Stevens is going paperless

Stevens has tested paperless logs, and at this time have rejected them, as cost prohibitive for the fleet. Upgrading the equipment, QalCom.

 

I would be interested in your "take" on paperless logs and how you see it effecting your miles/pay etc?

 

My son is one of the software engineers that has worked on the Qualcom Data Collection System (paperless logs).
Because of my experience in another industry and my partial ownership in a small software company that specializes in data collection (not transportation related), my son and I spoke often as the system was developed. Much of what is used is directly plagerized from the data collection system first developed by Covelant.
So what does this mean?
Very simply, it will become nearly impossible to 'cheat' on your logs.
It works like this: You log in with your unique employee number. The system records which terminal you logged in on and all future logging entries must be made on that terminal until you log off. This prevents others logging for you while you sleep or whatever.
You must log your activity based on your job description. for instance, you cannot log into an activity a non driver does. You cannot log in late. whatever time you log an activity, such as fueling, records in real time. Therefore, you cannot log a fuel stop later than you actually did the stop. You cannot log some activities, such as fueling, while in motion. You cannot log a PTI while in motion. If you log a post trip inspection, it will automatically log you out of lines 3 and 4 after your completion of the PTI. It will not allow you to log in to those lines again for at least 10 hours. If you try moving the truck over 10mph and not logged into driving, it will shut the truck down after two warnings.
There are a lot of other features in the system, too vast to go into here.
V4 is released now, but it is expensive for operations to purchase and install.
So for the average driver, it means cheating is nearly impossible. Here's a good example: You start your 11/14 at 0600. You have one fuel stop for 15 minutes at 1015-1030. It's now approaching 1645, where you have to shut down and do your required PTI. However, if you can just squeeze another 40 miles out, you will have a better location to spend the night. What to do? Go back and log a break (line 1) for lunch from 1200 to 1245. Now you can legally (?) do that other 40 miles. Or for some, they log an extra hour of breaks each day (some even more) so long as the average speed works out for distance traveled, so they can preserve hours on their 70.
the new system won't allow you to do this. If you failed (legitimately) to log your break, it's your tough luck.
When you reach 10hours drive time, it will start automatically messaging you of your required shut down in 30 minutes (to leave time for the PTI). First message is 30 mins before, second is 20, third is 15, then every 5 until you reach 10.5 hours. The message warns you it will shut you down. then at 10.5 hours, the system will disable your truck to where you cannot drive faster than 15mph (like a limp mode). You will be required to contact management for them to over ride the system to enable you to drive to the nearest place to shut down.
I don't know about you, but I sure wouldn't want to have to make that call!
So all thelittle things you can do with paper logs will largely be gone. this protects the company and limits you to what you can do, thereby possibly hindering your ability to make money.
Oh, yea. The coops will have the ability to download your log on the fly as you go thru the scales or even as you are bypassed (Prepass).
DOT will have your records without your even knowing it.
I don't think I need to tell you how this will play with CSA 2010!
Eventually, all companies with more than 100 trucks will be required to implement this system. It's all part of the government's tightening control of the transportation industry. Oh, yea...it will be done in the name of 'Homeland Security'.
All this presently exisits. I have seen it and been part of the beta test system for Qualcom.
Hope that answers your questions.

 

Please show FACTS of over 100 trucks a carrier will have to have this onboard. Your posts was very informative untill that incorrect info. That in turn makes the whole thing suspect.

 

