Here on our forum and in the comments section of most articles on the subject, people argue about the ELD rule. Some drivers are fine with it, others… not so much. While the battle over ELDs rages on though, some are being exempted from the regulation. According to ATA President Chris Spear, those segments of the industry are in danger of “crossing the line on safety.”
Spear was speaking at a panel discussion hosted by a transportation law firm when the issue of ELDs came up. Currently agricultural haulers have a temporary exemption from the ELD rule.
“As far as ag is concerned, they do have a powerful voice,” said Spear according to Transport Topics. “We’re open to discussing this. But there’s a break point to where we will push back and say, ‘This is really crossing the line on safety.’”
But that temporary exemption isn’t the only relief that agricultural haulers have coming. There is also legislation in the works which would give ag haulers a permanent exemption from ELD requirements.
“It’s allowing a complete sector of our industry to just go without any rules,” Spear said. “We are a nation of laws. Like it or not, we have rules, and we’re going to comply with them. So letting certain segments get out because they have a powerful voice in Republican states, that’s just not going to fly.”
Spear’s statement is similar to a sentiment expressed by others in the industry – even those who are anti-ELD. Since ELDs aren’t actually changing the Hours of Service rules, some claim that exempting anyone from using them is the same as allowing them to break the rules. They claim that if ELDs aren’t workable for some segments of the industry, it’s because HOS rules are broken – and that they need to be fixed.
Frank R Schultz says
Swift, Knight, CRE and the rest have already crossed the line on safety. ELD’s have absolutely nothing to do with safety and everything to do with profits. They’re trying to force out the little guy and become a monopoly
Alex c says
Not needed by anyone with any common sense, fleets need them cause they hire rookies and inexperienced clowns, it’s just a tracking device
Wayne Dearman says
U forgot werner, the fools that started it, the pioneer of paperless logs as per advertise on their wagons
Shiloh says
Yeah, Werner “pioneered” paperless logs as part of a deal to keep DOT from closing their doors.
Rick Scott says
UPS had paperless logs before anyone else. I wore “browns” for five years… I had their IVIS system during my stint in ’97…
Rhoda Thompson says
ATA has always screwed drivers on everything..ata should be called America tail hole administration. Bunch of @&)(,./-@
Cindi says
Should be called anti trucker Association
William H Srygler says
Amen
William H Srygler says
Amen It’s A Slap in the Face To The Trucking Industry
Donald Anglin says
Nailed it ..the ATAs bs narrative is great for the mega carriers ..”we are a nation of laws” ..what a croc ..
Gary Nerison says
Nation of laws, when did truckers vote in eld’s, guess I was sleeping when we voted them in, ata and bs have allot in common
Trokerito says
Frank you absolutely right. The problem here is that we the 100% INDEPENDENT OWNER OPERATORS are not united . The other problem here is that we have the fake “O/O” who will think that working for the mega trucking companies are the way to go . Therefore they have no clue to run a business and are brain washed with ELD = Safety.
Remember the pop and mom stores ??? Doesn’t existe anymore because walmart and other big chains coorpotation killed them and that is exactly what is going to happen with the real 100% independent O/O.
Elsa "screamin' demon" says
Then why not do something about it? You really think you can’t get the right blogger on this? BLOW IT UP on twitter or whatever. Call your local news stations, some of them still have balls.
The bad guys win b/c they are always working angles – werk dem angles, good guys. And work harder b/c we are behind! 😛
I hate VR and am going outside now, but someone with the skills to get this done, really needs to come together and get it done and quit your winjin'[how tf do you spell that]. Do what truckers do best. MOVE.
In the name of my father, Greg, “Road Rebel”, Brown.
Sharon says
You are 100% correct! ELD’s are nothing more than GREED! Same as DEF, just another way to force OO out and drive the price of freight down. These mega carriers self insure, hire people to drive trucks with only a few days of actual training, then create havoc and deaths on the highways. The real truckers pay the price for it.
William H Srygler says
I Think That Chris Spear Is A Joke !!!
Robert says
Problem is that we have this 11/14 rule. Some feel it’s necessary to argue with the law. It’s the law, comply or find a different career. Arguing against E-logs is like saying, Is run iilegal and want an exemption
Ray says
What about REAL SAFETY don’t you understand? You speak as if your the top authority on all there is or ever will be about trucking. People like you are people like the ATA or FMCSA, you would not know SAFETY if it was looking you in the eye, prove to me, if you can, the 11/14 rule has helped drivers in the least, now for your benefit here even I know a blind squirrel can find a nut, but as fate would refute you and others like you , the new HOS isn’t SAFETY driven, it only appears that way, overwhelmingly the vast majority testify to just the opposite of your so called notions of SAFETY. Check your head gear pal, I think it’s going to rain.
