In a surprise turn of events, the House Appropriations Committee issued a report on Monday floating the idea of a delay for the start date of the Electronic Logging Device mandate. The very next day, a bill was introduced in the house that would delay the compliance date for 2 years, possibly leading to the ELD rule being overturned entirely.
For new truckers or for those who’ve been living under a rock, the Electronic Logging Device mandate would require an E-Log to be placed in almost every single commercial motor vehicle in the United States. Also known as EOBRs, these devices range in complexity from just being electronic log books to also automatically logging and storing data like speed, location, hours of operation, breaks, accidents, driving ‘incidents’, fuel consumption, braking habits, driver- and road-facing cameras and more. The compliance date is currently December 18th, 2017.
While the House Appropriations Committee didn’t push for a delay of the ELD rule with any legislative force, they did call for a study into whether a “full or targeted delay” of the rule would be a good idea given the “serious complications associated with implementation.”
Among those serious complications, the report pointed to the burden on small carriers, enforcement issues, “technological concerns,” and cost. The report noted that implementation will likely cost over $2 billion and be “one of the most expensive of all transportation rulemakings.”
Just a day after the report was published on Monday, Rep. Brian Babin (TX) proposed the ELD Extension Act of 2017. If signed into law, the bill would delay the date of compliance until December of 2019.
Opponents of the ELD rule are rejoicing, and unsurprisingly, large carriers and their associations seem to be a little upset.
The American Trucking Association for example issued a statement saying that the report and the subsequent bill are “disappointing.”
“This is a nakedly transparent effort by opponents of ELDs to chip away at a rule that will ensure compliance with hours-of-service and improve safety,” said Bill Sullivan, an ATA executive.
OOIDA on the other hand praised the move which could help protect small fleets and owner operators from legislation that some claim could have an outsized negative impact on small carriers.
“Clearly, members of Congress have heard concerns about the mandate from their constituents. The agency has failed to answer important questions from Congress and industry stakeholders about this mandate,” said Executive Vice President of OOIDA, Todd Spencer.
It is likely that OOIDA’s lobbying efforts played a role in this last-minute attempt to stave off ELDs. OOIDA brought a lawsuit trying to stop the ELD mandate, and when rulings went against them, they sought to appeal the decision all the way to the top. When the Supreme Court decided they would not hear the case, Jim Johnston, the president and CEO of OOIDA refused to admit defeat, saying that the organization would “pull out all the stops to convince lawmakers.”
But analysts are claiming that the proposed bill doesn’t have much of a shot at becoming law. For one thing, it would need to pass both the house and the senate, a feat few pieces of legislation have been able to accomplish recently. If it was able to do that, it would still need to be signed into law by President Trump whose administration made the decision not to put a freeze on the ELD mandate in the first place.
This one bill isn’t the only way that the E-log compliance date could be delayed however. A delay could also be added as an amendment to a different piece of legislation. It’s a tactic that lawmakers have used frequently in recent years push through transportation reforms, including recently to make revisions to the 2013 hours of service rules.
Even with the fresh offensive against ELDs and even with multiple avenues of attack, it’s still likely that the compliance date of December 18th, 2017 will remain firm – there’s a lot of momentum, a lot of lobbying power, and a lot of money aimed at pushing it through.
Source: gobytrucknews, truckinginfo, fleetowner, overdrive, overdrive, chron, trucker, thetruckersreport
Rachel C Allison says
This is very welcome news, since shippers and receivers are not in any way required to comply with the hours of service that drivers are stuck with. They also need to abolished the 14 hour rules as well, since this is causing ridiculous problems for drivers. In many cases, forcing them to drive during horrific rush hour traffic, or causing them to be late to the pickups and/or deliveries.
James Crawford says
I second that, what you said is the smartest thing that I’ve ever heard in transportation. New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, is the sickest places to go to because you’re always in traffic all day and in New Jersey but then you going to stick us with Eld’s, that is blatantly telling us you don’t give a toodle about transportation
Nick says
Either way ur logbook does the same thing oh wait RIP here just picked up Few hours🤧ALL THE ELD DOES IS RECORD UR HOURS it doesn’t change anything else 😳
Johnny says
I’ve been driving for 36 year’s I will not be driving if I have to go to elog
Al Rolland says
Yessssss …. U said a mouthful
They need to shut down this nonsense … No one is addressing the parking issues we’re encountering out her … That’s just for starters. I wish truckers would band together.
We are so powerful in numbers.
Geno Kubiak says
We I see it like this if they are going to make elds mandatory there should be a government funding program to fund the equipment especially seeing how this is being forced on us.
Vincent says
About time they smartened up. Enough truck drivers are out of work because of insurance companies
DONALD WILKERSON says
Why are large carrierss upset. Simple, it makes the owners richer by diverting that portion of business too them. Aso, further eroding the middle class and widening the gap between the super wealthy and the already shrinking lower middle class.. Why does DOT want it? Also again simple, It is easier too control one large corporations then 20 small ones. Not too mention the pressure behind the scene from corporate stock holders who also happen too be????? They been destroying this country for years.
DONALD WILKERSON says
Oh, and one more thought. Who gets all that data tracking information? As wikileaks has proven time and again, our freedom in this country is eroding quickly. And those who does not believe this is seriously disillusioned. Being monitored 24/7 and having all my business information available too the super rich is not my ideal of a free country. In fact that would make it a psychologically communist county.
