Fmcsa releases hours-of-service final rule

**blackw900** · 12.31.2011

Originally Posted by ironpony

You may be in favor of EOBRs/elogs, or you may be in favor of paper log books. There is one thing that an EOBR or elog system buys you... you WILL be current to the last change of duty status. The flatfeet can write you up, and the fine can be up to $2750 for being over 3 hours out of current in the latest changes. That goes into effect at the end of February 2012.

Puts the technology into a bit of a different light, doesn't it?

So I have to keep my log book current?

I draw a line every time I stop somewhere or leave somewhere...Is that OK?

I'm not so stupid that need a computer to do it for me.

**ironpony** · 12.31.2011

Originally Posted by blackw900

So I have to keep my log book current?

I draw a line every time I stop somewhere or leave somewhere...Is that OK?

I'm not so stupid that need a computer to do it for me.

I've never had a problem with that either. Some folks do. Its just an automated log book that puts you on the drive line.

**blackw900** · 12.31.2011

I know what it is....But I promise you, I'll be the very last guy that puts one in.
I won't quit if they mandate them but I won't jump up and down for joy over it like some of the idiots here on this site that seem to think that regulations heaped on top of regulations are the greatest thing ever.

I see them as a complete waste of money that's designed to make me pay for expensive technology for no reason other than to pay for the expensive, useless technology.

**PackRatTDI** · 12.31.2011

Originally Posted by blackw900

So I have to keep my log book current?

I draw a line every time I stop somewhere or leave somewhere...Is that OK?

I'm not so stupid that need a computer to do it for me.

For real. Its not that hard to keep your log current. If you choose not to and get busted, its your own fault.

I guess the mega fines are meant to scare us into going elog. If you keep your books up to date, no worries!

**ironpony** · 12.31.2011

Originally Posted by blackw900

I know what it is....But I promise you, I'll be the very last guy that puts one in.
I won't quit if they mandate them but I won't jump up and down for joy over it like some of the idiots here on this site that seem to think that regulations heaped on top of regulations are the greatest thing ever.

I see them as a complete waste of money that's designed to make me pay for expensive technology for no reason other than to pay for the expensive, useless technology.

You and I are in complete agreement. An individual owner-operator has no need of such a thing if they run compliant, and can manage to draw the occasional straight line. OTOH, for a larger carrier (even 100 trucks) - it certainly provides information that would allow more efficient use of their resources - meaning increased profit.

However, the storm of regulations coming out of Washington is unwarranted. The FMCSA is a monster in search of a reason for its existence.

**G/MAN** · 12.31.2011

There is no reason for so many regulations being thrust at this industry. Every time we turn around someone wants to come up with a new regulation or change one that has already been implemented. We went for decades with the same hos rules. We have had more changes to the hos in the last 10 years than the previous 50+ years.

**Cowpie1** · 12.31.2011

There is no need for all the regulations that get thrown at the entire country! Trucking is just a slice that we all deal with every day. The rest of the country is getting hammered with regulations just like we are. Just ask any business owner. It is the mindset of the politicians since the Civil War. It just gets to be a heavier load to bear as time goes by.

**blackw900** · 12.31.2011

Originally Posted by G/MAN

There is no reason for so many regulations being thrust at this industry. Every time we turn around someone wants to come up with a new regulation or change one that has already been implemented. We went for decades with the same hos rules. We have had more changes to the hos in the last 10 years than the previous 50+ years.

We also went for decades without schools and bottom feeders shoving morons that have no business anywhere near a truck behind the wheel.
Those of us that are cut out for this business are suffering under the rules that have been created as a result of these companies poor training and these unfortunate practices.

Until the industry wakes up and starts actually trying to put good drivers behind the wheel instead of just anyone with a heartbeat this is going to be a problem.

The problem is that companies like CR England and Prime and Swift (just to name a few) just keep shoving unqualified drivers out here and conning them into "lease deals" and screwing them out of everything for their own self interest while pretending to give a #### about safety.

The end result is that you have unqualified drivers trying to make it aginst impossible odds out here desperately chasing dollars that aren't there and the companies keep making money off of these fools.

It ought to be illegal to lease a truck from a company with out the driver having control over where and how that truck can work.

It's a formula for disaster when you have people forced into a desperate situation out here trying to make rational decisions in heavy traffic.

**ironpony** · 12.31.2011

Originally Posted by blackw900

It's a formula for disaster when you have people forced into a desperate situation out here trying to make rational decisions in heavy traffic.

Desperate? ReallY? Hmm.

Wow! I had no idea. Hey Injun!!! Did you know we're desperate???

**G/MAN** · 12.31.2011

Originally Posted by Cowpie1

There is no need for all the regulations that get thrown at the entire country! Trucking is just a slice that we all deal with every day. The rest of the country is getting hammered with regulations just like we are. Just ask any business owner. It is the mindset of the politicians since the Civil War. It just gets to be a heavier load to bear as time goes by.

You are right about more regulations for all of us. If you ask most people they would tell you that the Civil War was about slavery. That was not the reason the war started. It involved states rights and the right of self determination. Even back then, Lincoln and others wanted to have a much stronger centralized government. I won't get into all the details since this thread is not about that, but we have had more and more intrusions of our personal lives and an erosion of our freedoms since that time. At some point the people will rise up against the government. We do see some of this today. I just hope that we don't get into another shooting war. I have wondered what this world would look like had the CSA won the war.

The government has no need to constantly monitor the citizens of this country. An EOBR would be a means that the government could eventually monitor every truck that had one installed. We have countless camera's across this country that monitor the movement of our citizens. Like all regulations that we have seen recently, we are told that it is for "safety."