In response to recent progress in the battle against mandatory Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs), the American Trucking Association (ATA) has penned a strongly worded letter to FMCSA Deputy Administrator Daphne Jefferson asking for the ELD rule to go ahead despite mounting pressure against it.
Last week, a House Appropriations Committee report floated the idea of delaying the start date of the ELD mandate. The next day, Texas Congressman Brian Babin proposed a bill which would do just that. The push appears to be at least partly the result of lobbying efforts by the Owner Operator Independent Driver’s Association who have been fighting against mandatory ELDs for years.
Some small carriers, owner operators, and drivers who have been dreading ELDs cheered the bill, but the ATA isn’t pleased.
According to Bill Sullivan, Executive Vice President for Advocacy at the ATA, he writes on behalf of (as he puts it) “the nation’s largest and most authoritative voice representing the trucking industry.” Sullivan claims that the industry is ready for ELDs and those that are against them have no reason for it except that they want to be able to “evade compliance with the existing laws and regulations.”
Sullivan dismissed the some of the arguments against ELDs in his letter, but failed to even address other major issues. For example, he “debunks” at length the complaint that if ELDs are put into effect now it will have a negative impact on holiday shipments and America’s holiday shopping. But he fails entirely to address the safety concerns over ELDs.
Instead, Sullivan relies on slinging dirt at his opponents saying that they are “attempting to accomplish, almost at the 11th hour, what they’ve been unable to do in the courts, Congress or with the agency: roll back this common sense, data-supported regulation based on at best specious and at worst outright dishonest arguments.”
“At the end of the day, I believe the implicit reason opponents of electronic logging oppose this regulation is because they intend to cheat on their hours-of-service,” writes Sullivan. “It is the same reason an individual with an exotic sports car buys a radar detector: it is an implicit admission that they intend to break the speed limit.”
To be fair, there are some drivers who do fudge their log books, but by the FMCSA’s own admission, ELDs are unable to automatically record changes in duty status. This means drivers must still be able to manually input changes, allowing those few drivers to continue logging their hours however they see fit.
Opponents of ELDs also point out that some ELDs can be used to harass drivers and push them to stay on the road through unsafe driving conditions, when they’re too tired or sick to drive safely, or any other time a driver still has hours left.
If ELD opponents are right and driver coercion becomes an even bigger problem than it already is, you should check out our guide on how to file a trucker coercion compliant online in 4 easy steps.
If Sullivan and the ATA are right however, you might want to follow his advice: “using an electronic logging device to record hours-of-service is the right thing to do.”
You can read his letter to the FMCSA in its entirety here.
Source: ATA, ATA, gobytrucknews, mhlnews, logisticsmgmt, todaystrucking, supplychaindive, truckersreport
Brian White says
You can always count on the ATA to tell drivers exactly who’s side they’re on. In this case, as with most things ATA, they’re coming down squarely on the side of the mega-carriers: those that can afford to put en ELD in every truck they own, with little to no noticeable impact to the bottom line.
The ATA hasn’t & still doesn’t stand for the one truck operatorS. They’d rather the independents just go away, and their way of trying to accomplish this is to advocate for expensive & useless equipment mandates.
The Revealer says
Brian…Who do you think the ATA is??? Think about it for a moment…ATA are the mega companies…It’s called the Morman Mafia…
Al hoelscher says
We as drivers ahould have thw right to make that deciaion about putting a devise in our trucks that will cut out our ability to feed our family’s. There are some that cheat but there are plenty of others who run a tight ship and there safety dept. Keeps them in line. But when you have deep pockets like Schneider and knight and c.f.. England how are we supposed to fight them? Maybe the congressmen they pay off would like to explain that. Look at the quality of drivers they hire. Some of them can’t back up more less go forward. They set there trucks to run between 55 and 62 mph and can’t understand why they have so many rear end collisions. These companies need to clean up there own backyard before attempting to clean up the entire trucking world. I just saw a driver try to back.in a spot and after 17 ttys, that’s right 17 he finally let someone else do it. Now that’s sad. But I bet his log was right. Not that his ability to drive matters at all.
