The American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) released the results of their parking study this week which brought many of the parking issues drivers face every day into a clear light. One of the most shocking findings was that the lack of available safe parking costs drivers an average of $4,600 a year.
Called the “Truck Parking Diary” study, the ATRI had hundreds of drivers record their parking experiences for 14 days and submit it to the organization for review.
They found that drivers spent an average of 56 minutes looking for parking every day. That equates to 9,300 miles and $4,600 lost per a year. Additionally, the study found that drivers using ELDs are almost twice as likely to spend over 30 minutes searching for parking as those using paper logs.
The full report from the ATRI has other interesting findings including which hours are the toughest to find parking. You can download the report here.
Source: atri, atri, overdrive, prnewswire
Implementation of ELDs for all heavy vehicles will be a crippling blow to our transport industry and in effect to our economy. Mark my words.
The ELD isn’t going to cripple the industry, it’s the H.O.S. that’s doing that, but because drivers with paper logs have been able to break the rules all along, they haven’t noticed bad the hours are. The ELD will force drivers and their associations to confront the rules, and maybe fight to change them.
ELD logs can be forged just like paper logs. Prim example is the walmart driver. They use ELD and have breaking technology on their trucks. But all that was turned off. Werner has been ELD logs but ask any of their drivers and they can tell you how to get around the ELD. Paper logs just like anything can be forged. It up to the drivers to run legal. That the way I run.Have always because this is how I make my living. The only one who can control this is your self. Just like using hand free for cell phones not texting. I always thought of it this way anything that takes your attention from driving is not a thing to do. Because that second you take your attention from driving can and will kill you and other.
“ELD logs can be forged just like paper logs.” This is the same ridiculously weak argument OOIDA attempted, in court of all places. Jose Monteiro’s comment gets straight to the heart of the matter and captures it in few words.
You are right. Nothing more to say. Trucking relies on flexibility this takes it away.
Yep. That’s our government for you. Over-regulate and under-pay, then over-tax lol. Probably the same group of idiots that think limiting every CMV to 65 mph is gonna be a lot safer. I bet the ELD makers are laughing all the way to the bank though
The Government is not pushing 65mph limit. ATA has been pushing the speed limit. ATA is pushing for ELD. Among other regulations. ATA is a very powerful lobbying group.
Ask why is ATA pushing these regs.
I’ve used an ELD for my entire career (short as it is, just a few years) and while I understand that I could have been fudging logbooks to make more money, it’s not the ELD that has been the primary cause of low pay in my history – it was the carriers.
Now I’m with a better company, hourly, still have an ELD doing interstate about 50 hours driving per week, and don’t have any complaints except for sometimes running over my eight. That’s a regulatory issue, though, and not an ELD issue. If the rule was 30 minutes off duty after nine hours, I would never have any issues.
I understand why people who are loudly anti-ELD feel that way, but I don’t *sympathize* with them. If you don’t like the regulations, stop electing politicians who don’t care too much what DOT/CSA are doing, support associations that fight the more onerous regulations, or stop driving.
“I don’t want to move to electronic because then I can’t cheat as much or as easily” isn’t your real problem – it’s that you feel you have to cheat in the first place. Your issue is with the regulations. There are channels in place to get those changed if you can get enough support. Get out and talk to people and elected officials. Bitching about it here isn’t going to do you a lick of good.
WRONG! The “Industry ” is not going to feel it. “Feeling” it will be the drivers responsibility.
I’m not believing this entirely. I’ve been in this industry only 9 years. I ran a paper log for 2 years. I then moved to a company in 2009 that was transitioning from paper to Peoplenet or elogs, and we ran both for a time. I started as a company driver pulling an alcohol tanker while my truck sat in my yard, as I had no tank experience. In 2010 I signed on with my truck and we were using elogs full-time. I’ve had it in mine since, and I’ve rarely experienced any more difficulty with parking than paper. Have I been over on it, yes. When it happened I didn’t falsify my logs by going off duty and logging out, which you can do. I stayed on drove over and got a spot. Once parked I sent an email from my truck to my terminal manager explaining the situation. There was no problem, and he thanked me. I’ve received a few friendly warning letters over the years, but never been called in the office for it. I used to run the west coast LA and back to eastern IA and still had a couple hours left of 70 at the end of 6th day when I got back. I rarely ran east and I found it a bit more difficult but managed. Used properly the elogs are to the second, so for fueling purposes its a time saver and can show 5 or minutes to fuel instead of quarter hour. Waiting to live load and unload in some instances I know can cause issues. The entire elogs can’t be painted with the same brush, either good or bad, it’s just what it and how you use it best.
you are fortunate to work for a company that looks at things in a reasonable manner.
I work for a large carrier that after 3 ‘violations’ will suspend you for a week. The head of the compliance department is absolute and non forgiving. So if you violate your log by driving across the street to a different truck stop to park, you will be notified and three of these…
The ownership supports this person because we have virtually no write ups on this area during our DOT audit.
Everything is by the letter of the law. And that’s the problem (in my opinion) with these ELDs.
Glad I’m not driving anymore.
