Truck Load Rates Halt 8 Week Slide 2.0

It won't get anywhere. Regulations don't get removed or even watered down. Now in a national crisis they get exposed as ##### up everything and they get temporarily lifted. They will make them more complicated trying to solve a problem but create 10 more problems from unforseen circumstances. Regulating our hours when we are paid by the load it just will never work.

 

Complete abolition of HOS would give shippers and brokers excuses for pushing us harder without impunity. That's why I liked the paper logs. I was able to drive as I needed and at the same time I was able to use HOS as a 'leave me alone, I can't drive like that, that's illegal' leverage.

The latest changes, practically eliminated the 14 hour shift clock, now it plays the minimal role. It used to be the biggest hurdle. Now, I don't see HOS as something that is hindering me too much. A little PC here and there makes life easier too.

 

That's sensible HOS exemption argument for hauling a crucial commodity. Mulch, or beverages, do not seem fall into that category. On the other hand, what is crucial or not has to be decided by someone but who and on what premises? Maybe mulch and beer is also important for the country...LOL

If given an option of running with or without HOS as I see it fit, I'd also choose the option of running exempt for as long as there are no too tight delivery appointment requirements. That's just more comfort in running, even if it does not mean more money.

I think that you were arguing it in another thread, and I am sure that I read it on FMCSA site, that after the delivery of a relief load and before proceeding for another, the 10 hour break needs to be taken. I am not sure, however, how that applies when all the loads you cover are HOS exempt. Maybe, in that case, indeed, you are perpetually exempted.
I doubt it, though. I think you still need to take the break in between the relief loads, but I might be wrong.

 

I’ve been inspected and when asked for my logs I just say I’m exempt. I’m sure some are running non stop but I tend to get grumpy if I don’t get at least 5-6 hours of sleep a night. The way the exemption is worded tough it only says you need a 10 hour break when switching to a non exempt load and that you can’t drive fatigued.

As far as livestock HOS go, the main thing they’re pushing for is to get the 150 mile exemption on the delivery end also. If they don’t get that I’m sure the exemption from ELD’s will stay in place for livestock haulers if nothing else.

 

Livestock is different and everyone should agree that cows and pigs should be spared the stress of transport. Who wants those smelly trailers sit at truck stops for 10 hours?
There is a rumor that when a distressed bull is butchered then the rib eyes are not going to be good. I sort of believe it.

 

Humans can thrive on a diet without meat. It's not essential, it's just inconvenient for society. If hours are a problem in their operations, then they can run team trucks.

 

If people can thrive without meat then why are they trying to make the plants taste like meat? Lol.

And most of the time livestock doesn’t support a team operation but there are times when you just have to go. Of the years I did it there was maybe 2 or 3 months a year where it would’ve been worth paying someone to run the truck with me, the rest of the time it was do a long trip and then sit for a day. Or you do a couple short loads in the morning, sit around for a few hours in the afternoon, then load at night going to a feedlot somewhere. So basically saying “they can run team trucks” just shows you’ve never been around a livestock operation.

Like I said above, it will be interesting to see what they find when they look at the numbers from running without HOS for the last year.

 

The taste of plants has about as much to do with the subject as the price of tea in China. You can ask the CEOs of the companies who are making plants taste like meat why they do it. It doesn't change the fact that meat is not essential. Cake tastes really good, too. Maybe Little Debbie should get an HOS exemption?

The only difference between a livestock operation and any other industry, is that they've been given exemptions and shaped their operations around it.

 

/different kinds of trucking are different. Explaining why a square peg should go in a round hole only sounds intelligent to the others that don’t know about holes or how to fill them.

 

Trivia: From Hitler's table talks.

Hitler said to his Generals, that Ancient Roman Legions were marching on cereal grains, choosing meat only as the last resort.

Ukraine's fertile black soil and Western Russia were to produce enough crops. The war was not long enough and too dynamic to accommodate for such agricultural solutions.

Hitler was a vegan but Germans do like to eat pork a lot. So do I.