Chuck says
U agree with, everything you said…except getting rid of O/O. That is being a small business owner. That will not happen.
Iriemonarch says
I concur wholeheartedly my friend.
J says
Driver coersion has been increasing since the 14hr US/16hr Canadian “window” came into play. It’s not even necessarily coersion by Dispatch anymore either it’s just to keep the bills paid.
This ata dude seriously needs to actually try driving for a living. Or get a refresher whatever because for representing the industry he sure has a funny way of turning his back to the drivers while he’s stabbing them in theirs.
FMCSA is jackhammering this dude harder than the NJ Turnpike and he’s loving every bit. Probably the kind of guy who would peer pressure his friends into stupid shit and then sell them out solely to stroke his ego.
Anyone else smell stinky conflict of interest???
William Serenity Trucking Womack says
Is it true there is an exception that smart phone apps like KeepTrucking does NOT have to be communicating with the truck that is being driven. So, if this is true, there is no difference than paper. The driver can still edit information.
Wayne W Wente says
As to the driver speaking about the keep on trucking appt also has to be hooked to your truck to comply with the new regulation right now in just app form it is not considered an elderly
Paul Logan says
Question: How many law enforcement officers have actually checked an ELD? How many know HOW? Everytime I am asked, I responded with ” It’s on a leash” Response:Go on get out of here.
Mr. Curmudgeon says
Paul, i had an Iowa trooper go through the full range on my hos on the ELD a year ago. Stopped for 5 over, on US30. Some on here dont believe it can happen to them. i didnt either. not at five. it does…
John Wallace says
Most highway patrol have electronic monitoring capability to read your ELD from their patrol car or weigh station.
Geno Kubiak says
I do t like the ata at all I don’t think they represent the trucking industry in a good way at all. How do we get rid of those pencil pushers ?
Tp says
The ATA does not represent the drivers, they represent mega companies like swift.
shogun says
I never thought I would see an article with ATA and the words “common sense”.
Jim says
Lost 10% of my wages on blogs. No raise in 20 years and the you got to give up 10 % of that. Screw the ATA
Orlando says
ATA is on the side of the big carriers period, they don’t care about the small company, bet you they are getting millions from the big ones
Roman says
Useless, unsupportive ATA.
Bill sulivan Stinks says
Bill Sullivan and ATA can go to hell. If his employers, the big carriers such as J.B Hunt, U.S. Express, Swift want to use ELDs and send their drivers in to ditches every day by pressuring them to perform the 14 hours, it’s their business. We the OOs don’t need it, don’t want it. Stop messing around with livelihood of millions of people.
Kim says
Trucks only make money when they’re rolling. Shippers and receivers have always been the biggest problem for time management the way they burn up the clock. It should not take hours to get loaded or unloaded. There should be a mandate for them as well if anybody really cares about safety. If i can get in and out timely i can still be profitable with an eld. The current practices will make it impossible for any truck to make money with eld’s. The big trucking companies will be hit the hardest with service failures. We’ll see how long eld’s last when that happens.
bangbolt says
As Trump would say “Let it implode”
Charles Walker says
Comparing the driver of a sportcar using a “radar detector” to non-use of an ELD as a form of cheating by trucker, is stupid beyond reason. Ones speeding for pleasure, most likely & trucker who cheat logs, making a damn living, “more often than not”.
We lose an absured amount of time in “every” aspect of this job. Big carriers can afford it, even moreso after driving independents out. Limit this industry to the few major carriers & watch for the damage to the profession. Drivers will be screwed with the only option working for someone else, making them wealthy.
Jacob says
You hit the nail on the head. The point he tried to make with the sports car analogy is inherently flawed because – as you said – one is for pleasure, one is to make a living. What does law or regulation matter if the reason said law exists in the first place is unsound? We’re not cookie cutters. We’re not “the” statistic. We all need varying amounts of sleep, can stay awake and focused for varying lengths of time, and some people don’t even have 24 hour circadian rhythms. I’m one of those people; I can sleep for 10-12 hours and I’m good for 18-20 hours afterwards. This 14 hour rule is very stressful for me.