Vance says
I must say, I have never seen a squeeze this hard against the small fleets and owner operators in my 33 years. I would hope that the house and the senate realize, that if this eld mandate doesn’t come to a stop, it will put a sizable hole in the supply and demand chain! Currently, we have 4.8 truckers on the road, according to all the polls taken 29.7 percent of the truckers will quit or retire, for everyone reading that is 1,425,600 less trucks on the road which is equivalent to a loss of 106,920,000.00 billion dollars that won’t be, being spent in the United States!! Folks I assure you that’s a lot of money that will be pulled out circulation and will hurt the American economy! Not to mention, the increase of cost to operate a smaller United States trucking fleet! Be careful what you wish for.
Ronald Jewell says
Yeah! Just the effects of trucking. That means shippers & receivers will lay off if they can’t get or move products. Food will rot cause can’t get it to consumers. Rising prices for everything. Consumers can’t afford cause they’ve been laid off! Then banking & auto corporations will need more bailouts. Worst of all my obese ugly gf’s will have to walk around naked cause they can’t get closes at the shopping malls. Even worse the rich will go broke all because we let others do the thinking on what’s best!
Ishtiaq says
Hi
Im running E log.
It made me to drive and take less brakes and whenever driver wants to stop it makes difficult if you are delayed by anyone.
.Runing late nite and open board makes difficult and make driver fatigue.
Delays by shipper,reciever,traffic,lack of parking at rest area and truck stops and shipper most of the time doesnot allow to park at thier site.
In certain states you can not park at the ramps if you dont get the parking at truckstops or rest area and police issues tickets.
Makes difficult to complete the trip and it takes 1.5 days extra to complete the trip.less home time and more ifficult to earn decent living.
Bob K says
This driver is right on all points this e log is bad for drivers who wants to work
Carole jones says
Strongly agree this should not be enforced.
Robert Lucus says
Very well said I find the same issues that you explained in my situation running a mile a minute can’t take a break when I want to, delayed at shipper or receiver, ATA big money kickbacks president Trump please step in, stop this foolish, mandate.thk u
Paul Logan says
Just remember, the BIG carriers WANT this.
I have run both. Guess what, I see more tracks in the ditch. Go figure.
keith smith says
Yes the big Carriers love this because they can staunch the loss of revenue due to the low pay to their drivers, plus it places a huge burden on us O/O.
Geno Kubiak says
Your Right the big carriers are the ones pushing for this and they also are the ones competing against ea h other which is causing the low rates . I’m also not fond of the ata , I see them as a problem as I dint agree with much of anything they do. There not doing for us that’s for sure
Betty Hunter says
They need to take into account 95% of the accidents are MADE by the trucks that ALREADY have ELD’S INSTALLED ON THEIR TRUCKS
July17,2017 9:30 PM a SWIFT DRIVER FALLS ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL IN DETROIT,MI CRASHING INTO A LEGAL MARIJUANA DISPENSARY SEAWEED KING
That is only one of the many accidents involving an ELD Tractor.
Daniel Davis says
We need to show these bigger companies that we will not be forced to do something that they want . All because they are upset that o/o can do it cheaper than bigger companies can we cant help that the bigger companies suck the government dick so they can get a kick back at the end of the year . I for one WILL NOT PUT A ELD IN MY TRUCK I WILL RUN A PAPER LOG BOOK. A LOG BOOK is a logbook PAPER or not .so you know what bigger companies and law makers l will pay a fine and I will keep rolling
Jason Baker says
Daniel, just some friendly advice, but you may want to research the law before you decide to go that route. You won’t only receive a citation, but you will also be placed out of service, until you have an ELD installed in your truck. It’s no different than any other out of service at a scale facility – the officer will need to see that you have fixed the problem before they will release you. Think of it like a bad tire, you’re going to be required to call out a road service truck and pay top dollar to get a new tire put on before you can roll. It’s going to be exactly like this with the ELD’s. I am not for the ELD’s in any way whatsoever, but I know that I’m not gonna get caught without one after December 18th. Instead of “no money down with free install” now, we will be looking at “$500 emergency call out fee, plus $150 per hour, plus .95 cents per mile round trip, plus fuel surcharge…… yeah, no thank you!
Daniel Davis says
And i would like to know which bigger companies are trying to get this law push through so we can retaliate it’s only fair. And these bigger companies are scared to show there faces cause they don’t want to hurt there companie and loose drivers .
Roger Hembree says
The worst law truckers have faced in my 30 years of driving. When forced to drive when sleepy or sick just because your time clock is ticking is dangerous to the public and the trucker. A law pushed thru by the Greed of big companies.unsafe stupid law!
Ronald doud says
Big companies want this, to force the small companies and indipendants out of bussiness. They know the smaller companies can’t afford it.
Also, even if government helped pay for cost, what really happens is the driver gets screwed, while companies, keep makeing more.
What should be changed, is the way companies pay. Like europ, pay by the mile should be banned, and it should be forced to pay by the hour.
That would lower accidents, make drivers happy, make roads safer. No one has to rush, to put in miles.
BIG Kahuna says
I want to see real numbers:
How many drivers running against an egg timer are dangerous to the public because they’re not taking the naps they need and used to get?
How much cargo takes an extra day to get there which means it costs more for th consumer?
I doubt the public can take a 20% increase in the price of everything and I doubt they have even thought of it.
