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

It won't stop but all these e log lovers can't figure out that its more then elogs its your freedoms being slowly taken away in this country unless we stand up its only going to get worse not just in trucking but our everyday life and that my friends is the truth!!!

 

it's not the eLog that you should have an issue with, it's the forcing you to run an eLog. The eLog itself simply helps you do your log. It doesn't make you run while tired, it's either your company or yourself that is doing that. Its not taking away your rights, it's just a tool to help you remain compliant. Its not a gateway technology into cameras in the truck, cameras are the gateway technology to cameras in the truck.

 

I disagree, let me tell you a little secret. With paper logs, you have your 11 and 14 total. Under certain circumstances, a driver can pull over and take a nap for 2 or 3 hours, then GASP! fudge the log and still get the work done that day. In essence, a driver can have the option of resting when they REALLY need it. Even though they have to fudge the log to do so. What we usually hear from EOBR supporters is the driver/company should have planned better.... Perhaps, in a perfect world, this would work.... Bubble buster, the world is NOT perfect, and it's impossible to plan for all contingencies.

The bottom line is, that the driver would lose the 'freedom' to rest when they really need it, even though the driver needs to fudge the rest time... to finish the work day.

 

you can still do that on an elog, the difference is your log isn't false. If you have any sort of satellite communication or GPS tracking it's going to be easy enough to prove your log is false. If you don't it's a different story, so I'm running the under the assumption the majority of drivers are tracked in some way shape or form.

 

I don't have a problem with anyone who owns a truck installing elogs and running them. My concern is with my competitors pushing forth legislation through congress that will force me to spend MY money on something that I neither want or need. I also don't like that drivers are pushed to run under elogs because they still have hours to run, whether the driver is tired or not. Rather than making roads more safe, I believe the reality is that it may make them less safe. Drivers may push longer due to a little voice in a box telling them that they only have a certain amount of time left. Drivers may drive faster and more carelessly in order to make a living. The same with the current hos. The old hos worked much better for drivers. We could stop the clock and take a nap without knowing that we would lose money by getting some rest. Getting rid of the hos would also eliminate the EOBR's. If you don't like the idea of government riding around with you then make your views known to your congressional representatives. Join OOIDA and lnd them your support. They are about the only voice drivers, owner operators and smaller fleets have in this country. The ATA is not a friend of the drivers, owner operators or smaller fleets. In fact, their policies work against our interests. Another thing you could do is avoid working for carriers that have EOBR's. If these carriers can't find drivers then they may change their position.

 

Having a GPS or other tracking devices is different than having an electronic "nanny" in the truck with you.

 

Really? E-log tells the company where you are, with a time stamp. Skybitz tells the company where you are, with a time stamp. QualComm tells the company where you are, with a time stamp. What is the difference? They can all be on the truck and they can all be tracking that truck.

 

I don't have any of those things on my trucks.

 

Got a fuel card, such as Comdata?

 

Other than ELOG's none of those devices you mentioned will tell a driver when he can or can't drive. None of them will encourage the driver to push himself further than he should when tired. None will result in DOT giving out a ticket that could cost thousands of dollars if the driver runs over his hours. None of those devices are available to DOT without a court order. None enable the government to force me to spend thousands of dollars of my money on something that I don't want or need. Spending money on Qualcomm or other tracking devices is a personal choice made by the owner of the equipment.