TexasJester says
Arguing against elogs isarguing against a nanny state. You’re still supposed to run legal logs on paper.
Paper has a bit more flexibility. I’ve lost track of the number of times I’ve had to stop 3-5 miles from where I’m going to eat or spend the night and take a 30-minute break on an exit ramp, because that 8 hour limit hit, because I got stuck behind one of these ATA company yahoos running 64 mph. Or have to stop 2-3 hours short, because I MIGHT run 5-10 minutes short on the 11 or 14 hours, and am therefore late with the load.
I’ve been written up for being ONE MINUTE over 8 hours before.
O N E M I N U T E . Because a Swift truck couldn’t figure out how to make the turn on the off-ramp.
I’m not talking running 18-20 hours a day or way over 70 hours, I’m talking common sense flexibility.
robert Warner Jr says
I agree. NO FLEXIBILITY.
Let me take my break at a truck stop , not along a highway with NO shoulder
Jude says
“Common sense” and “federal government” have never gone together.
David says
Flexibility means illegal.plan you’re trip and e-logs work. Im an o/o for 10 years i drive 62 and run 550 to 650 a day. But ata is right if 1 group of trucks runs e-logs then all groups should
Clyne W Rhoads says
No flex. Over 70 is over .. period.. you want too ve able too lie on you legs. That is why we are here now with elogs. Period
BM says
On the money
BM says
Why does anyone even consider talking to Spear’s he is a nothing organization! That has no part of the game except for the huge trucking companies.
He doesn’t represent me or 99%
Of independent truckers.
Why is he being quoted or even asked questions.
Rubber Band Man says
A Nation of laws?
When it comes to keeping the little man in line.
The wealthy make the rules and dang well expect us to follow them.
Let the Prez. Of ATA hop his butt in a truck!
William H Srygler says
I Agree With Rubber Band Man !!!
Ken harvey says
Let this snowball keep growing,it will implode give it time.these regulators live in a utopian bubble, reality will step in and pop it
Ed says
When you do LTL and less than 350 miles in any given day e-logs are useless
Michael says
Amen!!
Tommy Z says
Under the guise of safety, elogs have caused a major malfunction in the industry across the board. Out-of-hours trucks now parked on off ramps, travel centers full by 4 pm…many starting and ending all at the same time every day. Ridiculous. Hours of service need reconstruction more than anything. Start looking at solutions that make sense instead of nonsense.
Mike R says
The reason most truck stop are full at 4pm is because only about 25% of drivers drive at night anymore. Everyone in trucking says this isn’t a 9-5 job and in reality it’s not it’s more like a 7-4 job for most truckers now. Elogs have nothing to do with all the accidents we have a accident is what it is a accident it’s not a planned event so blaming elogs for them is retarded thinking. If drive your hours and keep the left door closed you can easily do 600 miles a day and even more but you can’t do it sitting in a truck stop. And to say sitting at a shipper or receiver has nothing to do with what hours you have available on your elogs either because even if you’re on paper logs you’re supposed to log it as you do it. That is unless you plan on fudging your log book to make it work for you or your company. The fact of the matter is we truckers wanna blame anyone and everyone for us having to use elogs but the reality of it is we are our on worst enemy and brought all this on ourselves for not following the rules now we’re paying the price so suck it buttercups and deal with what you created. The old saying goes you reap what you sew so stop crying and complaining and man up or woman up and do your job. O.O for 35 years just so you know I’m not a rookie
Douglas Kirk says
You might not be a rookie, but you sure love to kiss the governmental hindquarters when they bend over….
It makes no sense to force a driver to drive tired, which is what all this crap does. By the time you feel like driving again there are no hours available, so how does that help? Safety is not a regulation, a rule, or a line on a piece of paper.
The reason nobody drives at night is because the rigid rules won’t allow for it. Parking was less of a problem when drivers could stop 3, 4, 5, or 6 hours then drive for another 4, 5, or 6 hours. There was always a certain percentage of trucks on the road at any given time thru the day/night. Now if you park, you park for 10 hours. How is that helpful? Why do you feel you need constant supervision? Are you lonely without somebody telling you when to breathe, when to scratch, when to wipe?
