take a 10-hour break (possible exception for split-breaking, but it's beyond me). If I drive for five hours and then pull into a rest-area or truck stop and nap for a few hours, those hours should NOT be coming out of my 14-hour day. Make it a minimum of an hour, perhaps, but then allow the driver to move the 14-hour mark by that amount. You can still only drive 11 hours in that 14-hour period. This is a rule I could easily live with.

krisjack · **^ Top** #7 01.19.2008

Yeah but it can get confusing.

Preacher Man · **^ Top** #8 09.23.2009

As one o/o put it, the hours of service are there to protect company drivers from their companies. Do you realize how we would get treated by companies if they can make us work twenty-four hours a day legally? Roehl brags about safety being a cornerstone value, yet my dispatchers don't think twice about making me drive tired and all night if that's what it takes to deliver the load. As long as I have the hours I'm expected to run. I can just imagine how they would be if the fourteen hour clock stopped while I was sitting at a dock.

simplyred1962 · **^ Top** #9 09.23.2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by Preacher Man

As one o/o put it, the hours of service are there to protect company drivers from their companies. Do you realize how we would get treated by companies if they can make us work twenty-four hours a day legally? Roehl brags about safety being a cornerstone value, yet my dispatchers don't think twice about making me drive tired and all night if that's what it takes to deliver the load. As long as I have the hours I'm expected to run. I can just imagine how they would be if the fourteen hour clock stopped while I was sitting at a dock.

That's why hubby used to sleep, while at a shipper/receiver, when this practice was still legal. His clock stopped, he got rest, and was alert and refreshed, ready to roll, when they got him loaded/unloaded.

Judi Kay

eckz · **^ Top** #10 09.24.2009

Yes.. Now that it can benefit people BESIDES the drivers .. Let's go ahead and change that.

Regardless of why they are finally opening their eyes, i'm glad they are.

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