Jeff Flora says
Yes the big carriers want this just like the speed limiters both which will make traffic and Parking a whole lot worse, and both I totally disagree with don’t want neither one of them.
The gov’t don’t really realize that when they put eld’s in place theirs goin to be more freight late and trks. Sitting and with the automotive industry automotive industry being JIT. That’s goin to hurt them and a numerous of others like Walmart etc… they will eventually shut the country down and trucking which is I think what they want so we all should just join together and do it for them quicker by goin on STRIKE and Parking the trucks I’m not getting many miles anyhow or making much money at all another thing they want these companies just keep hiring and hiring instead of using the drivers to their fullest capacity and using the drivers they have that is the big problem with trucking there is no driver shortage people just don’t use their drivers just like myself it’s Friday and I have 1496 miles that is pathetic.
Tim Weber says
I always see the BIG carriers hauling azz (64 mph) when I’m in California. I’m guessing their making up time they lost driving through Los Angeles. That’s supposed to be safe?
I too see more of them in the ditch vs a small company or O/O.
Charlie says
That is so true!!!
The swifts and Schneiders only opportunity to use pass me is in CA because I respect speedlimits and maybe some cone zone roadwork on the interstates when I slow down for workers.
I wonder how much bribes were paid to the new government by the big names in the trucking industry to make sure ELD is coming.
But I tell you what I’m gonna do if the smaller companies file bankrupt: im not gonna work for the big ones, will rather quit and drive a cab or something.
Live free or die
Mike Meierotto says
Eld’s and the 14 hour rule will kill the small carrier. We do not have the options of reschedule and/or repower that the large carrier does. Also it’s self incriminating. I plead the 5th.
Tom says
Swift runs elogs, and just look at how safe they are. If the mega carriers want to manipulate drivers from the terminal and make them drive when they’re tired just because they still have hours left, fine. Let them keep hiring newbies and putting their equipment in the ditches. Most drivers who have worked both sides and have more than a year of experience know better than to trust their lives to a Qualcom anyway.
Charlie says
Great and true comment!
I don’t care how many hours I have left if I feel drowsy.
You can cheat logs but you can’t cheat fatigue.
Safety first!
Groo says
Swift had a version of ELD way back 15 years ago. I had a dispatcher try to get me to run a 9 hour trip after being awake all day waiting for my truck to get fixed. I wasn’t on duty so I had plenty of hours. Swift knew it and wanted to use them…..Swift was the only job I quit without something waiting for me.
ELD is not the substitution for knowing your body and your limits that some would like it to be.
Personally, I never understood how sitting at a truckstop downwind of a landfill until the magic hour struck would make me a safer driver. A professional should know when he is safe to drive and not safe to drive.
Richard says
I got a warning once in Texas for an HOS violation on elogs. The officer asked why I didn’t stop when I was out of hrs.. I told him I wasn’t tired. He laughed. Then he looks and see that I had stopped for 3hrs at about my 4th or 5th hr and asked why I stopped there. I told him I was tired then.. He looked at me in a “You gotta be kidding me!” way and I told him that clock doesn’t know when I’m tired or not and that when I’m tired I stop and when I’m not I go. He laughed and said that he could understand that but to obey the hrs from now on.. I’m glad he was in a good mood and understood…. Got lucky… My boss on the other hand wasn’t happy…lol
Ronald Jewell says
Yeah! Had similar exp. During 10hr. Rule I’d drive 5-6 hrs stop to eat & relax / nap 3-4 hrs then run remaining hrs. Ex gf talked me into driving local.when the 11hr change came about. Couldn’t handle local went back otr. Missouri dot stopped me at scale and placed me out of service cause of 14 hr rule. Still driving 5-6hrs then 3-4hr nap. Then finish hrs.violating 14 hr rule. He explained 14 hr rule & thanked me not driving fatigued & wished more drivers did the same. Had Wdot wake me &other parked in Seattle scale forced to violate 10hr rule unless I /others wanted to be 1st customers. After being up & receivers getting unloaded for 16-18hrs couldn’t stay at receivers out of hrs. I moved to 1st exit. Stopped to sleep (got bout 1/2-45min sleep) Wa state trooper. Stopped woke me asked why eyes were bloodshot . Then gave me field sobriety test. After passing from fatigue was forced to move again. After 18yrs driving ( started out like a paid vacation I’d tell people) its really got screwed up! Wonder if McDonald’s or taco bell ever considered a delivery service? Wonder if Canada is still buying professional trades citizenships? Can wait for next scale out visit so me & dot officers can laugh at more stupid rules & regs we must learn just to be free in America!
Jonny says
I moved to home-daily linehaul because of this stupid mandate. Had it not been for that, I’d probably still be dumb enough to live in a truck and put up with idiot brokers and slow shoppers and receivers. Bottom line, F the e-log mandate but thank you for pushing me to get a real job 😉
Roby says
I will be done if forced to go with them. your not a o/o anymore
Scott says
“This is a nakedly transparent effort by opponents of ELDs to chip away at a rule that will ensure compliance with hours-of-service and improve safety,” said Bill Sullivan, an ATA executive.”
I would like for Mr. Bill Wilson to break down how an ELD will improve safety.
