EOBR Electronic Logs - Good or Bad

Discussion in 'Trucking Industry Regulations' started by SLCTrucker, Apr 13, 2010.

  1. phroziac

    phroziac Road Train Member

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    Thats why its supposed to also go by your odometer and figure it out.

    But that figuring it out either screws you or averages 65 MPH and gives you hours you shouldnt have...

    I think we need to totally scrap the current HOS. I mean, come on, last night i ran out on my 14 because of BS at a shop. Was not tired at all. Took a "ten hour" break but only slept 3 hours...couldnt sleep worth a crap because of the time change......

    So now its 330 am and im dog tired and driving....because it wasnt legal to drive when i was awake...
     
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  3. truckerdave1970

    truckerdave1970 On Probation

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    That's because safe and legal are two different things. You can be perfectly legal to drive but you may be absolutely unsafe to do so. Likewise you may be safe to continue but because of some college degree holding office worker who doesn't know the difference between a 5th wheel and a steering wheel you are an outlaw.
     
    Rocks Thanks this.
  4. ironpony

    ironpony Road Train Member

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    That's true, but my understanding is that there are change markers built into the system whenever the log department goes in and modifies anything. I'd guess that they don't have access to modify line 3... but that's a guess. Prime's system is Qualcomm-based, so anything that they do has to match GPS tag location with the data that is stored on Qualcomm's mainframe in San Diego.

    Complain about it as you will, but at any point that the FMCSA has questions about management changing log data, all they have to do is match the log data vs. the GPS tags from the San Diego data... no one in any of the companies can change that. I think CSA 2010 will change the rules enough to catch these guys if that's what's happening.
     
  5. HEAVY DUDE

    HEAVY DUDE Road Train Member

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    As per FMCSR 395.15 That reg. specifys the system be tamper proof. A certificate from the manufacturer must show it meets this requirement. Edited data must be identified.
     
  6. corneileous

    corneileous Road Train Member

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    There must be something wrong with your Qualcomm because the log book portion of the EOBR's shouldnt stop recording your time when the Q-comm looses signal to the satellite. The only thing that may happen is if you change your duty status while in a no coverage area, the Q-comm might not log what city and state your in.

    I know the HOS rules arent perfect, but whats left to be done to change it? Regardless of what the laws state, they never are going to appease the likes of every driver or every screwed up situation as yours for that matter. Thats when you tell the dispatcher of the issue and hope they find a way to work around it.


    Yep, even on the end of the driver, anytime you make a change to the log data, you must put a note regarding the change.
     
  7. phroziac

    phroziac Road Train Member

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    WRONG. The qualcomm in your truck does not log anything. The computer it communicates with on the other end does everything. If you lose signal, weird things happen. Often results in 65mph averages, etc, when you were in rush hour in brooklyn...



    The 14 hour rule. Kill it. Totally unscientific. The 34 hour restart. Totally unscientific. I'd do better with a 24 hour restart. Even worse is the canadian 36 hour restart!

    Tell my dispatcher of the issue? Thats why tomorrow i am telling him that my windshield leak has ruined my passport (a load of bull but plausible). I do so much better when i stay in the country.


    That's nothing a million dollars wont get you around. Manufacturer? Werner's is a computer program, not a device... And most of these big companies have the money to make it themselves. If they make it themselves and make their own certificate..who knows? Is the DOT going to have computer programmers come in and look at the source code for the software and find out? LOL.
     
  8. whodat54321

    whodat54321 Light Load Member

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    There is a lot of debate and pending litigation over what exactly is considered 'tamper proof' and by what means. Particularly with regards to the Qualcomm system. While the internal data and software may indeed be fairly secure by the standards of the CURRENT FMCSA rules, which are fairly loose in terms of what can't be altered. It's no secret that the Qualcomm system has some known hacks around (anyone try the 'control d' to note the gateway to the software settings via a password?), but in addition, the rules let the carriers use whatever implementation of that software they choose, as long as the most basic requirement of logging when the wheels are rolling (after 2 miles/50mph for Prime, others will vary) is met. I'm sure when the lawsuit over the 11/14 rule is finally settled and a new rule is in place this will change yet again.
     
  9. HEAVY DUDE

    HEAVY DUDE Road Train Member

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    So we are going to discuss what a million dollars will/won't fix? Could/would/might means nothing to me. Your story is some dispatcher is changing logs to get a driver more hours? Risking going to jail so a truck can get X more miles? When you decide to make a valid point let me know.
     
  10. corneileous

    corneileous Road Train Member

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    Well, I dont know all the physics about the ###### EOBR system.

    But if what you say is true, if that actually happened when the Qcomm looses signal, dont you think we'd be getting a lot more HOS violations?

    The only violations I get are the ones I inflict on myself and my Q-comm looses signal with the satellite all the time.

    Whats wrong with having 14 hours to do 11 hours worth of driving??
    Hate to brek it to ya, but theres no way in hell the rules could be set to each person that drives a truck just because someone like you says, "I'd do better with a 24.". If you manage your time properly, drive with in your available hours and most importantly, stop before you run completely out of hours, you should never have to take a mandatory restart.
     
  11. ironpony

    ironpony Road Train Member

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    One word says it all... WERNER.
     
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