Land of the free, my butt….
TE Kate Best says
…what does this have to do with ELDs?
Michael says
All that really needs to be done is go back to allowing split shift driving, like the 90’s. It’s that damnable non-stop clock messing everything up. They can even keep the irritating mandatory 30 minute break if they do that.
F’ing desk jockeys…
Kenny says
Lol,,, let him have it. These book smart rookies that call themselves company men are leaving comments like the one before yours and they have no idea what the hell they’re talking about. Especially whenever they say that time at shippers and receivers don’t matter anyway.
Ray says
You sound like a rookie, one very important fact you and all snowflakes like you gloss over to make sure everyone believes you actually know anything is, there were more doing right during paper than you and your ilk care to admit, because if you HAD to, then the thin veil of your BS and so called notion of SAFETY would go the way it should have already gone, AWAY. And in case you think me to be a rookie, I to am an O/O with 40 accident free years of which 80 percent was done on that dreaded paper log!!! OOOOH! I know I know…truth can be hard for the progressive mind to face. Not to worry, your nearest drug store has all the coloring books to help with what ails you.
TexasJester says
I’m a company driver with a small company, and until late last year, did it all on those dreaded paper logs. Never had a ticket, accident, or log violation.
I’ve had several violations on elogs, and some made NO SENSE! I got a violation for driving 7 hours before taking a 30-minute break – the log system violated me, even though my safety lady couldn’t find a violation – and couldn’t get the system to take it off! ONE MINUTE over 8 hours. TWO MINUTES over 14 hours. Having to leave the shipper after they delayed me 2 hours, and drove 20 minutes in violation to a safe place to park. Violation for moving the truck a hundred feet in a parking lot, while taking a 30-minute break.
What was that old saying?? Oh yes – “You can drive legal or you can drive safe – but you can’t do both.”
TexasJester says
That’s “I’m a company driver with 33 years experience” – just don’t have that much experience typing on an iPhone!!
Gentry Newsom says
Let it go spears…we need as many hours any other professional person needs to do their jobs & that amount of hours is: All the hours it takes to get the job done. Until you get too tired and need to eat and go to sleep..we don’t make laws for your office time do we? Lets say you get 12 hrs max. Plus 1hr to drive home and you hit traffic do you pull over 10 mi short of home and sleep 10hrs He’ll no you don’t! I think the people that are responsible for these laws should be sued by all of us for 10hrs pay ea. CLASS ACTION CIVIL RIGHTS
Goinpostal says
What’s a coloring book??😂
L. Blake says
I’m a rookie… My brother was murdered by an experienced trucker as he drove his truck into a hotel room in El Paso Texas May 6, 2016… His GPS track shows him repeatedly running off the road several times before he careened out of control at 0813 without stopping until his driver steer tire rested upon my brother’s body crushing him to death…
So I thank you for honest assessment of just why ELOGS are important…
Rufus Harrison says
Well said mike R we dealt ourselves this hand & complain about the results eld’s didn’t come from 1 event or action came from century of lack of common sense
Alex c says
Not needed by anyone with any common sense, fleets need them cause they hire rookies and inexperienced clowns, it’s just a tracking device
James says
Alot of good points but the bottom line here is that if you abide by the law (which is what the hours of service rules are) then there should be no argument to those rules. They are just like bitching about having a camera in the truck to see the driver and the road in case of incident, everything has a purpose. I believe there’s some things that could be fixed in the hos rules but not much we can do because we are just the puppets in the show. So as one driver commented she bitching about it or find a new career.
Skim says
Spears, you are a complete moron. You are a child of the Devil..
Allen Morrow says
ATA is CEO’s of large companies. 95 out of 100 truck wrecks is by a truck from them companies. So what does E-LOGS has to do with safety? As far as I can find it has nothing to do with safety. Big company truck wrecks is by a driver with 1 month under his or her belt.
Tony Mosley says
14 hours Need look at again
Michael says
Bingo! Just allow the clock to stop.
Dennis says
If it is for safety then every motorized vehicle should be equipped with them but since it’s not about safety they are not and with no exemptions to anyone including government they are not above the law
Karen Johnson says
Logs have never been for safety. They have always been used as a gotcha for truck drivers. States use them against drivers for Revenue. If a driver is involved in an accident and even if it’s not his fault if his log book is not up to the minute they can blame the truck driver. I don’t know who this president of the ATA is but I wonder if he has ever spent a minute in a truck
TexasJester says
Actually, in the beginning, it WAS about safety – drivers were being run ragged 20+ hours a day. After a few years, law enforcement found they could make money from drivers running illegally.
