What the new hours of service really mean.

The problem is, new "mandates" will never stop. Do you really think these gov't "officials" sitting around in rooms every day will one day sit back and say to themselves, "You know what? I think we're done here! Well done guys, we now have all the rules and regulations in place that are needed!"

No, because they are all constantly clamoring for the next "atta-boy" pat on the back and promotion.

 

I think it's called "justification of existence".

 

30 minute break goes like this:

5 minutes to exit the Interstate and pull into the truck stop.
10 minutes waiting in line at the fuel island to pull thru and park in front of the pump.
5 minutes going into the bathroom to pee.
5 minutes getting coffee and standing in line to pay for it.
5 minutes to get back to the Interstate

 

30 minute break means #### too me as I can show taking it before I turn my logs in.

 

At some Pilots, it could go more like
5 minutes to pull of interstate
15 minutes to get into the Pilot
15 minutes to get out of the Pilot
5 minutes to get back on the road

Heck....40 minutes without bathroom or coffee!

 

Did otr for years before I started this job. Do a lot of otr stuff up into canada etc. rest areas are.far and.few.between up that way also.

 

This isn't the end of the world, going to take some changes but for the vast majority of drivers it wont even be a change.

 

Well, rest areas were virtually non existent when I drove in Alaska for 10 years in the 80's, but I still was able to find spots to pull over for a little while. Some even had been given creative names. One south of Donnelly flats just south of Delta Junction was called "Pee Call Hill". Couldn't get by the forum sensors with the actual name.

 

Thank God for the lesser name truck stops and mom and pop places. Less hassle for simple stuff. I have figured out the truck stops that are always crowded and a hassle to get in and out of. I just avoid them and go elsewhere so I don't have to deal with it.

 

Same here, when I can anyway. Unfortunately, we're told what fuel stops to make. Most of the time it's not a big issue, but every once in a while when I see the fuel solution for a particular load, I wince and mutter some unprintables. But if I'm just making the proverbial pit stop, yeah...I've got my "ain'-no-way" list.....