The only thIng an ELD is going to do for my company (independant O/O) is cost me money. I have absolutely no use for an ELD and I certainly don’t need the government forcing me to spend money on a worthless tool.
john says
I’ve been driving trucks for 52 years. I’ve seen a lot of changes in the laws, the equipment and the drivers. This legislation for ELDs has one major problem. It’s one size fits all. Anybody with any common sense knows that is a stupid concept. However, safety and common sense are not the issue here. What the powers that be are trying to accomplish here, is to create a flag that the big trucking companies and legislators can wave stating; “See here we’re doing our job to control those mean old trucks”. Trucks have been a TARGET as long as I’ve been driving. And, they will continue to be (even after they’re computer driven), because there is a huge pool of money created from the revenues of the trucking industry. The industry has continues to place as much of the responsibilities on the driver as they can legally do and in many cases whatever they can get by with. Drivers read your your contracts. Excuse me, they’re not contracts they’re intimidation packets. Intimidation packets that tell you what the company can do to you. And in this case they want ELDs not for the purpose of truer logs, but to manipulate the driver and exploit a driver for everything they can. YES, ELDs will soon be a reality for several reasons. for the reasons stated above and the fact that in today’s society it will be considered politically correct.
Ronald Jewell says
Yep if its useless, stupid or makes no sense. They’ll pass it into law.
Sean says
If your 100% honest with yourself, if you run 100% legal logs according to the hospital rules, then you should not have an issue with the elderly mandate. It keeps the carriers from dispatching you when you have no hours remaining, like they did in the past. I think the answer might be in the pay structure instead.
clm says
you are missing the point sir….
Dez Alexanders says
The lawmakers are all about regulating the drivers, they should be thinking more about regulating the dispatcher/truck company. When they can change you from day shift to night shift to day shift all in the space of seven days. The drivers on the roads are exhausted due to the schedules being changed on them constantly. This needs to be addressed and then we will have much safer drivers on the road.
Rodney Mathis says
The o/o spree has already started, more and more o/o,they do not want that,then they can’t control the freight movement or us, get to many o/o,we might shut down and strike, that is exactly what this Elog is causing, plus older trucks on the road, people will do what they have to, too survive, and amen to that
Kaiyla says
Eh, what if I lile ELDs? They have no correlation to these “accidents” you say happen. In fact, after using both paper and elogs, I prefer elogs. Why? Convenience for one. Another, not being forced to run illegally as I was by Interstate when they used paper. You take one tiny instance and you coat everything with a wide brush. Makes you no better than sugar companies who used a single piece of data to blame fat as the culprit for obesity. Eh, who am I kidding, there’s been companies everywhere exploiting people and the elds kept people honest and that’s the problem. Because some people don’t want to be honest. And as for people in ditches, they get the impression that they have to work 14 on 10 off or whatever just to make money.
Well, I have refused multiple loads and I own a home. Now I’m local amd home every day. Ever notice local drivers get in far fewer accidents? Sleepers should be banned.
Eddie says
That’s good that you like elds. By all means you should have it if you like it. Doesn’t mean I have to have it. It should be ones decision on having one or not. Not being mandated by a government agency. This is the land of the free! Or at least it used to be. And as far paper logs and being forced, that is no longer the case. There is a law now passed, that they can’t force you to drive do to you being tired, weather, etc. And I have used elogs in the past. And it does not work for. Just because it works for you, doesn’t mean it will work for everyone. So I refuse elogs!
Bill Sullivan Stinks says
Kaiyla, Use them if you like them, heck, wear an extra one as a necklace if you want. We the OOs don’t want them, don’t need them, no one is forcing us to run illegally.
Douglas Kirk says
Hmmmm….what a moronic statement. I see day cabs involved in a ridiculous amount of accidents. Whether you drive a big truck or a tricycle with solid tires, it’s still up to YOU to be a safe operator. If you can’t stay awake, stop. Look at how and when you organize your day (or not) and see if there’s a reason why you feel tired. I personally would go nuts driving local in city traffic on a daily basis. If you don’t want to drive more than 50 miles a day, then don’t. But don’t think that makes you better in any way, shape or form. You just fill a different role
les gvt says
locals in get far fewer accidents? rubbish. 3 people died in Waco last week as a result of 2 locals, a sleeper cab and 3 auto pile up. One local- a rock hauler- was going to fast on I35 and not able to stop when the traffic in front of him stopped. pushed 2 of the cars up under bumper of CFI -XPO- that had just left Tractor Supply DSC and had fertilizer on it. Trailer caught fire immediately. 2 people in 1 car and the rock hauler all died
David hoskins says
Most of the people against e-logs are people that run illegal. The e-log keeps track of your hours. I run paper logs and I average the speed VS time. But that is illegal. So I’m an o/I who don’t care what I run as long as I make money..
Ronald Jewell says
The trucks computer can already tell how you run how long you idled the speed your goin. Only thing I like bout eld protects drivers from dispatch/companies wanting to run illegal/unsafe. But telling them NO! Truck companies are dime a dozen! Drivers aren’t (well rookies are! They got crash& turnover record to prove it). If safety is real concern why is swift cr england us xpress & etc still in business & how? Like the go green push! But don’t go off grid cause corporations tell govt to say no!
Kelly says
Instead of getting all pissy about ELD’s you should be getting pissy that there is no damn money being made by the guys & gals doing all the work. Driver’s are making a pittance and that don’t have anything to do with ELD’s but the greed of brokers & trucking companies.
Rick says
On December 18th…. expect to see trucks entering the ditch at a much higher rate of speed. Clock racers start your engines.