I think your doing it backwards. I get 15 minutes to fuel on line 4. Now if I average 58 mph on my log and I stop for fuel at say 1:04, dump 50 gallons in, grab my receipt and roll by 1:11 I’ve gained 8 minutes back on my 11 hour clock.
More insanity from the feds that causes more problems due to their “genius” “fixes”.
Next up in this train wreck of regulations, speed limiters UNDER most posted speed limits causing split speeds, traffic congestion everywhere and INCREASED car vs truck accidents …… Did I mention it’s also going to INCREASE the epidemic of road rage ……… And let’s not forget that it’s going to take an already struggling industry and make it LESS Efficient ……… Genius award goes to the Federal Tyranny again !!!!
The whole point of the ELDS are not for safety, but rather control how much money a driver can earn…If it comes down to a driver only earning 500 dollars a week…Then what’s the point of being away from family all the time…Not to mention the expense of living on the road which every driver knows is EXPENSIVE…That cuts into your net, and takes away from your family as well…You might as well get a factory job earning 12 bucks an hour and work 40 hours a week!! Parking has been and will always be an issue…I drove for 20 years, and the only advice I can give to new drivers is…Find a spot before 7:30 PM…After that you’ll be lucky if you can find a spot to park for the night.
7:30 pm? I try to drive primarily at night to avoid all of the asshats on the road. I have rolled out of most parking areas at 5pm and it is nearly full. That also is an advantage to driving at night… more parking availability during the day. Getting to legal and safe parking should be an allowance on any log. They way some shippers/receivers hold drivers up, even when you have informed them that you are short on hours, leaving you no time to go anywhere and telling you that you have to leave the property, is just ridiculous. But DOT doesn’t care about that. It’s all about how many violations that they can find to collect that $$. I agree with you that ELDs only reduce the amount a driver can make… I have told my wife many times that I might as well just go to work for mcdonalds. At least I would get paid for my time.
Thats the truth….u make less money…its not a driver shortage..its a problem paying drivers….
Lets just shut all the trucks down for about 3 days, I bet the government and the industry would come to a more trucker favorable negotiating table……what I see is amazing, we gripe about the things they regulate us on but we are not willing to stand our ground….What gives? There isn’t a trucker out there that couldn’t use a nice 3 day minication, I guarantee things would move in a more favorable direction for this industry!!
I agree what is going on with truckers it seems they lack interest in protecting our number one common interest and that is our livelihood (income).
Whereas The Corporate part of our industry is looking down the wheel of time and are positioning themselves for their future in regards to their ability to maintain their profits edge via regulations or regulating the industry in their favor.
What many truckers fail to realize is that Congress interest in regulating how, when, what where, who and on whose terms(rules and regulations ) we drive on is based solely on whose feeding their till. In this instance or case it’s the trucking industry whose behind all of the regulations and rules.
Congress are just the representative of these CEO’s plans to maintain a stronghold economically over the industry as a whole.
Driver’s should realize that we play a very pivotal as well as have a stronger position than we realize and let the power’s that be including Congress that we will not tolerate their over regulatory laws that prevents our freedom of the pursuit of happiness and wealth economically for our respective families……ijs
Look on YouTube for “5 days with no trucks” we have so much power and just need to figure out how to use it!
I spend extra Time & Money planning & taking alternate routes Daily to avoid these “Road-Check” traveling DOT circuses!
& not one Texas Weights & Measures Trooper that is working off of the same page as the next Trooper down the road.
They’re like a pack of dogs.
With a badge & gun..
They have found a “Honey Hole”
Parking problems and the coming ELD’s are bad enough with legal loads, but try it when you’re oversized. Normally I’m 12′ or so wide and usually over 100′ feet long….can’t back up loaded……most truck stops don’t work because by the time it gets dark, all the spaces along the curbs in the truck stop are taken by either guys that can’t back into a parking space or are too damn lazy to do it. So, I find myself parked on an off ramp, closed scale, rest area or some other place with no food or bathroom. Sometimes I’m lucky and have a pilot car so I can get around…but usually no. Can’t wait to add an ELD to this…..should REALLY help me out!!!
Not all Parking concerns are done at the last minute.
A driver has to look at their Hours, Route, and what Truck stops are on that route. Then food or Restrooms ( some have little or Nothing ). Also, consider if a shower is needed and available (shower credit for the chain or size of Truck Stop).
Add in time for just in case of “Orange barrel cities” or other traffic problems, plus time of day to stop.
You may end up with driving only 9hr, 45min. Can you make up time the next day?
I try to plan my overnight as you suggest. I’ve shutdown with 2 hours left to drive because I knew there would be no parking ahead of me. I’ve had a few dispatchers cry about it (mainly at JB Hunt). I just challenge them to tell me how they, with so little experience they can’t find the front of the truck without a map and guide dog, can tell me (with 30+ year’s experience) with certainty there will be a parking spot available when I hit 10:55 driving time.
If more drivers would drive at night instead trying to make trucking a 9to5 job parking wouldn’t be so much of a issue.
It’s not drivers trying to make it a day job- it’s shippers and receivers… And they’ve succeeded thoroughly !!
