No place to park and out of hours

You work in a highly regulated industry crossing over a system of publicly fund roads which are extremely well monitored in a machine that is required to carry various pieces of safety equipment and emission control systems and do so while wearing a seat belt. The liberty you desire is the freedom to choose this line of work not to work the way you choose.

Give FM a trial run.

 

No. I am not looking at it from that view.

I know some think of driving to find parking over hours is finding safe haven.

The adverse clause would have no bearing.

In true sense an otr driver might be only to rarely use that. Weather and traffic might only be good for the next truck stop.

I only have requested they support the claim that there is a rule that allows a driver to drive looking for "safe haven" when out of hours that have nothing to do with adverse conditions.

 

Amen to that.. I couldn't make it driving reffer/van those guys/gals get my props..

 

Mandating EOBRs for all makes a much sense as mandating EGR Systems for all....

Both BTW....Are designed to cost the O/O money....


The Megas that run Teams...EOBRs are fine....Because those rigs are moving all of the time...
For the O/O...Unless that person is a complete a-hole and abuses the HOS regs...They shouldn't have to run on EOBRs period!!!!

People become O/O's because they want to run (within the parameters of the laws) they way they see fit as their own Boss....

If EOBRS become mandated for everyone and...The Gov't adopts the "European Model" for HOS regs...Why be an O/O?....At that point...We'll all be "Company Drivers"....

 

I don't know how they do it....I don't have the patience to just sit there and wait to be loaded or unloaded....

My deal is..."Load me and let me get out on the road...."

You can't make any money just sitting....Waiting.....

 

Then spitball some suggested exceptions to the rules and include a balanced rational that doesn't compromise the objective, adherence to the HOS regulations, and exceptions that are equitable when compared to those who will have to install these kinds of equipment.

I don't like many different things I have to do but that is just me wanting what I want. How do I justify my desires/needs verses the other guy and their desires and perceived needs?

Is there an O/O association that is addressing this issue? Have they approached the FMCSA and suggested funding for implementation? Why shouldn't the small business person be accommodated for this cost? Most corporate bodies get this kind of consideration when a industry regulation is put in place.

 

Several groups have address this to La Hood in the past....La Hood like any other politician/bureaucrat refused to listen to reason....He had his agenda....And now the new Secretary Foxx....Has adopted La Hood's agendas as well...

 

OK, I know this thread has devolved a bit, but thought I'd add my two cents, being a new driver and all... On running down the clock just to max your miles/$, you have to rethink that, and back off a but. Better to run 10 hours AND find a safe place to park legal, or leave that extra drive hour to come up with something. Be creative. Casinos are an alternative, mostly because they're hoping you'll come in and spend/gamble, but that's not a requirement. Smaller truck stops offer some advantages, when the big boys are full. Rest area are great, if your truck is stocked with ice/water, but you can always survive on water from a fountain (I haven't used/needed a cooler in 6 months of driving). Abandoned businesses with large easy access parking can be spotted easier if your phone GPS can switch to satellite mode to check area that you can't see in the dark. I hate to suggest it, but since I /CRE do WallyWorld loads, I use my phone to find the nearest WM, then try to park in the most out-of-the-way location, and I take all my own trash with me, and don't empty pee bottles there... GPS! Use it 2-3 hrs before the clock runs down to check for rest areas and truck stops within reach, but still leave an hour buffer, in case you have to move on.

OK, on ELogs, if you start out using them (instead of fudging them as an old hand...), you can live by them, and it's not such a big deal. For those that fear them, if you quit driving, there's more room for us newcomers, but my suggestion is to just learn how to live legal. If you have to cheat to win, you're never going to want to see them get implemented nationwide, but I'm here to tell you that you can live/drive a legal day using them. When implemented nationwide, the playing field is going to be leveled a bit, isn't it?

Oh, well, those are my thought on how to find a place to hunker down, and how/why ELogs can help us all be a bit safer... I drove behind a guy at 4am this morning that I should have called the cops on, weaving 6' onto the shoulder repeatedly (texting??? Fatigued???), all the while with no trailer lights at all... A real pro! Newbie or old hand? What's your guess???

 

What makes you new drivers think that those who prefer Paper are running illegal?

 

The future may be ELOGs.....
But it also very well may be Cab and Sleeper Cams to monitor you guys 24/7.....

I know I'll be retired then....And a lot happier than being monitored like a monkey in a cage....

Just 30 more years (At least) of the "Honey Do" lists.....