I have something to say about the HOS.

Drivers don't get tired because they push themselves. They get tired from being pushed by others with odd appt times and schedules.
We all seen tired drivers on the road. They look like drunk drivers. They don't get instantly tired either. They mosey on down the road until they pull over or wreck.

Get caught in that state and face stiff penalties. Throw all the other logbook regs out the door and let the driver say when he'll get there.

It's okay to dream!

 

The proposed new hours are set to be published by Dec 1.
I heard that they are going to possibly give a sneak peek by the end of this week. That is what I heard on the lockridge report at least, but I am not holding my breath.
I am tired of rumors. Lucky for me I have not bought into any of the hype.
It may be true, but it may be false.
I really cannot see the FMCSA putting out any rule without at least a show of having listened to the drivers when it came to flexibility.
If they do not offer something to help with making the clock more flexible, then they will have done nothing to help with safety.
Oh, and no way in hell will they go to 8 hour days. That idea is too stupid for even the DOT to consider, much less the FMCSA.
We would need to double the number of trucks and drivers on the road before it ever came into effect. Talk about a safety issue.

 

i knda like them the way they are--except the 70 part
only 11 hrs in a 24---i might go stir crazy --but some times you dont need the 11 eitherso it might be ok

 

If they got rid of the 70, ditched the 14, and just said you can drive a max of 11 hours a day I would be ok.
Yes, on some trips this would hurt, where I will run out my time and take a 10, then run more.
But on most trips I do not drive more than 11 hours in a 24 hour period.
Plus this would make the safety organizations happy. Since the big beef they have is that if you drive every hour you have, every day, and take a 34 whenever you run out, you can in theory drive more hours than under the old rules.
This is an almost impossible thing to do though. Since they are saying 0 time spent on duty not driving, but 14 hours a day driving, with a 10 after the 11.
This has been the "safety" groups whole argument since 2005.
Looking at it that way though the loss of the 34 would suck for many. Since the bottom feeder companys would make all there drivers run that 11 every day and never get home.

T

 

Chrome, that's the claim. But, seriously, how many "BFI" drivers complain of getting too many miles and therefore too big of a paycheck?

Besides that, if they were going to require those hours get used, they would already be doing it. And they're not. That's why people complain of only getting 1,800 miles per week...which would be 300 miles per day with a day off at the end. That's five hours worth of work each day. Less than half of the currently allotted 70 hours. If those companies aren't pressing against HOS now, what makes you think they'll do it if things are loosened up a bit?

Not being snotty. I'm honestly asking.

 

Off topic...but help the Navy Chief out....whats a "BFI"? I'm scratchin my head....

Thanks in advance.

R/

Frat

 

bottom feeder, generally referring to the big names like swift, schneider, etc.

11 in 24 with a 10? what shall I do with the other 3 hours? if I wanted to sit around and not get paid, I would be at home...

 

Actually I don't know if they will really be having them run all those hours. But I think that they may try and have you available to run them.
If you are at home you are not available.
If you are stuck in a truck stop 800 miles from home then you are available.
Sitting does not make you or the company any money, but if you are available then you may be able to make them money if a load comes.

I figure we will all know in a few weeks. I am not too worried.
They cannot cut us back too much. And I really am holding onto the idea that they actually listened some in the listening sessions when we kept saying over and over how we needed flexibility in the 14.

 

BFI. New one fer me.