FJB says
It’s beyond me why any truck in this country moves anymore, and ATA perpetuates the crap that is killing the small companies. The freight costs are out of sight and it’s not the truckers making the big bucks, but they have the crap to deal with, and get grouched at from shippers, receivers, brokers and whoever they are leased to or work for. Independents don’t stand a fighting chance by design, the big boys want all the money. Like everything else in this country the trucking dream is a fantasy…..
Dwain says
Why except ata if u work for a carrier that supports the ata u dont have a clue what they stand for. Mr. Spear is nothing but a liberal that believes in total control. But I do I agree we all should be exempt if some is exempt
Dwain says
Or better yet grandfather us old guys in just put the new age steering wheel holders on it cause these millennials want ever thing done 4 them
Clyne W Rhoads says
Us old guys are the reason for elogs dummy.. lol geezs
BroOfX says
Of course its “red states” behind this attempt to drive out independents and small fleets. Its the very reason Trump rolled back a great many regs with the drop of a hat, except this one. Most of the big trucking companies are based where? Conservative states are engaged in a transfer of wealth, particularly when you factor in the tax cuts. SMH.
TexasJester says
What??
Mike Hamilton says
ATA, Has never been for anything that makes sense, I just hope he’s not talking with his mouth full.
TicTac says
I find it sad for the Trucking industry to not realize how powerful we are as a whole. We have the power to shut things down but doesn’t realize. I remember in my grandfather’s days how they would strike….no truck moves until their demands were met. Nowadays the average trucker is either unaware of their power and ability or just so deep into financial debt until they feel they can’t afford to take a stand. But keep in mind, we as truckers have a voice that can be heard if we take a stand and shut the engines off and say ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!!! It’s us that physically moves this country’s products from A to Z.
Kenny says
Amen!!!
Eric says
Guy is an idiot. Nobody should be allowed to run a trucking organization if they’ve never been a driver.
Jack says
H.O.S. is broken … elds or no elds hos regulations have too little time to do the job, it should be up to the driver’s to do the work and get the rest u need when u need it, not when eld say’s it’s time for 10 hr break, some dnt need 10hr to be rested. Wast of time, when you could be moving.
TexasJester says
One size fits all regulations; lawmakers who know nothing about what they’re doing don’t know what the unintended consequences are..
Rick McEvoy says
Just a way to put the little guys out of business. It’s just common sense, I don’t need someone telling me when I can drive and when not to. These guys making the rules have any of these numb skulls ever been behing the wheel of a truck? Making them richer and us poorer.
Steve says
Everyone in Government thinks that the ATA is in it For safety, Everyone with a Brain Knows they are the Leaders of the Major Trucking Companies. Trying to keep tabs on their people that don’t know how to read a map let alone fill out a Legal Log Book.
charles says
sounds like the ata wants to govern the trucking industry period… how corrupt that would be.. with or without eld or anything else.. in the name of safety…. thats what happened when goverment started to make parents less responsible for raising childred.. look what that has erroded into. give the flexablility to people and they will do right …. but i dont want to restrict my ability to work and profit in this industry to have ata telling me they think i dont have a voice… cry babies…
Steven sanchez says
ATA doesn’t represent independent drivers … They represent the top 5 trucking companies who kill 100s of people a year .. Independent carriers are not the problem it’s the mega carrier
Taset says
The problem is not the ELD and the AGE of the driver. The problem is the working conditions. Long hours worked little paid check. Some companies making big profit. And the drivers just for paid the bills and less. We are just alone . When we get paid a right salary( by hours ) and paid the same as they treat us as professional driver. So we need to be united.
Companies make us work 70 hours but they don’t pay 70 hours. So it is time to start making us great again get united.
Cindi says
Good luck with that
Geno says
The ata is full of shot as a owner operator the ata values doesn’t represent what I want or need . I think this organization should be dismantled , there not here to help the industry but to make it worst .
Walt says
All about power , and the more people that work in this industry that fall in line the better! Not a robot😂! Never will be! But good luck with that, snowflakes!!!!
Walt says
Oh by the way Mike you are still a rookie
Thomas Gooden says
No one has a right to track me,no one.
