DOT bars commercial drivers from texting

the REAL STORY here is not the rule, but the fact that this "new" rule was passed WITHOUT going thru all the required steps before being put in place!
Dont misunderstand me, please! Texting while driving ANY VEHICLE, not just a big truck, is dangerous and should be illegal (and common sense would dictate stupid also!)
But this rule bypassed all the usual steps and was put in place way too fast! This is slippery ground we are treading on! If this becomes the standard way of cramming stuff down our throats, I dont even want to speculate what will be coming next!
EOBRs, no CB, new HOS, you think it's a nightmare driving truck now??? This is a dangerous precedent!

 

What about using the Qualcomm? Does entering info on that count as texting?

 

I agree, but softly. The texting, email, looking at the news, etc has gotten out of hand. I'll admit I use my phone to look at traffic conditions, weather and traffic alerts, where the next rest area is (there's an app for that). But I don't do it in traffic, check my mirrors that no one is close to me, and take a glance if I'm clear. If your OTR you may have many hours when you can do this. But if you're intercity, forgetaboutit. I'll be interested on how it's enforced. If I get pulled, I'm gonna pitch my phone.

 

You have to imagine this:
(Mission Impossible theme playing in the background)
"Your mission, should you chose to accept it, is to text msg your wife,WHILE DRIVING, that you will be late for dinner and to p/u some TP from the store, and TELL HER THAT YOU LOVE HER! "
"If you are captured, we will disavow all knowledge of you and your actions"
"This phone will self-destruct in 5..4..3..2.."

 

when my truck would be moving my qualcomm would lock up anyway

 

The "Real Crime" commited today was by FMCSA Secretary Mr Ray Lahood,this Liberial Stooge passed "Law by decree" with out any "Due Process" in the "Name of Safety". Google Mr Ray Lahoods Profile and you will see that this Stooge for the Obama Administration Has "No Background in the Trucking Indrustry" and his only "Qualification for the Job" is that he is a proud member of the "CORRUPT POLITICAL MACHINE OF CHICAGO." This is a Prime Example of a Dictator at work. Its called "Revenue Enhancement in the Name of Safety". Revenue Enhancement "a charge against a citizen's person or property or activity for the support of Government". No texting fine= $2750

 

This last year on I84 by exit 46 Near Meridian Idaho on the west bound side there was a police officer on the shoulder when this guy came driving down the freeway texting and wham ran right into the back of the police car, he shoved the rear bumper clear up to the rear seat. He was actually in rush hour traffic from boise to nampa where its usually bumper to bumper with idiots weaving in and out back and forth, so i know idaho is going after the no text rule while driving, it just hasnt got there yet.

 

hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

you know, its funny, i went through the first weigh station in MONTHS the other day. I don't go out of my way to drive around them except for the rare occasion that I need to scale my load and the weigh station is CONVENIENTLY PLACED.....and the weigh station had prepass shut off, checking everyones ifta tags. haha.

Having prepass doesnt mean im a legal weight. you'd think they'd all use the florida system where you're automatically redlighted once a day.

 

And unfortunately this was the way they outlawed radar detectors in Commercial Vehicles, wonder what is next?

 

As much has I hate the rule by decree
it has become a problem especially with the younger generation to the point I have had to let one go because he couldn't stop texting and I am almost to the point of banning personal phones at work
but I have been working with the verizon folks on another issue and they mentioned that coming down the pike is phones that will not text in motion