Chris says
I would say that the Trial Lawyers will see a huge increase in income soon. Kaboom
Rufus Crank says
The elog mandate was created to force independent drivers into lease agreements with the mega carriers. They know the best drivers get their own trucks,and force the mega carriers to hire car drivers,and put them in big trucks. How better to get great drivers with own trucks back under their control than to make a rule that attempts to put them out of business by trapping them between customer service and legal operation? Independent drivers only have one trailer and have to drive door to door. Elogs would have them driving door to parking spot too many times a week to pay the bills,therefore will have to sign lease to use drop trailers in order to keep their trucks. Corporate greed at its finest. Exploit the drivers until we can find a way to get rid of them.
Hugo Miller says
I am from the UK, where O operate a small fleet of coaches. We have had ‘tachographs’ as we call them for nearly forty years. They starter off as just a paper disc that you inserted into the machine. Then they went digital. Now every driver has to carry a credit card sized ‘digicard’ with him at all times & keep it in the machine when he is on duty. The data can be downloaded at the roadside from the car or from the machine in the vehicle. It tells the authorities EVERYTHING you do. It’s all about control, not safety.
Anyone can see that HOS legislation is at best a very blunt instrument. Any professional driver – in fact anybody at all – doesn’t need a machine to tell him when he’s tired. It’s ridiculous. And anybody who is going to drive himself into such a state of fatigue that he has an accident is not going to be deterred by this or any other legislation – he will just pull the fuse on the machine & tell them it’s broken.
les gvt says
It’s all about control, not safety.
BINGO- we have a winner (and putting small companies out of business)
Barney Big Rig says
The U.S. just needs to do 1 thing ONLY!! That is to put ALL TRANSPORTATION SERVICES under 1 single UNION!! ALL Aviation, Railroad & Trucking into 1 National Union!! Then when the Pathetically Corrupt Gov’t & Mega-Carriers try to legislate some greedy bill we just cripple the economy by parking EVERYTHING that moves by air & land!! In less than 24hrs.we would have the results that we want just like Jimmy Hoffa Sr. tried to get started in 1975!! Using the Supply & Demand theory against the oppressors!!
Douglas Kirk says
Unions suck. Always have, always will. Why do you want to pay another layer of Do This, Don’t Do That?
les gvt says
the unions are the ones pushing this crap. They are also the ones behind the speed limiters. The ATA is attached to the Teamsters at the hip
Jude Ossowski says
I have never rented my job from anyone and have quit employers rather than rent my job from some union. I’m too old to start renting now.
Chuck says
Yes !!
JJ501 says
Everybody knows ATA is the Owner Operator’s worst enemy!
Ron says
The owner/operators and OOIDA need to stand up against the ATA and the big corporate companies such as SWIFT, CRST and all the others. The big companies are the ones creating the majority of the issues, we all need to keep on the senators and congressmen and women and keep pushing back.
Jason says
Excuses, excuses that’s all we hear with you cry babies anymore. We are NOT FORCED to do anything. I’m sick & tired of hearing that we’re forced to do this & forced to do that. When you apply for a job, your expected to follow the guidelines at that job. The trucking industry has a logbook guideline. If you don’t want to use an ELD then don’t apply for a job at a trucking company that uses them, plain & simple! If anything, ELD’s keep the DOT off our backs when it comes to logbooks. Instead of making excuses, just quit then the rest of us don’t have to listen about a stupid electronic or paper logbook. Say what you want, but just quit with the excuses!
Fordconvert says
You have a distorted understanding of freedom.
Consider freedom of speech; If we apply your mentality, then every person on any spot on the entire earth is free to say whatever they want. Nobody is forcing that person to hold his/her peace. In some places , doing that will get one eliminated or one may suffer consequences from the powers that be.
In this country, we are supposed to be free to say as we please…without fear of consequences.
Mike says
Jason…what part of forcing every truck to install a ELD at there expense do you not understand.The FMCSA is trying to dictate our lives, and that is wrong. If the FMCSA offered the trucking industry a choice then no one would be having this argument
Chuck says
You’re missing the point … It’s another intrusive action of the govt through regulations that are completely unnecessary !!
This matter needs to be heard by the SCOTUS not kicked back into silence from a tyrannous government
Mike says
Sure the Big Carriers want this…they can do more drop and hooks. But for those who have to live load and deliver and the shipper or receiver keeps us in a door for 4, 5, 6 or more hours would be screwed. All FMCSA and the ATA wants is to push this law thru and they don’t give a damm about anything else. They won’t change the law that allows us to stop the clock, they didn’t make rules to make shippers or receivers accountable for delaying us, DOT isn’t ready for the change, neither are state troopers. Don’t get me wrong I do not disagree with ELD’s I just believe this country is not ready for them.
John Mitt says
Im o/o and 4 out of 9 my friends (truck drivers) quiting threir jobs on december. Its going to be interesting…
MrNA says
Call your DC Representative NOW. Tell it to your Member of Congress!
The US Capitol in Washington, DC
To call your Member of Congress:
US Capitol Switchboard (202) 224-3121. Give them your zip code and ask to be connected to your House Representative.
Douglas Edwards says
This is wrong government tracking . All government workers so be required to wear a tracking device.
Tony brawley says
The 14 hour rule is a stupid and deadly rule. I run from ft worth,tx to Los Angeles every week and there are times I get tired even after a 10 hour break, my tiredness could be remedied by a quick 2 or 3 hour nap, but if I do that now I will violate the 14 hour rule in order to make scheduled delivery! Instead I push myself now and drive while my eyes get heavy and my energy depletes?
