New Hours Of Service

And that is your responsibility to keep dispatch straight. Some folks think that the yahoos in dispatch are some evil task master that can sentence you to the gallows if you do not follow their every whim. This morning, I just did a quick read of the latest postings on this thread, and that is the first thing that came to my mind. I am utterly amazed at how grown folks can be motivated into being not much more than whimpering pups that are afraid the master will beat them. I know this is a bit exaggerated, but I say it to make a point. You have to watch out for yourself!!! And I mean that in a broad way. Of course, you have to keep your rear out of trouble with the DOT folks, but you also have to take care of yourself physically. This having to stay cramped into a seat for 6-8 hours without being able to stop for breakfast is down right insanity. I truly can't believe that grown folks are even talking like this. Heck, we're not talking about Ranger training in the Army or some other special deal where these things are done to develop one's ability to do the job under intense pressure. We are talking about plain 'ol truck driving in the U.S. If you can't make a living doing things in a reasonable fashion, then find another line of work or place to do it. I find it hard to believe that folks are having to feel that they have to run themselves to death to make a living.

This isn't directed at anyone in particular, it is directed at the general idea that one has to become more of a slave. In the long run, only those that will allow themselves to be pushed and shoved into working such a way will be the loser. Why is it, that so many jobs out there, folks waste more time drinking coffee, talking about their home issues, virtually partying at the job, and getting nothing accomplished (you see them all the time in your daily lives), yet for some reason, so many drivers seem to feel that they need to be running like little rodents on a running wheel in a cage. Just got to run, run, run. Just gotta go. Can't slow down. Can't stop to get a bite to eat. etc, etc, etc.

If you chose to work this way, you only have yourself to blame. Use your mind and find a better way.

 

Not hard to believe at all. Every ad that you see from companies that are hiring stress miles, Miles, MILES! WE HAVE MILES!!!!! The companies have successfully convinced drivers that the only way to get a bigger paycheck is to get more Miles.

Personally, I prefer less Miles and more Money.

Agreed.

 

It's the carrot in front of the horse Cowpie.....been that way for years ....drilled into many a head. Look at the back of the trailers...."Want more miles?? " "Where you going today?"

Won't change until drivers man up. The worst thing that is going to happen is you will spend more time on the road. The 30 min off will push your 70 so you'll spend 73 hrs or so in the truck....so be smart about it. Take it at the fuel pump or at the shipper, you'll never miss it. I can't believe some are crying about 30 minutes........ if that's going to break you driver, if that's your line in the sand then you're already done, broke, out of business or whatever....... go on home, it's over.

On the 2 periods ? Plan it out and make it work for you. Make it the carriers problem or just switch back to recapping and rolling on the 8's. Forget the 34, it's your option.......or don't they know how to recap?

Jeeze........

 

*SIGH*

First of all I appreciate your comment and I hope that not for one moment you implied that I was one of those "whimpering pups afraid of a task master" ... FYI my dispatcher is a good one, a person you can communicate with, a person who likes to be on the same page; but even good ones are up to their necks in work and don't know every rule in our book. My comment had more to do with the PAM way of running things ... like RickG has said numerous times 'find a better company' ..well I have, but not everyone has. We as drivers are in this as a whole; when I talk to a Swift driver who is telling me about how they send him messages over every little thing and they won't let him idle in the 100 degree weather that just leaves me baffled. What goes on in those mega companies affect us even though we aren't working for them, cause we gotta share the roads with these "steering wheel holders" like you guys like to call them on here.

Also, I was merely stating how this new rule would affect me, which is really no big deal at all... I suppose you did not get why I posted what I did, it will only be a minor accomodation that I will have to make, but I will adjust. I for one have always and always will, roll with the punches of whatever rule FMCSA or even life itself throws or has thrown at me.

As the saying goes $#!t rolls down hill ... and this is just another microscopic granule further tipping the scales in disfavor of the driver.

Do these new rules affect me? Only in a miniscule way... Will it make it harder for many drivers? You better believe it will

 

Furthermore, I believe many of us are being very inconsiderate to the rest of the drivers here who will truly discomfort from these new rules. Like I said before, I found a good company, I get 1000+ mile runs 90% of the time... but when I was with PAM that wasnt so, some weeks I would have to scrape 300 & 400 mile runs everyday, running my whole 14 hours on a daily basis (or rather spending a lot of time waiting at docks) ... in hindsight I ask myself, would I even make the paychecks that I did with the new rules? This is the case for 2013 .... what about 2015 or 2019? 2023? Your answer may be 'well that's why you don't go work for a mega' ... in my case I had to because I made some very wrong decisions in my life so I had to make up for it. Thank God now I'm back on my feet.

Every situation is different ... let's help our trucker brethren not insult their intelligence

 

And they wonder why we still use loose leaf logs!...I feel for you drivers on e-logs...Where is OOIDA on this?..They are probably the ones who thought this up...I actually went to their website to check it out,but I guess i'm too stupid to figure it out.

 

Why cant they just leave it be?

 

Because there is alot of MONEY to be made hiring Dumbed Down Cheap No Balled Drivers...

 

Stupid question here, can I take two 15 minute breaks or does it have to be a consecutive 30 ?

 

their intelligence insults us is truly the problem