Why CSA 2010 and E-Logs are a good thing.

I also want to add that the purpose of the e-log isn't to reduce accidents. The purpose isn't to generate a income either (the FMCSA doesn't profit off e-logs). The purpose of e-logs is to reduce log violations, which they do. There is no way you can unknowingly violate your HOS with a e-log, because the thing starts yelling at you when you have a hour to go.

 

How will wages go up? I don't think it's a coincidence that they want to allow Mexican trucks and mandate EOBR at the same time. They create the shortage and claim they have the solution.

 

That statement is only partially true.

As they always say, follow the money.

While the FMCSA won't profit from e-logs...wait for it.

Certain family members of Congressional members will. There is a battle brewing on capital hill as we speak. Over what system of e-logs will be "the standard".

Needless to say, QualComm is the dominant player in satellite communications. And have millions to throw at this battle.

What they don't have....is daddy (with 100's of his friends) sitting in Congress voting on the eventual winner.

Research....Research...Research.


Yes I am saying....there is a turd in the swimming pool.

 

That's pretty much how we do it. Our safety guy is a former DOT inspector and said that the DOT knows full well that's how most drivers log on paper. They wamt to see if the trip is plausible. Logging 700 miles in a shift, plausible. 900 miles, not so much.

There's a difference between thsat and trying to run two log books.

I usually show an average of 65 mph.

 

Ok Folks, I have to.... Here is why mandated E-logs will NOT work in the upper midwest and it applies to ALL of us:

Currently, fuel is bought by suppliers/stations/distributors ect... by playing the market. Market goes down they buy... market goes up they don't buy...(it's a little more complex than this but please bare with me)

Ok, so there are a very limited number of terminals/refineries where fuel is available, so when the market goes down there are extremely long lines and wait times to load for a delivery (at present a 4 to 5 hour wait is not uncommon). These deliveries could be bulk plants/truck stops/gas stations etc...

Say it takes 1.5 hrs to get to the terminal 5 hrs wait time 1.5 hrs to delivery the 2 hrs back up to terminal with a back haul that just leaves 5.5 hrs to do another delivery(luckily the wait time this time is only 4.5 hrs to load) So, you cannot legally deliver the needed fuel to a truck stop and they run out.

So what happens then? Eventually all trucks will stop due to no fuel...

Well, some might say, the fuel haulers will just need more trucks... sorry this will ONLY make wait times longer due to the limited terminal/refinery situation.

Well some might say, the fuel suppliers will have to 'suck it up' and not play the market... doubtfull this will happen as the money made in fuel by the suppliers comes from the market.

Then comes gas stations running out of gas, people will not be able to get to work.

Then comes the fuel/gas price increase because of the limited supply and increased demand...$6.00 a gal diesel anyone?

 

Mine doesn't yell . The driving time remaining just turns yellow

 

It'll work. Or you won't. Simple as it gets.

Logistics MUST become part of the daily plan. The company with the best logistics, wins.

If your company, shippers , and receivers have issues with logistics. They will have issues with getting product, trucks, and staying in business.

The old business model of "Do as I say, or I'll get someone else to do it." Won't fly in today's regulated economy.

 

Problem is nobody else CAN do it. More trucks and drivers will just make the situation worse. They could build more pipelines and maybe more refineries. This is really the only way I see it could work, and this would take years...perhaps decades

The logistial time frame now is spread paper thin... They NEED the fuel or everything stops including all freight.

This will also increase fuel costs at the pump... which is already extremely high... which will increase the cost of freight... which will be passed on to the consumer.

How far could you get in the upper midwest with NO fuel stop?

 

Meanwhile, under the heading "unintended consequences", while carriers that are 100% e-log have had driver fatigue related numbers go down down down, their unsafe driving numbers are going up up up.

Got this info at an insurance meeting last week. While actual log/fatigue violations have been halved by most e-log carriers, a large percentage of those carriers have seen their unsafe driving (speeding in particular) numbers climb towards the proverbial roof. I don't know if anyone else has noted, but if I'm rolling 45mph in a construction zone I'm usually being passed by lots of trucks with quallcom or peoplenet elog stickers on their door.

 

Yup, and driving 20mph thru truckstop parking lots.