Tony brawley says
There should also be heavy fines imposed on shippers and receivers that keep trucks more than 2 hours, this is the biggest problem in transportation!!
dusty radford says
in the time it has taken everybody to write on comments,you also could have sent this to your us representative who needs to here from all of us that oppose this stupid law./H.R.3282 introduced by congressman Brian Babin (tx-36th) will stop implementation for 2 more years.everyone needs to take the time to call your rep.from your home state and tell them. call-202-224-3121we can only make change in numbers,it only takes a minute and your voice will be heard,what else you got to do when your sitting at the shipper/receiver? come on,make the call.
Tiffany A Mccain says
I agree. There are some legitimate concerns. The traffic,lack of parking,and delays on receiving and delivery ALL will cause huge issues. I don’t agree with ELD’s. Today I was going though Florida (there was a 90-120 min delay on the highway) guess what ( Passed about 7 trucks) on the side of the road (can’t move) because the ELD’s. Couldn’t make it to that truck stop. Then what’s next (TICKETS)for being on the side of the road.
What’s hilarious that the ELD’s are mandated, but no one device out of approx 200 ELD devices is certified!!! ( Hilarious). Definitely a put the “cart before the horse” scenario
Shogun says
My thoughts are: Since you want to use E logs and use technology, be completely fair about it. Pay the truck driver every mile he runs, since google maps, mapquest, etc can pinpoint the exact miles. When he is on time to his appointment, after one hour start billing detention time at $100 hr since he can prove he was there via Elog GPS.if he gets a clean inspection, it should lower his CSA score instead of not helping at all. Oh wait, that’s too logical.
Jude Ossowski says
Sounds like a good idea to me as long as the driver gets paid for the sitting time, not just the company.
Tom says
Jeff, this is the plan. 3 drivers for every load. You will be making $500.00 a week and paying your expenses while out on the road out of that $500.00. You become property, even more a slave then you already are. All loads will be relayed, and you will be kept totally broke so you can’t afford to go home or pay off your lease truck.
les gvt says
Truth is- ELD’s are not even about trucking in the big scheme- they are step 2 in having the federal government tax you by the miles you drive . Step 1 was requiring black boxes on all vehicles.
2-3 years after ELD’s become mandatory- you will start seeing the push to have your annual milage reported directly to the DOT or IRS so they can require to to pay a road use tax before you can re register your vehicle. 3-4 years after that- you will see the push for this on private autos as well-
les gvt says
If I felt I required a full time bay sitter watching over me- I would spend my day at day care. A lot of driving a truck is to not be snooped on 24/7/365
David says
Fellow drivers out there, here is a list of the large carriers pushing for eld mandate.
(The Trucking Alliance is a small coalition of prominent carriers, including Maverick USA, Knight, Swift, U.S. Xpress, J.B. Hunt and others)
It’s all about money!!!
Jude Ossowski says
Why is every brilliant new “highway safety” idea shoved down the throats of the trucking industry? Last time I looked out my windshield there were a lot more cars than trucks on the road. How about we institute limits on how long car drivers can drive, or work in combination with drive time? Imagine if the person living 90 minutes from work was also limited to a 14 hour day total. Look at how much overtime would be eliminated to comply with the hours limits and how many people could be hired to do the work the still needed to be done. It would be a win-win across the board.
Thomas Wood says
I am truly disappointed in President Trump. Says we’re making America great again, and all this does is put more power in the hands of corporate America. The big corporations are pushing this for more revenue in their pockets when a large amount of drivers retire or quit. They’re looking at the extra added freight they can pick up, but they can’t keep enough drivers to move what they have now. It’s going to cost America dearly, not only to a major slowdown in transportation, but also taking many good experienced drivers off the road and replacing them with inexperienced steering wheel holders fresh out of school.
Lisa says
I’d like to see the big carriers have to use the ELD, but enable small carriers/oo’s to get a waiver. It’s time to give small businesses a break!
Chuck says
Agreed!!! Let Carriers under 50 trucks be exempt !!
The large Carriers get what they want and the small guys get what they want…. Everyone wins !!
Ronald Jewell says
Agree! But don’t allow big companies the ability to change eld from corporate office! What you don’t like the breaks their given us? Breaking our bank accts, our futures & hopes in someday? Wonder if we all legally added corporation to our last names if things would work better for us low life pheasants?
Chuck says
About time the ELD MANDATE got struck down !!
Renay Kristapher says
Yay Brian Baban…. Bill Sullivan is an idiot looking only to line his own pockets.
b o b says
Its all about control , consider driving with a straight jacket on , wait until insurance companies start reading the data on drivers !
Mark Pain says
(1) Truck drivers need to stop insulting other truck drivers just because you don’t like the company that employs them.
(2) I know it happens sometimes but if your job either asked, coerced, or forced you to violate the law and run a load that you could not legally run, did you report them?
(3) Does anyone log on duty the entire time while at a customer?
(4) I believe E-logs force drivers to run when they should be parked because of weather, traffic, and most importantly because the driver doesn’t feel like driving.
