Running with JCT, Part Deux

I've been up 24 hours and more many times since I've been driving truck through no fault of my own. Now, if I opted out of OTD just to get some rest, I doubt I would have lasted at any trucking company.

Here's an example. Sleep all night, well rested. Get a dispatch that picks up and delivers tomorrow morning. Fine. Get to shipper. They take all day to load you. A driver typically goes to line 2 or 1 during this process. Delivery time in the morning. I drive all night to make OTD. I've been up 24 hours. I did nothing stupid at all.

That scenario has happened to me dozens of times since I've been driving. It's not a rare event. If I told the company in every case that I couldn't make OTD due to being tired, I don't think most companies would be sympathetic at all, and I don't think most drivers would last doing that.

Now, in that particular case, DOT nor a lawyer could prove that I wasn't rested if I got in an accident. All I'd have to do is keep my mouth shut, but I'd probably be as tired as that "stupid Walmart driver."

What started me on this argument was Kamkor talking about DOT using a device to measure a drivers rested state. A scary thought.

 

A very scary thought indeed.

 

Another thing that irritates me is the fact that government regulations always come down on us drivers. Why not start smacking some shippers and receivers around with regulations? Load time limitations, receiving time limitations, overnight parking requirements for certain types of freight. Nope, that would cost too much money so they just think that the answer is more and more regulations on us drivers. Sometimes there is no answer to imperfection and regulations just backfire and make things more dangerous for everybody.

 

They already are actually....

FMCSA Proposes Pilot Program to Field Test Split Sleeper Berth Rule

• Participating drivers will wear a wrist ActiGraph (similar to a Fitbit or another fitness tracker) to help evaluate sleep time and quality; the trackers will also document sleep hours.

It's only being used for this study but it's only a matter of time before the ATA sees this is a good idea and starts lobbying Congress...

 

Yeah, make it like one of those in cab breathalyzers...the truck won't start if the machine says you're too tired to drive. /rolls eyes

 

I think is nonsense the study that is...many drivers who per say park their trucks at a terminal choose to live outside of the big city for a reason...this in my opinion is over stepping their bounds...how about regulating everyone else who drives great distance to work..i.e.doctors, law enforcement and such...

 

Airline pilots are on the front line of this issue. They do some crazy traveling to get to work and start flying. But so far this is still America and your time off is your own. As much as they want to tell us when to sleep it'll never matter. Some will always come to work sleepless.

 

One of the big issues IMO is a lack of common sense. Meaning, common sense should dictate that if you have to commute 10 hours to work, then start driving a truck, that you may be unfit to operate the truck. Common sense should tell you that. But unfortunately common sense is not a learned trait. You’re either born with it, or you’re not. Those who have common sense, know when they’re tired, when they need to sleep, when they need to rest. Those without common sense, drive despite the warnings of sleep deprivation, and take their 30 minute breaks in the fuel island. The problem as I see it, is when the guvment tries to force common sense on us drivers. Those of us with common sense feel it’s an overreach, and those without common sense just drool on themselves.

 

Saw this on Facebook

 

Perfectly said! Government rules & regs are nothing but a burden for companies/drivers that do things correctly.
Hey, quick question - what's your honest opinion of the "Hauliday" raffle program that we've been doing over the last few years??