ELD works fine with dedicated routes and compliant shippers and consignees, but running general freight. . . No way. Insurance companies will win big. Raise the rates on old trucks or go broke and buy a new one with the same rates as in 1999.
I just recently got off the road for good less than 2 months ago after 2 million safe driving miles for several different companies and not a damn thing to show for it. Not so much as an ink pen. Fed up w/ all the bs. The industry is in the sewer IMO. I’ve been in all 48 States, every major city, in all weather conditions. Yes, the parking shituation sucks, absolutely. I tried driving just at night like a couple guys who previously posted but I got so irritated by all the ‘high beamers’ and inconsiderate morons with the after-market bumper lights that are brighter than a train light and are clueless that as long as they can see the hell with everyone else. Plus I can’t see as well as I used to driving at night. The little 12″x3″ street signs can’t get much smaller when looking for a street at night. Driving during the day you have to find a place to park by 3:00-4:00 in the major cities or they’re full by dark and you’re screwed. To much aggravation out there anymore and too much inconsideration by fellow drivers to deal. Used to be a really good profession in the 80’s and early 90’s b4 an influx of ignorant idiots w/ no common sense and companies installing computers to micro-manage you and the ‘profession’ is no longer a ‘profession’ and has gone south since and still steamrolling that way. A guy/gal driver with limited experience can make as much as an experienced driver with 1 million+ miles is sad. No other industry, not a professional plumber, HVAC, electrician, etc does what the trucking industry does. You get your journeymans license in those other professions and as you get more experience and pass various tests you are paid more. Except in trucking.
Sorry about veering way off course here on my rant, I apologize. I was going to delete half of it but decided otherwise and left it. Anyways, happy trails and happy holi’daze’ guys and gals.
Thanks, same to you. For the first time ever I recently took the time to read a scholarly book on the trucking industry. It’s called “The Big Rig: Trucking and the Decline of the American Dream.” While I don’t quite agree with everything the author says, he does do a pretty good job of revealing what got us to where we are today.
Parking just sucks. Some of the truck stops arn’t laid out well or not big enough. A little planning ahead helps but sometimes your are too tired to continue. I don’t Mind the elogs I just kept in contact with the elogs department if I had a problem. If I gotta shut down earlier to rest, then so be it. I’ll just hammer down the next day and get it there.
I just went from slip sheets to elogs. Im driving a 1000 less miles per week, so it’s less money.
I’m also driving tired now being told when I can drive. I used to hammer for 7-8 hrs, take a 2-3 hr nap and hammer again for 7-8 hrs. Sorry mr revenuer but I’m not built like you to sleep 8 hrs in one stretch, so if I run your mother over I’m sorry but I obeyed your laws.
30 plus yrs driving and I’m being told when to take my nap like a toddler.
Again, OUR problem isn’t with the logbooks themselves…. It’s the stupid law!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! People need to get this through their head. We all work different and should be able to determine when/how we want to work. If we can’t be trusted to do that simple task then we shouldn’t drive. Government ruins everything and this is no exception. Priceless trucks and more shippers using trains thanks to the stupid law. Which btw the biggest lobby for our stupid laws are railroad companies. Go figure hahahahaha in the name of safety we’re getting scrwd. Just like they do to us in every aspect of our lives taking away our rights/freedoms
Parking? You guys don’t realize the issues with oversized loads. I drive for a company that buys and sells used trucks. I drive piggy-backs. Boss buys them at auction, many have no mattress in the sleeper, so using that isn’t an option. All have over 500,000 miles so are generally dirty and if its a repossessed rig, well, you wouldn’t believe the slobs in some trucks! My boss does pay for motel rooms, so sleeping in the truck isn’t required. The big issue is parking. I’m about 97 feet long, can’t back up and as a rule my trucks average 14’1″ or taller.
I agree truck stops are hard to find parking for, ever try to find a motel where you can park a rig like I drive?
But, even at that, I am more fortunate than most of you, I have no set time to be where I need to be, I don’t have to worry about dock times and such. I generally fly into a city, get an Uber to go where the trucks are, another worker for our company has already decked them for me, I get in and off I go.
I used to drive for a big company, and left that when this opportunity arose, and am glad of it. I don’t have to worry about elogs, or on board recorders, shippers or receivers, because I never drive the same truck twice. My biggest issue is logging flight time, its logged as on duty, not driving, and sometimes, especially this time of year, gets a bit tricky as flights are delayed. DOT says I have to log time from entering an airport, to exiting destination airport, not just flight time.
Merry Christmas to everyone!!
This is total BS !
It’s common sence, Gov. Better treat ELD s with better dedicated contracts due to lossing allot.
Truck parking is a major major major problem regardless of any logbook. There is simply no where near enough truck parking. Unless you park at most truck stops early your screwed. Most of the time I don’t even try to park at a truck stop later in the day. It’s a shame that most truckers want to work hard but the lack of truck parking and now ELD force drivers to get less miles and that means less money and even more stress. Thought about buying my own truck, but with ELD mixed with bad parking there’s no way I will buy my own truck. Too much stress and not enough miles to be worth it.