30 minute rule is worse.

Discussion in 'Trucking Industry Regulations' started by ethos, Dec 15, 2014.

  1. ethos

    ethos Road Train Member

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    I know the 34 and it's two required 1 to 5 a.m periods gets the most attention but the 30 minute affects me every night. Take last night for instance. I was delayed on a weird delivery, took 7 hours to offload the liquid so I ran out of my 14 and couldn't make it back to our Hayward, CA terminal. I am 120 miles short. So I break, wake up 1900 and head off. Get to the terminal drop my dirty tank and head up the street to the plant for my pre-load. It's the night shift and they are busy and it takes an hour to hook, PTI and get my bills. Obviously this gives me a 30 minute break. Now I have a delivery in Phoenix, which is 756 miles away and it has to be there by 0800 on Tuesday, then I'm deadheading back to Hayward.

    So for anyone new reading this and is curious as to how I'm trip planning this ill explain. Experienced drivers might as well skip ahead. There is no way I can make 756 miles in one driving period so my goal is to get past L.A and break around Indio, this means I only have 257 miles left to delivery. This is important because I want time, both on my 11 and my 14 to make at least 200 miles heading back so I can make it to the terminal on Wednesday. The other reason is because once I have L.A behind me I have an open road all the way to Phoenix, less potential problems.

    So here is the dilemma. I will run out of my 8 somewhere around Pasadena. Now, that's not a great place to run out of time. Problem 2, I'll be going through L.A metro at 0530, there is a world of difference between 0530 and 0630 on a weekday in L.A. So the safest option is to break before L.A so I can stare at a computer screen for 30 minutes and then try and beat traffic.

    Right there, the 30 minute is hurting me, putting me in more traffic, putting me in potential traffic jams that will eat up my 70 as well as exposing more traffic to my rig. How am I safer?

    Another thing, I've been up for a while at this point, I'm tired, not sleepy but I'm feeling it. Well if I don't sit for 30 minutes for no reason I'll be off the road 30 minutes earlier. That's 30 extra minutes of fatigued driving for no reason. All the rule has done is make my day 30 minutes longer. How am I safer?

    Yet another issue. The 30 minute rule makes stopping before at least 3 hours of driving cost you more. For instance, I figure the average stop and go at a truckstop is 15 minutes. But you will have to take another 30 minute break so it's 45 minutes now, and we keep adding and adding. The rule actually puts an incentive to drive with fewer breaks. If we have to have this ridiculous rule why not make it cumulative? Why punish me for taking a small break? Whats better 2 15 minute breaks or one long one? Again how am I safer?

    Still another issue, mainly specific to us night drivers. Finding a place to park for 30 minutes at 0200 can be tough. Sometimes, I drive through the fuel island, grab something to drink and get back. Busy night at the fuel island, so I literally just make a circle and come back around so I'm not blocking. How am I safer?

    Now I know I could have trip planned a bit different in my scenario but trip planning is not the point. The point is that the 30 affects me every night and I'm sick of it. It's almost like the rule is designed to make us less safe. I know some will say just take a 30 minute lunch break, well okay, but it has never taken me 30 minutes to eat plus there is a parking issue sometimes. Some will say that some companies run guys so hard that they can't stop to eat. One I have never, ever heard a legit person say this. Second, Jesus it's trucking, throw a rock and switch companies!

    I know for a lot of people the 30 minute is no big deal and that's fine. I'm not looking for advice on what to do for 30 minutes just pointing out its uselessness and it's negative effect on safety and fatigue.
     
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  3. blairandgretchen

    blairandgretchen Road Train Member

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    Agreed - it's a curse.

    I thought the cumulative idea would work too. I could take 15 minutes at fuel (it's a break, out of the truck - walking around and checking the tires) - and then another 7 hours later to grab a coffee and sandwich, another 15.

    And - 30 minites is the difference between being ahead/behind of traffic/tornadoes/wrecks . . . .
     
    ethos and SHO-TYME Thank this.
  4. Powder Joints

    Powder Joints Subjective Prognosticator

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    If you have been driving for all this time, you know the answer without someone writing here.

    Anything over 15 minutes I log as Sleeper, In lots of cases this sets me up for a split. Just remeber how many hours you have left to drive before the 8 hour sleeper break. The 2 hour also takes care of the 30 min requirement.

    As far as stopping before LA, I would stop in Cabazon before the Banning Sclae, Lots of food available plenty of parking.

    If your using Elogs, this will work well for you. Also remeber once you start the split sleeper it takes a full 10 off to get out of it. * will get you drive time available not used, but 10 will reset your 14.
     
    Flybynight041 Thanks this.
  5. aduiepyle

    aduiepyle Light Load Member

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    Yeah i hear you but you know they make their own rules pretending to make us safer but they don't know what we are going through to follow their rules,. Me personally i don't let the 30 minutes stress me because monday i take my break while sitting in traffic going less than 15mph, tuesday i wil be hooking getting paperwork done nd taking my break nd so nd so.
     
  6. milkdud

    milkdud Road Train Member

    I agree with you. It sucks. In some circumstances the 30 minute break just screws things up. If you are a home every day driver then the 30 minute break robs the driver of an extra half hour of home time and real rest. It's just another example of big government messing things up, no matter how well intentioned the idea was in the first place.
     
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  7. ethos

    ethos Road Train Member

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    If I was going to Phoenix then Banning would be after L.A. You don't have to log the 2 hour break as sleeper for a split. Only the 8.
     
  8. ethos

    ethos Road Train Member

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    Great post, I haven't even thought of that. Man, that might be the most offensive one yet, great thinking!!
     
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  9. Powder Joints

    Powder Joints Subjective Prognosticator

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    You have to log it as off duty, just depends on dealing with DOT type LEOS. I have found there are certain ways to log that keeps them from asking questions, But your right Off Duty or Sleeper can work the same.
     
  10. ethos

    ethos Road Train Member

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    If the rule was cumulative I would at least get it. I still wouldn't agree but it would make more sense.
     
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  11. Starboyjim

    Starboyjim Road Train Member

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    Don't forget, that's 30 minutes off your 14hr clock. One driver I know takes a 1hr power nap, kinda useful on that. But mostly having office persons telling us how to do our jobs is just a mess. "Studies show..?" Really? I totally get it about getting thru LA and how much difference 30 minutes will make on the 210. There are those turnouts on the hills if there's any space available, but I'd push that 8hr clock right out to get past LA. "Obama break." Pretty much not good, but bad performance by drivers made it necessary. They say. "Studies show..." I don't know if anybody knows the truth about the relationship between outside oversight and driver performance, but I know this. I can do my job, safely and responsibly, without oversight by office staff.
     
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