Ronald Jewell says
Funny they always use the word “SAFETY”. MORE LIKE GREED! From the big companies. To shut down smaller companies & O/O. I known Maxx Fuller of US Xpress had an executive leave to work for Fed gov’t agency! (Whose he really working for? A paper mill in Oregon rejected load of former small company I worked for. The security guard said Swift Trans has 44 trlrs there that the mill refuses to load or unload. Because trlrs are in DOT violations & Swift hasn’t responded. WANT TO RESOLVE SAFETY ISSUES! Ask the PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS! NOT PEOPLE WHO DON’T HAVE A CLUE WHAT A “CDL” IS OR STAND FOR! When I started/wanted to start! Buddies w/cdl’s said better hurry before winter gets here so I can get some exp. I decided to go to cdl school in winter. With plans to be w/a PROFESSIONAL TRAINER in January! The trainer THE COMPANY GAVE ME(tried too! When I asked his exp? He had 6mos driving exp.). I told them I wanted a PROFESSIONAL TRAINER W/WINTER EXP.my reason for waiting til winter. HERE A BIG SAFETY SOLUTION! QUIT LETTING ROOKIES TRAIN ROOKIES! I’ve got this January. I’ve had 2 accidents (1 during winter in Columbia gorge in oregon. State trooper asked cause I stated “ODOT didn’t/don’t do preventative winter road SAFETY measures til hazardous! ” he said he couldn’t put in his report! I put it in mine! 2nd doing right turn (doing button hook turn) lady squeezed by in hurry & hit me. Officer (not knowing turning of trks ) cited me for improper turn. Want SAFER ROADS! Quit assuming & ask the PROFESSIONALS that work them daily. As for ELD’s I kinda like them? Covers my ass from COMPANIES trying to run you illegal! IF DOT PROTECTED DRIVERS like they should (compared to big corp trk companies) things could be safer if they ASKED PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS! Have question bout ELD’S know one seems to think or CARE ABOUT! What happens when ELD says to shutdown or in violation! I’m stuck in traffic or there is NO SAFE PLACE TO PARK? Also another stupid question! Why not just plug into the trucks ALREADY onboard computer & get read out (which will tell you same basic information trying to obtain. Plus my 1st exp. W/eld (not a electronic whiz) dispatch was able to fix my mistakes from their office 2000 miles away! Will the big trk companies still be able to do that or WILL THEY GET EXEMPTION LIKE THE DO ON CSA RULES!
Ronald Jewell says
Whoops! I’ve got this January 18yrs trucking experience. Sorry should’ve proof read earlier posting! Guess that’s proof why we need politicians &gov’t to think for us! Hey when does taxpayers get a gov’t bailout or do we have to become a corporation?
Rocky says
Being forced to do anything is never taken well especially when the topic concerns people’s way of life, careers, or livelihoods. Most people reject change even if it’s a good thing. ELDs mearly ENFORCES the trucking regulations. They don’t actually change anything except the inability to cheat them. The government deciding we work to much is rediculous. Go getters and motivated individuals should not be held back by limitations of others and their working limits. I’m out here to make as much as possible and return home to my family’s with it. Some are satisfied just getting by and others are out here to maximize their efforts. If your tired take a nap, simple as that. The 14 hour rule removes this option and I believe is the real problem. The freedom to not use technology I’m quite sure will never pass or eventually be repealed
George Kalogeropoulos says
This is what elogs do: it puts everyone on the same playing field-the drivers who hustle and the lazy ones who want to take it easy!That s why the elog mandate is fundamentally flawed…Why punish someone that wants to work and run harder?Isnt this the American dream?
Rocky says
Regardless of your mileage rate or load percentage pay scale, the more you can work the higher your earning potential. Personally, providing for my family is the incentive and any time spent away from home is to execute this objective. I do not prefer to spend my time in a box on wheels away from my family. If I spend an entire day away from home but only bring home half a days pay die to hours of service regulations they my reserving potential was obviously limited by them. The HOS rules are limiting factor not the ELDs. If you happen to have a job position that works perfectly with the HOS regulations, congratulations. Stay on your toes and keep it to yourself for it may not be long before all those positions are filled and the rest of the driver’s are clamoring to take your place. There’s only so many of those positions available and driver’s with more experience, clean MVRs, and a willingness to work for less than you will be knocking on your front door.
Rocky says
Regardless of your mileage rate or load percentage pay scale, the more you can work the higher your earning potential. Personally, providing for my family is the main incentive and any time spent away from home is to execute this objective. I do not prefer to spend my time in a box on wheels away from my family. The HOS rules are the limiting factor not the ELDs. If you happen to have a job position that works perfectly with the HOS regulations, congratulations. Stay on your toes and keep it to yourself for it may not be long before all those positions are filled and the rest of the driver’s are clamoring to take your place. There’s only so many of those positions available and driver’s with more experience, clean MVRs, and a willingness to work for less than you will be knocking on the front door.
Casey says
One bill that is mostly symbolic, has no chance of passing gets proposed and everyone thinks the eld rule is dead. Did you read the entire article? Trump could have killed it but didn’t. The article says the December date is most likely going to stand firm. It has no chance of passing the house and senate. Sorry guys but one of these days you are going to have to play by the rules. Better get use to it.
zee says
Donald Trump is not about the small trucker or anything small,
he is a bully business man. Look at his bankruptcy record. Whom has
he financially hurt?
The Office of Budget and Management basically
is the right arm of the Presidency, in any age, and recommends passage to the standing or sitting president.
