mercer transportation

And you can't "average the speed limit" and be legal. Ever. CSA stuff must not apply to them!

 

I was told by another driver that they mostly dispatch at night because of less traffic and being able to maintain a higher average speed due to less traffic, kinda makes sense i do average better running overnight

 

Well don't forget that the trucks picking up and delivering to the final customers work during the day when people are home and business are open. Line haul for most companies is at night with pickup and delivery operations during normal business hours. As always there are some exceptions but this is the general rule.

 

I run the speed limit show up and late and let them complain

 

More drivers need to do that. Drivers have to power to effect the necessary changes in this industry but sadly the majority are too dumb or too scared to use that power. Or too greedy.

 

I find that the drivers that run always on the verge of starvation are the ones that screw it up for everyone. Guys that are moneyed up run legal and don't put up with shippers/receivers crap.

 

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In general, yes. But we do have guys driving 12-16 hrs/day because they're greedy and "old school". Trust me they have ruined things with specific shippers for several of us. Can't go into specifics but we still have guys running like that. How they don't get caught amazes me. And they're making a butt-load of money.

 

And this is where the EOBR will change things.
Not saying I want or like the EOBR but when everyone has to have them, there won't be guys running 12-16 hours a day.
I already see some shippers changing because of EOBR's

 

I agree completely. Everyone thinks I am such an advocate for ELD's (NOT EOBR'S). I do want them because of this abuse. Will it stop everyone from running like this? No, some will do it no matter what. Most will move to local jobs, dump trailers and such where we see some of the worst drivers already. I'd rather not have ELD's but I think it is what will be necessary to get some things straightened out and back on track to the benefit of the drivers. Most can't see that and have many misconceptions about what the proposed regulations really say. Mercer's implementation will be the minimum to comply with the rules. And getting drivers to change to be legal will happen a lot easier than getting shippers and receivers on board. Like you said, I run it legal no matter what. If it is barely legal to run it as dispatched and I'm held up six hours getting loaded it gets there six hours late. And if they indicate there's no chance I'll be paid for detention at the shipper, a major point in the whole hours and compensation debate, then I'll get it there "whenever". If it's not important to take care of paying me for my time, then it's not important to me to get the freight to them when they think they need it either.

Look at all the court cases slowly trickling through the system that are being resolved in favor of the driver(s). Fired for refusing to driver unsafe equipment, fired for refusing to drive over hours. Companies, and company officials, are slowly starting to feel the pressure. Granted the rules need work, the "one size fits all" mentality of the feds needs to be adjusted, but for now the ELD's and forthcoming rules are the lesser of two evils. Just wait as speed limiter rules come to the forefront in the next year.

If 50% of drivers quit as they have threatened to do, just think of all the freight that will be left for the rest of us, and the rates. Plus, we will be able to work a 40 hour week and make a good living.

Just my 17¢ worth (2¢ after taxes)