Five BAD trucking companies

Explain to me to me how running 700, 800, or 900 miles a day is illegal?

In a 65 MPH truck...Assuming you have full or close to full fuel tanks

1.Do a pretrip # 1145 PM after having a 10 hour break

2. Begin driving at midnight.

3. Drive 660 miles, stopping every 3 hours for less than 10 minutes to pee, check your tires, grab a quick snack, etc, averaging 60 MPH

3. Go in the sleeper berth at 11 AM.

4. Get up at 9 PM, do a pretrip till 915

5. Drive through till midnight, another 170 miles in 2.75 hours, averaging 61.81 MPH

This is a LEGAL total of 830 miles, in a 65 MPH truck, averaging 60-62 MPH

 

Repeat the same scenario, driving across Wyoming, Nebraska, Iowa, and Minnesota with 70-75 MPH speed limits (Averaging 68 MPH) and you get a total of 935 LEGAL miles. Now I will admit I based this on Rural Interstates, sunny skies and light traffic, but don't tell me something can't be done legally when it's easily doable. And I've done it many times.

 

It is actually just a scapegoat for the insurance companies, government, and even your employer to put the burden of proof on the driver.

"Oh sure, if you weren't doing anything wrong, you have nothing to worry about"

RIGGGGGGHT????

When lawsuits and truck accident investigations are performed, there is usually some way to much sure the driver was doing something wrong, knowingly or unknowingly... That slack adjuster that's 1/8" out of whack, Those dirty tailights, that reflective tape that's half-worn off your ICC bumper, That honest mistake of only logging 9.75 hours in the sleeper when it was supposed to be 10, etc, and the beat goes on

 

If you were running legal while doing it, there isn't a ###### thing they can do. How is running legal giving your company a bad impression, and going to put you in jail for life? The worst I've heard of being audited is having cell phone records handed over, to make sure you weren't texting while driving. If it all matches, that's more burden of proof in the driver's favor.

 

Nowhere in my post did I say I didnt get regular sleep,you assumed that.So if I don't run 100% by the new rules I am not safe. I guess we were all wrecks waiting to happen before 2004.I guess that includes you. There are times when taking a full ten hours off wont work because of meeting a crane or emergency job site delivery. Where did I compare myself to a cowboy? Cutting each others throats.you are thinking about van freight and brokers.I negotiate every load-usually for more money. I wont have an eobr on my truck hence the strike of 1. After 36 years out here running coast to coast it's definetly a lifestyle to most of us. Sorry it was just a job to you. Oh yeah sold my cows so I only got horses now.

 

Curious about your handle...Krash?

I am tired of hearing about the "olden days". Handfulls of cross tops, running 36 hours straight without stopping. Gang showers. No power stearing. No jake brakes. Things have changed, ok? You can go ahead and take that OD load to the crane, then get your log pulled at the next coop. What will you say with the timestamp on the crane reciept?

It's a different world. Lots of things have changed, you aren't the only worker to reminse about the old timey days of their job. I wish you well, as you are middle aged and it's harder for us to adjust. Maybe you have been wise in your 36 years of driving and have a good nest egg to retire to, and go have fun on your rv touring all of the places you drove past and never got to stop at.

 

You would be amazed -what a jury can do to you.

Maybe not a criminal trial, but at a civil wrongful death or injury trial ...

And it don't matter if you don't have any money ... they can award a chunk of everything you earn in a lifetime.

Send you into bankruptcy fighting it, and the government has no part in it.

Sure, you are still "legal" ... and no one will change your mind.

 

Despite the conspiracy theroy of killing the Independant O/O Small Business, the OBER is to address Driver Violations. One, Paper logs are the most abused document and Two, Speed Violations must be reduced on 18-Wheelers. The only way to do that is to install a recorder on the CMV.

Will having the OBER active make the roads any safer?
Here is a fact from the DOT http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/facts-research/research-technology/report/ltccs-2006.htm#TABLE3
50% of all collisions involving Big Rigs were the result of REAR-END. Driver error was the number one factor. It was also reported that over 50% of the incidents were caused by "4-wheelers".

Reducing the speed of Big Trucks is Safe. Most states have reduced highway speed to 65 for trucks. Canada has 65 mph for trucks.

The root of the problem is time. Shippers,Carriers, and Recievers are not responsible for your HOS. You are required to follow the fmcsa regulations. When you break them, don't blame someone else. it's that simple. Time management is crucial to being rested, productive and safe.

 

let me be more specific: according to sources at Todays Trucking Ezine:

Speed limiters keep U.S. truckers out of Canada

http://www.todaystrucking.com/news.cfm?intDocID=24898