Big money can make bigger profit by having
ELDs’ control every shipment and know where every thing is at. The CEO
of Prime said that a few years ago. Get rid of the little guy. Big Money is never satisfied with the size of it’s wealth and cares not whom it hurts for more gold in it’s pockets. The CEO of GOOGLE/AMAZON/WALMART/TARGET aren’t there for the little guy.
zee says
https://www.thetruckersreport.com/fmcsa-gets-spanking-gao/
How much bigger does government need to be to make trucking collapse,
what with the incompetence of FMCSA?
Dovgal says
ELDs will kill the economy
robert thayer says
fact: trucks with elogs have and accident rate of 1 per 1million miles driven
: trucks without elogs have and accident rate of 1 per 2 million miles driven
company’s with elogs have a 1.5x higher rate of accidents and speeding tickets
The worst part of all of this is 1: the ATA says they represent the trucking industry which is false. they represent a very small portion of about 2%. If Sullivan had any intelligence at all he would be focusing on training and retention as these are the most dangerous problems facing trucking. 3.5m drivers 50% are one man o/o operations add in co’s w/ 20 or fewer trucks and that represents 98% of the industry. Sullivan is a bought and paid for lieing lobbyist
Darko says
DOT and all these ppl in government who are pushing for elds just proved that they are been bought by Swift-Knight, KLLM, Schneider, CRST, CR England, Prime etc. It’s all about the money!!! It’s never been about the safety of drivers and general ppl. It’s just about god almighty dollar that big companies can put in their pockets. Read the text carefully and you’ll see…so much money was put in into lobbying for elds!
Government should be ashamed admitting that they can be bought by these big companies. This should stop immediately! All of the government employees who accept the envelope with the money under the table should be arrested and brought to court. Wouldn’t be surprised that head of DOT is playing golf with Swift owners and enjoy vacations paid by that same party while we are fighting for existence of our families.
I can’t afford to take spear time to play golf or go to vacation with my family, because I gotta drive the damn truck and make more money for government and rich companies
michael says
If E-Logs start in Dec,I will go local or give up trucking all together.i will not do them.
George Kalogeropoulos says
Just get rid of the 14 hour rule and I dont mind running on elog;whereas now you ll be forced to run like Usain Bolt because of the 14 hour clock that s ticking away and eating into your drive time!The 14 hour rule is the villain…If it were 18 hours for example,that gives you plenty of time to drive your 650 miles for the day!Elog with the 14 hour rule in place will lower my miles driven and ultimately lessen my weekly take home pay! 2 +2=4
B Inman says
I should not have to use this simply on the fact that I was lied to, they said it would save me time and many I spend $2.79 on a log book but some one is gonna charge me $30.00 per month to monitor this thing so that’s over 100 percent markup where am I saving money
Joe D. says
Will Mexican drivers use ELD’S?
Alex Bardos says
May I introduce myself. I am super trucker. There are many more of us . We come from a little country just north of you called Canada. Many of us cross the border just as you Americans come up here. It is quite ironic that your own government will not let you work over 14 hours a day nor drive for 13 hours as opposed to 11. But our Canadian government trusts that you can both drive 13 hours here and work a 15 hour shift. Funny thing seeing that the experts that came up with the US regulations apparently used empirical evidence to come up with the US rules that differ substantially from ours. 2 hours over 11 represents an19% increase – that is a considerable difference. It really is enough to see the whole thing is a sham!!! Why has nobody mentioned this to your . Congress. There really is acceptable reasoning for the 14 hour rule without being able to split your sleeper off duty time. It is simply not acceptable to force a driver to spend his 10 hours of rest on the shoulder of an on / off ramp or 300 yards in front or behind a rest area because there is no way he will be able to find a parking spot after 6:00 pm in a truck stop. It will be interesting to see what will happen by mid February if this cruel law comes in force. I sincerely believe that it will force drivers to unite and we may see a reprise of the Bolshevic revolution.
Robert says
Secret my Canadian friend, it’s E-logs mandatory in Canada as well. If you come into the USA, I would suggest that you take a 24 hour break before border crossing to ensure you are compliant with our rules. My company suggested to us if we go to Canada just to run on USA rules so we don’t screw up coming back to the USA. It’s a good suggestion and I’m just glad I don’t have to go to Canada because we have drivers designated to do that.
Marc Riffle says
Elogs and log books aren’t safe never have been nobody can make u sleep at a certain time we are human not robots fmcsa is just stealing are money the fmcsa should be throw out they coast us money nothing about safety
Erilda says
You want safe drivers in America?? Police should stop the drivers for random drug tests and alcohol test!! Just because the E-Log says now its time to sleep do you really think that driver went to sleep? I bet by the time that driver got tired due to lack of activity is when its time to drive again. Traffic in the big cities ? impossible to make it to the destination, anxiety when arriving to the destination , putting pressure on the delivery people because YOU JUST HAVE NO TIME. This to me is corruption and if America is working on bringing companies back to the US loads should be moving!! No one will drive night and day leave their families and live on the streets. I have faith in President Trump I believe he will stop this nonsense. Thank you.
Robert says
Small carriers and owner operators have had 2 years to comply. Instead of looking into a system that will work for the fleet, they decided to lobby support to delay or over turn the law. I’m not understanding why they are fighting it instead of just suck it up and get in compliance. Last minute implementation is a bad idea as it takes time for drivers to understand how the electronic logs work. Things they would do on paper will get you a violation with a computer.