Robert filberto salazar says
I have a Eld unit and it is a joke. I drive 1day every 30 days to keep my license and truck check with the company I’m contract with I paid for the ELD unit and only use it one day of month and is required because dog company I have a contract with is an interstate carrier so we’re required to have the unit even though I only drive one day every 30 days all driver artery acquired to have the unit because we are Interstate carriers which to me sounds like a joke.
Shiloh says
End the controversy, do away with the eld and go back to how it was, just keep the 34 hour reset. That’s the only good thing that’s come out if all this mess.
Lady DOE says
IF YOU GUYS REMEMBER TRUMP SAID HE WAS GOING TO CUT THESE CRAZY REGULATIONS TO LET THINGS WORK AS THE NEED TO DO. WELL GUESS WHAT HE HAS DONE NOTHING FOR US GUYS NOTHING. HE CUT RULES EVERYWHERE ELSE BUT US. IF HE WANT OUR VOTE HE NEED TO DO SOMETHING FOR THE TRUCKERS. THROW THIS THIS ELD THING IN THE DEEPEST OCEAN! WE NEED TO SEND HIM A LETTER. TRUCKERS VOTE TOO!
Rob Bierman says
Why not tighten up the ELD requirements but grant all Drivers automatic Exemptions until such time they violate a different Regulation or Law. The ELD mandate could kick in for say 12 months on someone after 1 ticketed violation and for a few years after a second violation with a three strikes type of permanent requirement?
Chuck says
Get rid of the mandate as it stands as a black box recorder!!
Change it to require only an electronic logbook that you manually enter the information, nothing else.
Chuck says
ATA wants to cheapen the labor and be able to put idiots that can’t do basic math in the seats of trucks. This is one of the big reasons why they wanted ELDs …. In addition to slowing down the competition, the small carriers that are efficient and fast !!
Gonzalo says
I’m an o/o own my own truck, and 4 trailers. Got my own authority and dispatch myself. Even thou diesel is on the rise, I’m making more money now than the previous 3 years. The reason is simple, everyones on elogs and not enough trucks available. I’m working less than in those 3 years and get paid more. I do not like the way elogs was done but if freight keeps paying what they are now, I don’t have a problem in keeping my elog. Many of the little guys doing loads for a dollar a mile are not doing them no more, cause it now hurts their bottom line, while before they would just not log the load all thogether. So from a monetary view I’m fine, from a personal view I’m against.
little trucker says
so what are you saying???
Im O/O I average about 7,000 per month. which is about 20,000 gross. I don’t need ELD, I don’t need to cheat, I don’t run for cheap crap……… this issue is not about money !!! Is the principle!!!! INDEPENDENT. IS NOT SAFE TO HAVE ELOGS IN OUR TRUCKS , PERIOD!!!!! I DRIVE WHEN IS SAFE FOR ME AND FOR OTHER ON THE ROAD.
little trucker says
AVERAGE 7,000 MILES PER MONTH
Gonzalo says
Some run “legal” on paper, by legal I mean you just don’t log those 10-20 miles from the truck stop to shipper/receiver , as an example. But still log all your hours, etc. That’s my case. Reality is thatniw loads are paying way more than in the past, and sometimes it’s gross the money they pay. I’ve done 1 load of 700 miles for 4500 yes. Why? Well simple if they don’t pay that I’ll just pick another that pays more. Shippe
Gonzalo says
I messed up with the phone keyboard. As I was saying shipper receivers need to pay more in order for you to take the load, simply because there’s more available loads than in the past, because there’s less trucks with hours to run those loads. So the move for the exemption is to bring shipping cost down allowing some companies to use paper and be able to do more freight, and bring shipping cost down. You can’t survive on dollar a mile load, before yo where making 3-5 dollars a mile one way and 1-1.50 the other way. Now I have not seen a load for less than 1.80 a mile for flats, and I’m done load way over 5 a mile. I’m working less with elogs and gross doble what I gross last year for the same month. Again I agree with you on the principle of how elogs where forced upon us, but financially is actually benefiting all of the o/o. The guys that don’t like them are the ones paying doble for shipping and those are the ones pushing the exceptions. They did nothing when they implemented the elogs, they now realized that it was a huge mistake and trying to fix it somehow.
