More tired mega-drivers coming your way?

Ready or not, hours of service changes arrive next week

Is it just me, or do these 'changes' only seem to benefit the cattle companies pushing out scores of new drivers every day? I read over the proposed changes and can't see how they'd benefit the driver at all. The biggest one I see is taking away the 30min break from drivers. Megas will now tell their seat fillers that, since they fueled and took a leak, their not allowed to take a nap if they need one. I foresee more (and worse) Daytona style fuel stops and, unfortunately, more collisions in the future.

 

Ever wanted to stop your 14 hr clock? Now you can using the new split berth rules. I was just on a conference call with my compliamce guy amd a fellow from the FMCSA earlier today to clarify my understanding of the way thus rule will work come the 29th...

Say I do .5 hr pretrip then drive 5.5 hours to a reciever, using a total of 6 hours of my 14. The reciever takes 6 hours to unload me... That 6 hour does not count against my 14 hours and once unloaded I have 5.5 hour to drive and 8 hours left on my 14. Onve I stop for the day I can then do either 7 hours in the sleeper and get back the hours I used before getting unloaded OR I can do a normal 10 hour as long as at least 7 of those 10 hours are in the sleeper berth.

Or maybe you want to stop for a 4 or 5 hour nap... Now you can it wont burn up your 14 hr clock.

Both of those sound like HUGE benefits to the driver... At least I think they are, amd I will be taking full advantage of them... I like my naps. But I highly doubt mega carrier will allow thier drivers to use the split berth because they dont teach thier drivers how to run a log book properly... Most megas already dont allow the use of split berth.

 

I honestly don't pay attention to most of the rules...LoL

I know I get 14hrs on duty every day (provided I haven't hit day 6 yet) 11 of those can be used for driving and 3hrs for 'other'. I know if I run out, I have to sit for a while. I still 'cheat' on elogs, even though I can't alter drive time. I still run weeks without a restart, just managing my hours. BUT...when I want a nap, I nap. 'Driver manager' is always calling, "when do you think you'll be there? " Dunno, there's traffic and construction, possibly a wreck and bad weather. I'll let you know when I get close. Wifey tries to manage me, too. "When are we gonna get there? Where do you plan on stopping?" Pffft! I'll stop when it gets dark (oversized loads) or when I'm tired of driving for the day. Wherever that is, you'll know as soon as I do. I don't push me, anymore, and I don't let anyone else push me, either. The last two modifications to the rules didn't change that, I doubt this mod will.

 

As many have said, even before these changes, it is your life, CDL, and health. If you are fatigued and need to rest/nap do it. As long as you're going to be there on time don't risk your life.

 

That seems more reasonable...When I hauled in US I never bothered with HOS,,ran about 18 hour day,,,that said I would take a nap middle of the day for a couple hours like clockwork., so only 15 hours driving which on interstates is squat, ya set the cruise in South Dakota and wait for Detroit.

 

I thought the changes only allowed for 8/2, 7/3, 2/8 and 3/7? That’s my understanding. How does being at a receiver for 6 hours allow you to stop your clock? From what I’ve read and understood, still can’t split 6/4 5/5.

 

None of this is going to benefit the driver pay wise..just sets us up for more use and abuse. I have enjoyed trucking these past few years but I am beginning to see then end for me coming in a few more years. Too much unpaid work OTR and I don't see any sign of it getting better.

 

The six hours only counts for 3 hours of the 10, but the entire six is excluded from the 14.

 

So now there will be no urgency loading or unloading since driver can stop their clock.

 

My guess is I’ll see an increase in trips from the planning department at the tail end of the 17 hour day. They now have more available driver hours to use.

I liked the 14 hour rule. It was protection from having to work any longer than that. Stopping the 14 benefits the mega, not the mega driver.