I digress; the point is, trying to make an argument about a regulation – when the regulation itself is worthless – is fallacious. This is why I the ATA will NEVER be my voice. They think they know what’s best for me when the fact of the matter is they don’t. They simply don’t.
And because of them, because of their push to see more regulation and mandatory “safety”:
– We’re going to continue to see more automation in the name of safety which will mentally train drivers to rely on rudimentary computers to think for them and pay less attention to the road and ultimately cause more accidents and deaths because it encourages drivers to rely on the truck to think for them when they’re too mentally fatigued to do it on their own.
– We’re going to see more drivers legally forced into driving when they’re too tired to safely do it because a company can threaten to fire a driver based on their perforance. Yeah, a driver can shut the truck down if they’re too tired but a company can breathe down their necks and threaten to fire them because they’re “not performing to company standards” and they now have every legal right and excuse to do so.
– See more speeding and accidents because drivers who are paid by the mile have to not only fit all their drive time into 11/14 hours, but then struggle to make up time because of an accident or heavy traffic in metropolitan areas, or because they didn’t wake up on time because they were trying to catch up on their sleep debt caused by the companies breathing down their necks and trying to squeeze every minute out of them that they can. If you can fall asleep to get 25 minutes worth of a nap within a 30 minute break, you are chronically fatigued and shouldn’t be driving until that’s addressed. But thanks to the ATA, that’s the reality for too many drivers out there.
The ATA can burn to the ground for all I care because they don’t care about us or public safety – they only care about helping big companies in exploiting their employees so they can milk every dollar out of them that they can.
Charles Washington says
The ATA is and has always been full of s***, just ask my ex girlfriend who worked for them 12 years. Some the things I’ve seen and heard at that “P” Street location D.C., is unbelievable. Sullivan doesn’t speak for the trucking, he’s another paper pusher who kisses Werner, Maverick, Knight, Schneider and Swift’s asses.
argosy says
Sometimes you wonder what they’re doing or what they’re thinking. if I had a couple hundred trucks and I wanted to get rid of my competition ELDs are the way I would go. congratulations ATA you’re finally going to get your wish. the big carriers will now be in your debt
Steve says
As with every thing that is going on in the Trucking industry,all you got to do is follow the money. Then and only then will you find out why all this crap is going on. Been in the Industry for 45 years have been inspected 1 to 3 times as an O/Oevery year and have never Recieved a log book violation or been shut down for poor equipment maintenance. And all these so called Safety Measures are just Lining the pockets of a lot of The people Pushing the Laws. The ATA is owned by Major Trucking that need this Technology to control their Drivers.
j Lewis says
It’s already hard enough to find parking if they put this in effect alot of us r going to get tickets trying to find a parking spot… leave us op alone and worry about the big companies
Rod says
American Trucker Association? They don’t represent the trucker. Are you kidding me! They are in favor of ELD but they didn’t have a problem with the exemptions or the other problems going on with ELD! Certainly makes you wonder if their hidden agenda has something to do with their investment portfolio. How much money was made off of the headset mandate! Like phones are the only distraction. What a joke. They were in favor of speed limiters! No doubt these creeps were in favor of increasing our gross vehicle weight a few years ago. I agree with Geno. These pencil pushers need to change their name because they sure as hell don’t represent the owner operator or small trucking companies.
Betty Hunter says
The ATA PUPPET IS WRONG
You Can CHEAT On ELOGS
Drove for 5 Different Companies
The idiot log scrutinizer at those companies that do the logsin the supposed Safety Department changes the elogs for the driver’s.
Shelman&Sons Trucking Has NO SAFETY DEPARTMENT the gal that DOES the logs ALSO DISPATCHES LOADS TO THE DRIVER
Lloyd Smith says
The ata does not represent 70% of the trucking industry. They represent large companies that went along to get along. Companies like u.s. express that saying that it is not fair for others not to use elogs. Well guess what u.s. express, didn’t you people say you liked them because it pushes the driver? Isn’t it illegal to push the driver? Do you not realize that the hours of service and the elogs are the cause of most accidents.. i guess if the average diver would donate a million bucks to the ata they represent us instead of large companies. Ata just go away. You don’t represent anybody
Val says
Judge for yourself: 2 drivers left IL Monday to go to CA. One has elog, the other doesn’t. The elog guy had to drive all the way, as far as he could go on his HOS. The non elog guy stopped as soon as he was tired. After he was rested, he drove as much as he could. The elog guy had to stop for the “mandatory breaks.” When he got to AZ, the non elog guy was already at CA boarder, and had a reload out of CA. The elog guy had to spend the night in a paid truck stop in CA, wait to unload next day and then go to reload.