Viktor says
Personaly for me ELD is a big burden. It forces me to go when my body clock wants to sleep. Because sometimes its now or never you gonna make it for this appointment. On paper i could go to sleep whenever. Or take a nap whenever. Now if you have 2 more hours to drive to destination, and 2 hrs 45 min on log book left. And your delivery appointment is in 9 hrs from now. You can die, but you must go now, no mater how bad you want to sleep. And in addition to that if you allready been driving for 8 hrs non stop, untill this moment. You need to stop now for another 30 minutes. Which will not be anough to fall asleep. And will leave me 2 hrs 15 min on log book for 2 hrs non trafic, non steep hills drive. So at the end im losing 30 more minutes and driving even more tired plus i need to go as fast as i can on leveled road and down hills. To compensate for slow – up hill speeds and any traffics. No safety what so ever. Another thing if my hours are tight i cant even stop and get something to eat. And i already have gastritis and other stomach problems. Thank you peopple in the office for making our lifes “easyer” every day. You know right ? The law of the nature or God. Your deeds work like a bumerang. You make some ones life a hell. Dont be surprised when your life becomes hell soon after. Your deeds make some one sick. You get sick too. And you have no idea why? So you think about what you did to others and now you know why.
Gonzalo says
I hear you! This is a problem, specially with refers. I drive a flat so I got a window from say 7-5 or whatever or sometimes it can be delivered mon-fri. I do share your concern and sometimes it happens to me too. Specially on fridays cause if you don’t pick up by 4-5 pm you’ll be sitting all weekend. So I need to squeeze every second to deliver and pick up before the deadline. I do not want those rouge o/o to keep taking dollar loads, but at the same time I do hate elogs. So the real answers is simple, fix the HOS! If government sticks with elogs they really need to address the HOS problem AND shippers/receivers playing with drivers time. Plus they should make every shipper/reciever with a daily traffic of 10 or more trucks to have parking available for a 10 hrs break.
Marc says
If I’m tired, I pull over and take a nap. No one is being forced to drive tired. If you are, you’re working for a shitty company.
My issue with ELD’s is simply, they’re believed over the human. Mine has actually logged me on duty in two separate geographical locations at the same time. Try explaining that to Officer Lipschitz.
Common sense HOS regs with actual driver input are what’s really needed
Billy Rankin says
Chris Spear can kiss my ample trucking buttocks! “ We are a nation of laws”! What blather. Look south and see those laws broken everyday. Look East at DC and see all the laws broken trying to oust Trump. Look down at the car passing you and see texting buffoons breaking the laws. ELD’s actually cause more laws to be broken as you see the Serbian speed through construction zones. The Bangladeshi speed towards the fuel pumps. The numerous trucks parked in no parking zones because the clock has run out. ELD’s are a farce that are causing more problems than they were suppose to. Chris Spear is not for the trucker he’s for the Corporations and his organization is causing more accidents because we are required to use these stupid devices. Start paying truckers by the hour and watch the accidents decrease. ELD’s need to go.
Rob says
None of the comments above have any real place here, none of you get the history of ELDs at all. Werner was not the pioneers that they claim to be, the reason they were demanded to use ELDs was because they had the worst record of pushing drivers past their limits. I’m not sure who turned this ELD fight into “drivers against the MAN”, but the reality is they were brought into inception because of companies, not drivers and the FMCSA still handles it that way, ELDs are to protect drivers against companies over working drivers, get use to them, they are here to stay and I’m good with it. Government isn’t out to get us as drivers but they are forcing companies to pay us better and give us the respect we deserve, I make over $2000/wk running 65hrs, get some experience and stop whinning, I’m behind Spears 100%.
Jessie Brocus says
Hey isn’t the prez of the Ata also the owner of cr england? One of those mega companies….nuff said. It’s about the $$$. If they were worried about safety they would train their rookies properly, and get these foreign drivers out of our industry. Seriously do something productive with yourself. You are showing your ignorance, and greed.
Calf Hauler says
Spears must be smoking dope. Livestock haulers are concerned about their animals and most of us don’t want to keep them in the trailer then is necessary. The current hours of service with the ELD forces us to drive when we are tired but if we stop for a nap then out of hours to finish the trip. A 10 hr rest break just adds more time that the animals go without food or water plus if somebody complains while you are on the rest break, you take a chance that animal control or police officer could charge you with cruelty to animals. I have stopped and taken a 3 or 4 hr nap before continuing on because I was tired and had learned the hard way about driving while tired.
Kevin Vick says
Ag should be governed by the dept. of agriculture, not the dot. This one size fits all bs is just that!! I don’t know any grown working man that sleeps 10 hrs a day. I’ve been in this business over 30 yrs. and I damn sure don’t need some govt. agency interfereing in the way I make my living. I run my business, and should be able to run it safely as I see fit. Seems like the American dream is limited when it comes to the American Owner Operator.
