Exposing log book tricks

Discussion in 'Experienced Truckers' Advice' started by jlkklj777, Jan 1, 2008.

  1. Owner's Operator

    Owner's Operator Medium Load Member

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    Aug 4, 2008
    Chicago IL
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    Even if they do, why would you air an industry's dirty laundry like that for the whole world to see? I would like a logical explanation what was the point of posting this.
     
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  3. finnjet

    finnjet Bobtail Member

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    Sep 16, 2008
    Lantana, FL
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    Miakica post; “When I started driving in Europe in 1986, they gave me a Mercedes and it had electronic on-board recorder. Recorded time, speed, anything relevant to truck and driver. I remember that it was very simple for police to take a look at that and find violations from way back, if they wanted to.
    That was 22 years ago.”
    It was then, this is today “We drivers are not smart of bookkeeping” we have give our values a way to companies and control to our government. It is possible to gain back that what was ones in drivers pride and joy, driving and serving others in right price. Need to do some hard calculation of what is best to driver and right price of that service. Not by mile but time and service rendered.
     
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  4. valczer

    valczer Light Load Member

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    Sep 20, 2008
    Ontario, Canada
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    Driver, there is nothing to air. Everybody knows everything to know about this business. If you don't agree with me, ask any1 that was involved in a crush. They WILL find out your position to a minute if they want it. All the drivers have to do is play the game. Play dumb and have your paper work legal...the DOT etc. will play dumb also. It is too easy to make electronic logs a must, but it will not happen cause that would mean price increase on everything! and our lovely politicians can't afford silly thing like that. They would just rather keep doing what they do best...lie:)
     
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  5. bduke

    bduke Light Load Member

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    Feb 21, 2008
    Fontana, ca
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    Just think. If you otr drivers were paid by the hour, none of this would be happening. Drivers run illegal to make more money. I don't know how you do it. I would think that if you had to run illegally, to make a buck, it's just not worth it. Yet you do and are forced by the companies to do so. Yes it is a vicious cycle that will repaet itself over and over until you do something about it. You say that that companies will find others to deliver product if you won't or can't. If all of you ran legal, who would these companies turn to. There would be no one. You cause your own problems. Learn how to fix it.
     
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  6. jlkklj777

    jlkklj777 20 Year Truckload Veteran

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    Oct 1, 2007
    Duncannon, Pa
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    The answer to your question is very simple. Exposing the dirty secret side of anything is the first step to changing it. As long as these "tricks" were and are used we will be expected to violate the hos. If you do it once (violate the rules) you will do it again. The cops and DOT already know all these tricks and then some. The only ones that don't are the politicians, the general public and newbies to the industry.

    I did take the time to offer the potential ramifications of falsifying your logbook so drivers will hopefully think twice about it. As a former driver trainer I have spent alot of time mentoring new drivers directly and indirectly. My goal was to prepare my guys for this life style and make sure they knew what "some guys" did to make more money AND what will happen in the event of an accident and their book is wrong.

    My hope is that we will have some new regulations imposed and that will lead to better pay and benefits for us all. It is truly sad that a driver feels compelled to run more than 11 hours per day just to make enough money to pay his bills. I would like to see the entire industry upgraded from the "unskilled worker" category to skilled professional that is entitled to time and a half after 40 hours plus decent benefits.
     
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  7. nick2008

    nick2008 Bobtail Member

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    Aug 25, 2008
    Bristol,, United Kingdom
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    And the only way to do that is at source
    Start with the driver.
    Its no good starting at the top Its like a wall you can knock bricks of the top and over time they get replaced. If you take out the bricks at the bottom it will eventually fall and have to be replaced.

    Yes I am in the UK and I know that you (and I dont mean any disrespect in this) are still using an out of date and old method.
    To be an O/O in your country as I understand it all you need is
    a. Truck
    b. Insurance
    c. CDL
    d. Tags


    In europe your required to sit an exam a CPC = Certificate of Profesional Competence.
    With out that you cannot run a business with transport.
    The exam ensures that the Operator understands the law. also how to work out running costs, standing costs, Heath and saftey and a load more.
    The regulations are tighter and in the next few years each driver will have to undergo adittional training and thats called a CPC(D) driver
    quiet a lot of it will be usefull but some will be pointless. This will take 7days (38) training over or in a 5yr period and its on going so you have to keep refreshing everything EVERY 5 YEARS.
    and guess who pays for it yep the driver unless his Co will do the training oh and if you dont pass you lose your entitlement to drive.
     
  8. miakica

    miakica Light Load Member

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    Great White North
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    But, the point is, we are paid by the mile, and we are regulated by the hour. That is the whole problem, right there.

    For example, I delivered in Dallas TX this morning at 7AM, empty by 8AM, and immediately dispatched to Houston, TX to pickup a load. It was 11 am, and I was still in Dallas !!! Rush hour(s) traffic...... Finally arrived to Houston at around 3:30PM, loaded and left around 5PM. Do I have to say these two words again ???

    RUSH HOUR


    At the end of my 14 hours I was at Flying J in New Caney, TX. So, now I have a choice....Do I go off duty with 270 miles driven for today, or, do I use my creativity, and try to make some money so I can feed my kids?
    Well, I had a good night sleep, didn't fuel, didn't use any toll roads, wasn't pulled over for inspection, wasn't stopped by the cop, my BOL's weren't time stamped....So, really, there was no record of when I really left Dallas, when I really picked up in Houston, and how many hours I really have driven. In a perfect world it is 4.5 hours drive, in a real world, I made less than a minimum wage....Since food, bills and mortgage payments are not optional, I drove another 250 miles, so I can tell a guy on welfare that I actually made more money than him today

    It's just too bad that dispatchers and customers live in a perfect world

    Cheers
     
  9. valczer

    valczer Light Load Member

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    Miakica, you said brother. Excellent post.
     
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  10. finnjet

    finnjet Bobtail Member

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    Sep 16, 2008
    Lantana, FL
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    Timing is everything, NOW IS THE RIGHT TIME TO HIT WHER IT HURTS. Companies and Government is in hot water. Stop driving as UNSKILLED LABOR and star treating YOUR SELF like a pilot. Most important peace of transportation industry, highly regulated and only professional person can do and work with rules of industry run legal and demand black box in your truck. And when you work in NY and Dallas area COST OF TRANSPORTATION is MINUMUM OF $ 20.00 PER HOUR not set in before it happens but it is billed after work is FINISHED. Par mile and or per Hour wits ever is greater. This Industry we are treated like STUPIT UNSKILLED LABOR IT IS TIME TO BUT STOP IN THAT BEFORE WE ALL “Loose” all $ and OUR right to life. REFUCE TO DO WORK BY BREAKING A LAW :biggrin_25510:
     
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  11. valczer

    valczer Light Load Member

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    Sep 20, 2008
    Ontario, Canada
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    Ok Finnjet, you star us off. Are you willing to put on a line your house, all possessions and family??? We are expandable...and unless chab=nges come from the top, our politicians, company owners, shippers, recievers and the public, we don't stand a chance. Do you think Johnny Q Public is going to support us if his orangers go from 3.99 per bag to let say 7.99??? etc. etc. etc. you get the point. Allowing drivers to run legal and make a decent wage means higher cost to all and that my friend our politicians are not ready to do. I know real life can be brutal but those are the facts.
     
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