Rick Hudmon says
Imagine that the Anti Trucking Association (ATA) doing what the big box carriers are paying them to do – not represent the trucking industry. I hope none of you buy anything from companies that support the ATA.
Tommy says
I have said this before and have been slammed for saying so; If you drive for a company that belongs to the ATA, then you sir are part of the problem. I am guessing, most company drivers and lease operators don’t even know if the company they drive for is a member of ATA.
Jeff Pearson says
They say the elb is for safety..they say the elb will cut down on accidents…they say.. yada yada yada..but isnt it strange that all of there data is wrong..a human being aka you are not a machine that can be turned on and off..or is this what the ATA wants? Driverless trucks..The ATA used to be for ALL truck drivers…small fleets.. but not any more..they could care less about you than what color socks to put on in the morning..Why is congress even taking any notice and action on this? BECAUSE ELB WILL CAUSE THE BIGGEST LOG JAM OF FREIGHT THAT EVER HAPPENED..and as much as the major carriers think..they cant handle it all..THEY CANT.. The log book was invented to PROTECT the driver from the employer from forcing the driver to be over worked ..Not what its being used for today..With the ELB it will be YOU sleep..not tired? Tough…YOU awake and drive..Tired ..get over it and drive..
TheBigFoot says
Absolutely!!! We are not robots, this is the one business thats is always unpredictable 90% of the time on some level.
Whizkid says
I’ve been in trucking for 35 years in those 35 years I have used a fudged logbook to get out of speeding tickets,but that was pretty much the norm back in the day. Since those days are pretty much over like a lot other things in this industry I have driven for a few companies with eld’s and all I’ve ever had to it I screwed up was call my dispatcher and he would fix it and just truck on. I’ve driven for one who would give you 500 personal commute miles and tell you to use them to use just so the load got delivered on time. Even had one company tell me to put my myself in the sleeper and unhook the damn thing and drive 10 hours plug it back in bam 10 break and 600 miles down the road and could just keep trucking on like that no problem unless you get asked to show or fax a dot officer your e-log. My point is nothing isn’t above tampering with even e-logs if there unplugged they can’t record anything until plugged back in but by then its to late. So the ATA has no clue about what there talking about and never have in my opinion there just a bunch of overpaid lobbyists for mega companies because then the companies can get rid of there logging departments and they don’t have to keep logs for 3 years incase there audited they simply leave that up to whoever there eld provider is. But then again I see there point because most of the drivers out here today would never be able to fill out a log anyway that’s the ones who support eld’s also.
Mark Condrey says
You do not represent the American trucker, you represent the mega greedy carriers. I see you for what you are … sell outs. This bill hurts the little guy no matter how you slice it. Open your eyes to the real world!
Hellocomein says
Paper is my friend.
Zoran Alijevic says
ATA is galloping cancer of trucking industry and US economy !!!
Joseph Rash says
It’s another way for the gov to keep up with u big company’s are jealous of owner ops get rid of big company’s problem solved I’ve been one op 14years I’ve seen large company’s destroy trucking
dusty radford says
ok everybody,while yall are on this subject and looking for a way to help stop this big push,let your voice be heard just call 202-224-3121 you can do it while youre driving down the road,(on bluetooth of course,dont want anyone doin anything illegal,or unsafe) just tell them your name and that you back tx rep BRIAN BABIN’s delay bill and if you wanna tell em why ,lay it on em like yall do right here.thats it,and with everyones voice being heard this mandate can at least be pushed back a couple more years and wont ATA just love that? come on you will feel better for doin it!
Wesley Cory says
They need to get rid of the 14 hour clock. That’s what’s really pushing drivers to drive tired, sick, bad road conditions.