I do not work for Qualcom. I drive for Stevens. My son is one of the software engineers on the project for Qualcom in San Diego. Because of my experience in using and later writing data collection software for the printing industry, he and others there picked my brain, especially regarding how to 'tamperproof' the system. The paperless log system is basically a data collection system. period.
Qualcom received a large grant from DOT about 4 years ago to develop this system. (or so I was told by my son).
I have been told over and over by people on this team of how the system must integrate data collection with DOT data collection requirements.
Pressure will be put on larger carriers to upgrade their present QC systems to V4. There will be tax incentives, of course. That is standard government operation. Eventually, the size of the carrier will diminish for required implementation to where they hit the magic number. 100 has always been a magic number for the government, whether it's to implement I-9 reporting or Commerce Department data.
At first data reporting will be able to be done either via QC v.4 or manually. The manual method (filling out forms) will be a pain in the butt. If you've never had to do these things (I have) to meet fed and state requirements, you cannot believe what a pain in the butt it is. Eventually they will do away with the manual and you will be required to do auto reporting thru the QC or you will be shut down.
A prime example of this is tax reporting and employer payments. It use to be you could fill out a form and mail the check to the government each reporting period. (periods vary according to your size and the type of things you're remitting for,such as SDI, FICA or FTW)
Now, you MUST do it thru their auto pay system. They will not accept a check or manual reporting.
I cannot verify that 2010 is requiring this. I just know the conversations that bantered about with these guys as we all sat around on many occaisions. I also know all the questions they kept pumping me regarding trucking and "...what would a driver do if..."
My whole point of the original post is to describe how the system works and how so many common types of cheating done with paperlogs will no longer be able to be done.
I have seen the data collection via telemetry done (the goops ability to down load your log information) in tests at the Qualcom facility in San Diego. A couple beta versions of the hardware was installed in my truck (at my former employer) for testing purposes.
the stuff exists. I have used it (beta only) and have been around it's development for the last 4 years.
Believe what you want.
I'm just a old, fat, dumb and happy truck driver.

 

I don't doubt most of your post. All I asked for was proof of the 100 truck deal. You have clarified the issue with " 100 has always been a magic number for the government" Translation: Nothing more than YOUR story.

 

I'm one of the 65 drivers using electronic logs at Stevens. For us 65, it is no longer experimental, but our actual logs. I no longer have to keep a paper log at this time. Of course the logbook is still needed since there is currently no post trip report macro on the qualcomm. That should be a part of QHOS also. Maxwell, I'd love to talk with your brother about certain interface issues that would make this product much more usable than it currently is, and much more legal in one case.

For those drivers curious about the effect of time and HOS, If you run legally already (and if you work for stevens, you should be. If you're not, you will eventually be caught.) then you won't lose hours. You'll in fact gain hours. One example of this is fueling. If I fuel the truck and reefer, I can reliably get it completely done in nine minutes. On paper logs, the minimum fueling time is 15 minutes. Six minutes lost is lost. If you are weighed at a weigh station, you must flag that. In Wyoming, you usually walk inside with your paperwork and come back within five minutes. This is logged in as on duty time again with a minimum of 15 minutes of your 70 hours lost. Even if you just flag it, the time is subtracted from your drive time, in fact worse because now it counts against your 11 and your 70 hours. Poof! 10 minutes gone.

Electronic logs log accurately to the minute. Also, DOT is mostly concerned that when you're driving, you're legal. That's very easy to prove when a blue number showing in the upper right corner shows that you have a positive number. The qualcomm stands witness that you've had either a ten hour break or an eight hour split and are driving legally unless you are failing to log properly on duty time.

For me there are three benefits overall.

1.) The daily check call is far easier to calculate at the end of a long day. No math errors, no miscalculated 70 hour recaps.

2.) You are virtually guaranteed to be in compliance with the law, especially when it comes to using a split sleeper provision, it offers security that you are absolutely right and legal to run.

3.) It's less work.


3.)

 

wgcarver, Please show FACTS of when you weigh at a scale you must flag it. Please show FACTS of when you walk into a WY POE for 5 min. you must log it. Unless this your companys policy you are incorrect.

 

electronic logs will not effect my pay one way or another. Run legal. the benefits of the electronic log are there for those that run legal...the wasted time having to show 15 minutes for fueling, time at the port of entry walking in is on duty time. No I do not have the electronic logs, in fact I have one of the oldest QC the company has.

Now saying that the electronic log can not be cheated, any program written by a human, can be intercepted, changed, manipulated by another human. A data collection system is no different. I can put a black box interface between theirs and mine, and enter whatever I want.

No computer program is secure and safe. Just the nature of the beast.