I have something to say about the HOS.

It will be interesting to see.
They released it from the white house last week.
They are planning to post to the federal register some time after the 4th of Dec. Last word was 4th, but since they do not post on the weekends it will be after.
We may have word before that though.
Then they will have another comment period. In which once again very few drivers will try and participate. Pretty sad if you ask me.
I will once again post all the info on the forums for contacts on commenting.
One reason it seems to have been delayed was that they want to limit the comment period to 30 days this time, and not use the standard 90 days.

 

I would love that if I could take a couple hours in the sleeper without my 14 running while I do it. I'd even be willing to accept if that time didn't count towards my 10.

Seems to go against the whole point of HOS that I need to keep driving while I am tired, just because my 14 has already started. I'll be dealing with this on my next run when I would like to leave early and take a nap on the way, but instead will be running on a screwed up sleep schedule and stressed for time.

Sadly, I expect the new rules to be screwed up. While most of us out there have enough sense to run safe, think about the dumbest trucker you have ever met or just how hard some of these companies would push their drivers to run if they could. Rules will be created to the level needed to control those drivers and companies, not for what the rest of us should have.

 

I didn't know we could participate;I look forward to the information you will be posting.

 

I should have been more specific. I was referring only to the way the rules affect my job. My weekends are spent at home, and having 2 days a week of enforced break AT HOME would not offend me a bit. If I was stuck in a truckstop for the weekend (as I was for many years) then I would be champing at the bit for the reset to be over. In future I'll try to be more accurate.

I guess the only point I was really making is that finally the HOS are taking notice of the fact that human beings are part of the equation.

 

i dont understand that as im more tired after sitting a 34 in the truckstop.I agree it would be nice to sleep a couple if needed and not count against you but im sure people would abuse it.but cant you take a couple anyway if your company allows you to do split time mine doesnt allow that so dont know?

 

My wish would be when you go to line 1 it stops the 14 hour clock. I really miss that!

 

Differnt regs up here in Western Canada,, We can do a 16 hr shift.. On duty no more than 14 hrs.. only 13 hrs driving... with 2 x 1 hr breaks in there you can have a shift 16 hrs long then have to have that 8 solid hrs in bunk or if you split it you need 10 hrs in bunk.. On oil field exemption we can work 16 hrs per day but must have 3 x 24 hrs off in 24 days

 

Sometimes I wish you could do away with the daily hours regulation but still add up for the 70 rule. Not that I want to drive for 20 hours though.

But what if I had a system where I really set my own schedule and had more flexibility to deal with things that come up while driving. Yet also had to have some kind of restriction in the long term that discouraged being a crazy caffeinated SuperTrucker?

Also maybe this is a little far out but what if we had 2 Restart options? Like a 24 break to give you a "partial restart" of say giving you back 30 logbook hours. And a 48 hour restart to give you back the full 70hrs?

I know the 48hrs may make OTR guys grumble but personally I'd like to see weekend hometime guys get their full weekend instead of going back out on Sunday night. So I'd suggest the optional short partial restart.

 

The partial reset is similar to what they have in Europe. If you are away from base you can (or could, I'm ten years out of date so it may have changed) reset for 24 hours. The catch is that you have to make up that time within 3 weeks. Their full reset is 45 hours, so 3 weeks worth of catchup starts to get difficult. Also, in my experience, companies tend to want you to take the 24 hour reset as though that is enough, period.

As my old boss used to say, "The law is only a guide." He believed that too. Drivers need protection from people like him. He paid a flat rate for the week, and basically wanted the driver to run round the clock and round the week. Perhaps if he had paid mileage (illegal in Europe) or hours, he might not have been so pushy.

 

This relates to the load I'm on right now. Dispatch said pu from 11-27 7AM to 11-29 17:00. As it happens I can't get either stop until AM 11-29.

So I'm taking a semi forced 34 here. And will have to run pretty hard to be in Atlanta on 12-01.

There is one GOOD thing about the rules as they are. Dispatch can WANT me to do their bidding. But Logging Dept wont play along!