Elvin Santana says
This is one of the biggest case of “Bullying” in the history of the trucking industry.
Why can they understand? I only have one truck, I’m already paying for Heavy Use Taxes $550.00 per year, about $400 in Fuel Taxes every quarter. I’m paying corporation Taxes. My maintenance is way more expensive than any Mega Carrier. I pay about 3 times that they pay for tires….
I make probably the same as any factory worker in the USA just for the simple reason that it cost me more to run the truck than what I can profit from it ( ( ( AND NOW I HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS ELD EQUIPMENT AND MONTHLY USE ) ) )
Give the little guy a break!!
Brian says
ELD’s are going to kill the industry, cost consumers more money and, Kill more people….!!
Forgetaboutit says
Who cares about the customer, they need to pay more and pass it to the Driver, EL are going to cost you time daily if you can’t fill your full 11 hrs day, once you enter your pre trip your done ! That EL CLOCK CAN’T STOP TILL 14 HR.
USE your TIME carefully no traffic no stall time..
Nothing..
Do you know how to use EL ?
Randell Shellhammer says
The last thing owner operators need is more regulation from DC. Leave us alone and let us do our jobs. The majority of us comply with all the rules and regulations. This pencil pusher from ATA doesn’t no his a–from a hole in the ground. Hurray for Dr. Brian Babin for bringing some common sense to DC and standing up to these dictators.
Ed says
The ELD is a tracking device, plain and simple. I’m sending the OOIDA’s PAC some money today! I urge everyone else to do the same. This is a huge victory for the OOIDA. This is a huge victory for truck drivers. The ELD tracks us hard working truck drivers more than sexual predators, criminals, and dangerous citizens are tracked. It’s simply an invasion of privacy and every driver needs to stand up against the ELD
Forgetaboutit says
YES YES now tell me where are all the little green men, I heard the put a chip in your ear while you were sleeping at the TA
Toby Boettcher says
Is the ATA going to pay for places to keep livestock while driver takes break. Doubt it! I’m pretty sure not all who work at the ATA are vegans. Let that sink in mega carriers & ATA puppets. Tofu at your fancy banquets. LOL!
Forgetaboutit says
HEY MR. SULLIVAN,
HOW ABOUT CHANGING THESE FEW THINGS BEFORE MANDATORY ELD…
1. RAISE DRIVERS RATE OF PAY..
FARE WAGES NOT 1980,s WAGES
2.MANDATORY FOR Shippers or Receivers to start paying detention pay after 2 hours of checking in…
if driver have to wait to be loaded or unloaded,
3. Change Driver’s rate of pay across the board and that mean all US trucking company’s
4.Stop driver abuse give drivers an honest and fare rate, 36 yrs in trucking most driver rates are still the same.
NOT everyone works for Wal-Mart..
But you can make Wal-Mart the shining example…
5. Mandatory driver pay for sitting on loads (lay over) time spent Pre & Post trip inspection, PAID 30 min lunch break,
THE Goverment wants to Regulate CDL DRIVERS well it’s only fare you start regulating the way Big Companies and Employers have for years been taking advantage of Drivers.
Mr Sullivan Sir. The Cheating …
as you call it doesn’t start with the Driver..
The Charting starts with Shippers and Trucking Company’s.
Why is it ok Mr Sullivan for you and Company’s to force DRIVERS to comply with Government regulation that only work for You and Them. When are drivers going to get the respect we show you all ?
Mr. Sullivan have you ever been to a Shipper and seen the way DRIVERS are treated how they seat wait and can’t leave the premises due to policy,,, for hours and hours sometimes with no wear to eat or even use the facility’s because they don’t want DRIVERS to use there restrooms.. They give drivers an out house that hasn’t been cleaned in days no paper no soap no towels
Mr. Sullivan Safety is the most important part of a drivers life…No Doubt Sir….
But how can you ask a driver to Log into a device that once it starts your day as a ELD driver does not stop till your 14 hours are over. You hear company’s say you need to plan your day better and that ELD will work ?
Well what about the issues 1 2 3 that i wrote above ?
Those that are not plan.
DRIVERS are ignored and taken advantage off..
