The Dreaded Electronic Logs

I just went through a wellness exam (50, smoker, and a bit over weight) with 13 other people.

7 of us remained at the end of the day. Of the 6 that failed, 5 were under 35. Of those 6, only one smoked and he was over 50

3 of the remaining 7, were 50 and over.

1 remaining guy...24 years old with high blood pressure. But under control.

 

We got the Q.C. e-log. Sometimes it kicks me out of the sleeper in the middle of the night and puts me on duty for a minute, then kicks me up to off duty. That ain't good! The 14 hr rule is the biggest pain, as there is no way to go back and change it. Our company has a "line 5"(off duty drive) that we can use to get out of a receiver if out of hours, but only allowed to go to nearest safe haven. I have driven up to 675 miles in the midwest at 65 mph with it and it took 11 hrs and 55 minutes. Talk about trying to beat the clock! My company has dinged me a few times for using line 5 to much. No more off duty driving in the bobtail to go home, as now you have to have the hours. Don't know why my company won't let us use line 5 to get home. When we were on paper, we could log off duty and then bobtail all over. Don't make any sense to me. We are not allowed to edit any part of it.

 

I gotta find some other way to support my dad and I and continue living on the road... Have a feeling will not like this e-log... and what trucking will become.

 

Hang with it for a few more.

I suspect there will be a "for real" shortage of drivers for the first time in history.

With matching pay.

 

Me either. But what are we to do? I miss the old way of doing things. Okay the cell phone and gps are nice, but I don't like the rest.

 

We're just drivers & not the industry Lobbyist. Might as well accept & get used to the changing times. None the less we are professionals.

Without saying this industry costs a lot of money to play. Companies will not sit idol long allowing planners & dispatchers to negatively affect their bottom line. From the top down, everybody will be looking for ways to succeed at moving the most miles/freight & turning a profit. Drivers included.

Rest assured it will always tilt in favor of the industry. The key is going to be moving forward & learning how to be efficient with the new tools of the trade. It's a given there will be legal loop holes. Watch, listen & learn...you'll make a successful go of it.

I'm still on paper, but if it comes my way,...and it will. Like you, I will be the best I can be because this is what I love & my family and wages depend on me.

 

Think about this... Your out of hours 80 miles from the house and decide to head in anyway. 5 miles from the house a car runs into you (or hit a deer and take out the radiator, or whatever) and a State Trooper arrives on the scene, asks for your logs. He sees your out of hours and ARE NOT SUPPOSE TO BE THERE.
Just what do you think is gonna happen to you now ??? Do you really want to take that chance? You still think that you'll get an "in-house' warning?

Just a note, the "warning" at the company I drive at for VIOLATING hours of service rules is termination! And yes I do use eLogs.

Duke

 

At first I was intimidated by these logs. But I've become way more efficient wwth my hours. If I have the hours I Weill get the miles

 

I can say one thing about them. It #### near insures you will get pre-planned, every time. That is, if your company knows how to spell logistics.


Of the times I haven't been pre-planned. There was a load sitting on me within 15 minutes.


On the down side.... Once again trapped "almost" home.

Had a choice. Make it to the terminal and park. Or find a place to park about 30 miles from the house. I picked the terminal.

If dispatch had been a bit more forth coming. I could have dropped load earlier, and made it home.....11 hours sooner. You can bet your ### I will be hounding them to death next time.

 

the only thing i dont like about electronic logs (Qualcomm) is line 1 and sometimes 2 also counts towards your 14....if i get to a shipper and i got 5 hours to drive...and it takes the shipper ((Del monte Foods/ Lawrence,Ks)) 4.45 hours to load me....i aint got no hours to drive i gotta hurry up and find a place to park, and the next truck stop/rest area is 25-30 miles away....we cant park on side streets or on & off ramps.....

the good thing is if u play ya cards right and not go over ur 70, u might not never have to take a 34.....dispatcher'll have a load ready for you......