Kenny says
I can’t sleep 10 hours I couldn’t sleep 8 before they changed it to 10
Eric says
All the complaining. Blame yourselves because you allow it to continue to happen. If everyone would stick together this wouldn’t happen. They know drivers won’t stick together so they will continue sticking it to you. If drivers would just pull together for a week even 3 days that will get some attention and this crap would stop.
Blueman says
ELDs were never for safety it was designed to police companies with terrible ratings. Werner was fined for manipulating the rules with the appearance of them operating safely when inspected. When they were audited they failed. They are trying to put us all out of business. They have monopolized the marked. They are also destroying small businesses. They have taken over our trucks like they own them. It’s no different then indentured servitude. They’ve became the Walmart of trucking.
Kenny says
I would not have a problem with it if DOT would start putting regulations on shippers and receivers, for example Walmart Corrine Utah is allowed four hours to have your trailer unloaded and once the clock hits 3 hours and 40 minutes you can hear or feel them finally driving their power equipment into your trailer when they finally start unloading and they are finished unloading your trailer within 10 or 15 minutes, they use every minute of that four hours and I’m sure I’m not speaking for myself only when I say it totally screws me up for making my appointment for my next pick up 99% of the time.
mousekiller says
The real problem with ELDs is the driver. Few drivers are willing or able to shut down a couple of hours before the ELD puts them in violation.They push until the last minute then bitch about no parking.duh.
The complainers for the most part have never run paper logs. ( some have) and have nothing compare. The problem is the current HOS. it does not allow for a tired driver to stop for a safety nap with out penalty. It does not allow a driver to stop for a healthy meal without penalty. The HOS clock continues to tick away the time no matter the reason you stop even if for safety. The new HOS is for revenue enhancement .. The ELD is just a Logging system and a clock in your face reminding you, you can not think or make decisions for your self.Also cops can read it easier due to block letters instead of messy penmanship so many drivers have…
TexasJester says
Running paper logs is not running illegal. The ATA prez needs to learn the difference.
The ATA has been pushing ELDs from the start – they don’t like the competition from small companies who can run rings around them. These are the same people who have been pushing a mandated truck speed limiter, to keep small companies and O/Os from getting loads to the receiver faster.
And note that the ATA member companies – Knight, Swift, JB Hunt, Crete/Hunt, Werner, Schneider, etc, all are mega-companies with the worst safety ratings. — So how is all this stuff you’re trying to mandate on the rest of us safer, when you already have it and aren’t safe???
Bigc says
Not a lot of folks remember 20 years ago hours used to be 10 hrs driving .
8 hrs off duty time consecutive but you could take 24 to drive the 10 you
Could drive 4 or 5 take a 4 hr nap drive 5 or 6 more take your 8 off go again
If you got hung up at a shipper 4 or 5 hrs take a little rest finish your day safely
Not have to worry about the 14th hour people were more productive less tired .
Just my thoughts everyone has ideas about what to do put mine in the shed
March 28 good luck to all
TicTac says
As I said earlier, I find it sad for the Trucking industry to not realize how powerful we are as a whole. We have the power to shut things down but doesn’t realize. I remember in my grandfather’s days how they would strike….no truck moves until their demands were met. Nowadays the average trucker is either unaware of their power and ability or just so deep into financial debt until they feel they can’t afford to take a stand. But keep in mind, we as truckers have a voice that can be heard if we take a stand and shut the engines off and say ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!!! It’s us that physically moves this country’s products from A to Z and if no one is willing to take a stand in action with striking then this is all useless venting that won’t get any of us anywhere beyond this point. Yes I get it, we are all aggravated and expresses some real legitimate concerns, complaints, and deserves better, but think about it this way….the kid that gets bullied doesn’t gain much respect until after they decide to take a stand for himelf by doing something about it. “NO MORE” With that being said, a STRIKE is well over due!!!
Jose Aguilar says
You got my vote. All the way. Time to get respected!
Rich collins says
Amen brother!
Nicolas D. says
They are right in a way : either ELDs are fine and everyone should comply. Either they’re not and everyone is taken off them. Or the hours of service need an overhaul (well yes they do). But you can’t have a variable geometry system where some people are above the law. It’s ridiculous. I normally find the ATA despicable but here the reasoning is right.