Joe gailey says
If they would not penalize driver with that clock not stopping. Driver would be able not to push so hard. With the old spilt logs i most of the time drove five hours between breaks.
Just put e-logs at twelve driving let them do up to three spilts in twenty four with no more the eight hundred miles in twenty four. No clock. Make that for e-logs only and you will not have to mandate it.
Forgetaboutit says
What We Do ? THE ATA
Since 1933, American Trucking Associations has been the leading advocate for the trucking industry.
Through a strong federation of state associations, affiliated conferences and individual members, ATA is committed to developing and advocating innovative, research-based policies that promote highway safety, security, environmental sustainability and profitability.
ATA’s professional staff works to educate policymakers and the general public about the essential role trucking plays in the economy, promote responsible policies to improve highway safety and advance the industry’s environmental goals.
Brian G. BensonBrian says
People change and get greedy. I never voted.for the guy. I voted for myself
Kc says
Too funny, What CSA score does Swift have with ELDs???????
Sean Forney says
OOIDA Life Member here, if you have the time and energy to post comments here, then you have time to call your Senators and House Reps. I have them on speed dial. It’s easy to find their contact info. If they hear from hundreds and thousands of us, they will listen. We outnumber the few voices coming from offices in Washington…RAISE YOUR VOICE and be heard… drown out those idiots catering to the mega carrier special interests. Now is the time, we have a President who is looking to help us, he wants victories and we can make enough noise to be heard even in the halls of The White House. What President do any of you remember sitting in the seat of a truck and pulling on the air horn? I’m 50, and I don’t remember anyone else doing that! Stop bitching to each other, start bitching to those in power and MAKE THEM LISTEN. Otherwise, shut up and bow down to your new masters…ELD’s!!
Brian G. BensonBrian says
Also, an addition, my truck is governed, for 75. That is plenty fast. I go 64 when I want to save fuel, but I go 70 across ohio and other states that allow it when traffic is heavy, I feel safer and dont create road rage. If you notice, the trucks that can go fast, they actually obey the speed limit, not like swift when blowing through a 50mph contruction zone at 62! Now, whose being unsafe?
Kevin says
Who has more money to Buy Off the Politians? The ATA or Independent’s OOIDA…..we know the answer to that. Filthy rotten rats!
Shogun says
Forgetaboutit, you lost all credibility when you said environmental sustainability. Tell you what, meet me Monday at any truck stop, you name the time and place. Bring coveralls and we will see who knows more about safety by doing a thorough inspection. Unless of course you are in a meeting with a research group talking about supposed safety measures.
Brian G. BensonBrian says
Well, I don’t see my first comment I posted. Guess ATA didn’t like it. So much for freedom of speech.
Kc says
ATA is a joke and yes the mega carrier lobbying group.
Sullivan your a clown and have no sound information to support the use of ELDs.
Helen Corbett says
Let all drive to Washington DC make sure we at the end of our 11 hours and shut down for our ten our break. Then we all need our 34 hour restart before we can move our trucks and trailers. Oh those tires don’t meet with DOT regulation
Need that fixed before we move our truck.This could go on for days even weeks while Congress can’t get out. Then let no bring no food or gas in for three or four weeks. See if that changes their minds.
Some trucker says
Id support elog manfate for new drivers holding cdl less than 2 years. There appears to be less accidents on roads since big trucking switched. As for the rest of us, i know when im tired, im sure you do too. Mandating elogs doesnt help me rake a mid afternoon nap to sit out rush hour, before continuing on my way. Yes, new sheet required, but in the end legal.
Fat Paty says
ELD’s should be for carriers that have 25 trucks or more. Single truck companies should still be able to run paper or have some kinda app on their phone or laptop that goes straight to Qualcomm. So to me being a big carrier company driver , I think ELD is fine for me cuz I know no other , I’ve been driving for 10 yrs now and only used ELD. But I stand behind the smaller companies that really don’t / need to put out the kind of money they want to install them in their trucks. And if a single truck carrier has to have an edit done on their ELD who does he or she call to do that?….Qualcomm?? All this doesn’t make sense at all , kind of like wiping you butt before you poop…don’t make no sense !!!
Linda Merritts says
When Bill Sullivan drives a truck for over 6 months then lets here what he has to said the way things should be ran. People are making laws about trucking that have never driven an truck. There is more to HOS than just drive time.
You need to start putting restrictions on the receivers that hold the drivers there 4 to 6 hours to unload a truck start here the problem begins then work your way down
John says
Been driving over the road for 20 years. The only people I know who are against the elds are the logbook outlaws. Those who still want to run 2 or 3 or more paper logs to get more miles. Completely disregarding the laws and intent to make the roads safer for the motoring public. Suck it up cupcakes. It’s time to get with the program.
Steven says
John, you are a conformist. You don’t believe in individual responsibility (just like most of the people in our government). You dont believe in respect of others (just like most shippers and receivers). Individual responsibility and respect, which most professional drivers have, is the code of ethics that keeps the roads safe. I’m going to coin a new phrase here: “MASS DICTATORSHIP”….which means “many people who have come together to control every aspect of an individual’s life”. America is not a constitutional-republic anymore (and it was never designed to be a democracy, which actually means “majority rule”). Therefore, John, the ELD is designed to create more government control over an individual. It is being forced on drivers, because, those who have never been a professional driver do not understand why we speed or make sudden movements, which makes the car driver afraid. We can see things they can’t. We anticipate things they don’t. We drive for them, and make decisions for them, without them realizing it. So, what actually “makes the roads safer”, as you put it, is the ability of the professional driver to make the proper decision at the proper time. It is not safer to force a driver to sleep when he/she is not tired, or, by governing the speed of a truck, which causes rolling roadblocks and speeding through parking lots and construction zones to make up for lost time, that was created by a government clock or an arrogant dock worker. The logbook outlaws came into being because of government control over an individual’s life. As far as being a cupcake, you should look in the mirror. It sounds like you don’t like hard work and making more money. And, in conclusion, “to get with the program” means you are a conformist. Have a safe, slow, frustrating day!
TheBigFoot says
This nothing more then the big companies trying to make slaves out of those that dont have “on your back supervisors”. So sick in the head that they want to be in your cab, with you, to monitor your every move, at every turn. These big companies have done a lot to mess up much of the trucking business, and now they are only being jerks to see how far they can go.
We are not criminals, on parole, property of the state , any company, nor children that require baby sitters. The industry has done well for all these years without ELD’s and it will not help anyone except the greedy control freak simulating his thirst for complete control.
This has nothing to do with safety, in fact if forces less safety due to tighter crunch times and deadlines. Rushing to get everything done, causing mistakes, accidents, damages, loses and mishaps, which is normal under strenuous conditions. This causes freight to move slower, twice as long to do the same jobs or the amount of loads/jobs. And it causes insurance rates to increase, drivers CSA scores to go all wrong, as well as driver turn over for many companies (it could take 10+years before they even realize that the restrictions are the reasons why everything has gone south). These big companies are so out of the loop that they think its a good thing to squeeze the drivers in this way, they believe theyre saving and will increase profit, it wont and it cant. Those selfish law makers and regulators are only on the payroll for the big Corps. Again, this is NOT about safety, stats contradicts that lie.
Also too many clowns are in position to make rules in industries they never worked in or no nothing about. Overseer/watch Dog positions should never be held by anyone that hasnt had hands on experience in it.
Dan pelsey says
Maybe before they go to eld they should fix the other problems first.like parking for all the trucks and being delayed by shippers and receivers that don’t have parking for us to take a10 hour break. Before long we will be working for less than minimum wage.maybe they should invest the money into training courses for drivers of cars to teach them about trucks and better training for new truck drivers
Sandro says
One big trucking strick, to show this people’s who’s running this country.
15 days only. No trucks on road. See what’s happen.
Sandro says
It’s like the president for another country told a trucking businesses once. ” We don’t need trucks”” we have a train” Dand 30 days strick. Caos. The country just stop spinning.
Joe says
My thing is why do I need a 10 hour rest break when doctors, pilots, Lawenforcement ,Fire fighters list goes on make everyone have a 10 break who sleep more than 6 to 8 hours WAKE UP FOLKS get real