In a sense I’m happy ELDs are effed up : it made a lot of people realize how broken the RULES are.
franky figgs says
They’re obviously is an agenda here that’s being met by big companies to destroy the smaller companies and owner Ops I mean this is plain as day that there’s an agenda somebody needs to look into these criminals at the ATA. And any of you drivers(not steering wheel holders) that work for the big companys need to leave them and go with smaller. They pay more anyway and treat you good
rob says
The ATA Does not represent truck driver’s of America!
Mack says
Not surprised the big boys of ATA are protesting the exemptions. After all they did not lobby for all these years for the e logs to see it squandered by exemptions. They wanted to “level the playing field” so to speak. It really means they were not competitive with the efficiency offered by small carriers and the single independent owner ops. Just watch, it 20 or so years all the trucking will be done by one, or two super mega monopolies.
Gonzalo says
I doubt it, thier pay is basically pennies I rather work at a local fast food restaurant than on the road with this vampires. And I’m pretty sure most drivers will do the same. No drivers no monopoly. Only thing is the autonomous trucks but that needs a lot of work for now.
Debra Tullis says
It’s never, ever been about safety. Follow the money
Jose Aguilar says
Just one thing. Mr ata president,do you own a truckink company? Are you willing to pay detention fees to your driver,when not his/her fault had to wait at shipper/receiving and run out hrs? Didn’t think so
Jude says
Any law with exemptions for anyone is NOT a “law”. It is simply something passed by Congress to make it appear they understand a problem (even if no problem exists) and are doing “something” about it. A law applies to everyone across the board or it applies to no one.
Bandit says
I now work in the safety department for a major carrier… I just left a small carrier where, when I first arrived (11 mos. ago) had a DOT audit that I knew nothing about until my second day at my new job when the auditor showed up with the results of said audit (2 mos. before). Twenty six pages of violations for 6 drivers audited. Almost every driver in that audit had multiple HOS violations… and the ELD’s were not a part of the problem then. MONEY was. The drivers ran rouge and made lots of money, the owner made lots of money, all at the cost of going out of business. The drivers, all of them with 3 or more years of experience knew what they were doing. The owner, not so much… young ambitious guy! He got the freight, the drivers hauled, simple right… yeah, right up to the audit. In August I installed ELD’s. In mid September the company got a cease and desist order from the DOT. I showed the DOT where we installed the ELD’s in all the trucks, and implemented disciplinary actions to enforce the ELD tracked HOS and they gave the company a 3 month reprieve (under a Conditional rating that is). Due to the overwhelming work load in December (3rd mo) caused by the craziness to enforce the ELD implementation (even in the soft implementation period) they extended the re-audit till February. The February re audit audit came and went and due to the ability to track and enforce the drivers HOS accurately (thanks to the ELD), the DOT reestablished the companies rating to satisfactory. You all have your rights and wrongs about the ELD. Remember, IT’S NOT THE DEVICE, it’s just a mechanical way to record your HOS vs paper. It’s you doing the right thing.
We have AOBDR’s on our trucks (3000 of them where I’m at now) and none of the drivers complain. They know now that cant be forced to run illegal. During orientation, the drivers are required to fill out a paper log for their HOS, and not one to date (2 weeks back till now) has gotten them right, and I give them a cheat sheet to follow… experience drivers included!!! Change happens, i.e. Qualcom, cell phones, sat tv’s in the trucks. OH, AND GOOD LUCK STRIKING (different reason). It didn’t work in 1989 either. We all hate change… me too. Get with the program folks.
Gary says
And again, how many hours behind the wheel of a truck have you had Mr. Spear?
Gonzalo says
Most likely 0. And only saw a truck on the highway!
Ed says
ELD (to me) is danger.
Some times you sleepy and tired but you forced to drive because still have time on ELD (happen when driving at night). Another day you full of energy but ELD shows they you have to take 10hr. If it happen during the day then you will have to drive next night…sleepy again
Driver says
Funny how i was logbook exempt due to the term “disaster” being the business i was in, yet, we were saving buildings, tarping roofs, drying structures, etc after hurricanes…exempt to save buildings but not exempt to haul/save cattle ?…idiocy at its best..end result will be a $27.00 price tag on a kids meal size burger..of course for politicians eating tofu and fish eggs its nothing..
Sherilyn Brosig says
ATA has never been for the truckers. EVER. only their own interests. They speak for us and have no right. It is a bunch of people who work for trucking companies that have probably never slept in a truck. Never been out on the road. I cant stand them.