The Dreaded Electronic Logs

You can pop off duty at the shipper while waiting and push your 70. Best show something though like safety check to account for the time closing the doors and sealing etc.

 

We run elogs through Peoplenet. I personally think they're great. I run truckload and am home every weekend. I don't push my 70 hrs at all, so that's no problem. I love never having to do anything on paper. It automatically changes my duty status to and from driving. Just jump into the seat and drive. Life is great. I'm happy. I'm paid well. I make all the miles I need. I'm ALWAYS legal. Ours are set up to show available on duty time and available drive time on the screen at all times. When you pull up to a scale it's a comfortable feeling to look at the screen and KNOW that you have a perfectly legal log with that much time left to drive. I know some of you old dogs might not like it, but I'm embracing all these changes coming.

 

Hopefully it will make the carriers pay you for all hours worked.

And it will replace the present system:


Work 100

Log 70

Get Piad for 50

 

Don't hold your breath!

Until it costs them more $$$ to keep the old system in place than changing it, THINGS WILL NEVER CHANGE!!

 

What we all have to keep in mind here is "who really benefits from e-logs?" Simple answer the big carriers. Same carriers that are represented by the ATA. The reason has nothing whatsoever to do with safety, as always follow the money. With paper logs these large carriers have to employ quite a few people to verify and keep drivers & the company in compliance. With e-logs, you fire all these people, and everything is now digitally stored and accessible without any further input from an employee. The elogs can be managed by 2 or 3 employees instead of a dozen or more. Nice printout for the DOT during an audit too. Why does the ATA want them mandatory?? They see a competitive advantage with e-logs - an O/O runs out of hours at the shipper and has to sit for 10. Their load can be repowered and the customer is kept happy. They do that now of course, but as most O/O do, we'd fudge the books a bit and get on down the road - can't do that with elogs. They also have a massive cost advantage in purchasing the e-log unit and the data link is already established through QC or whoever. Individual O/O's and small companies will see a large bill for these units - won't be cheap. Just a couple of thoughts.....................

 

I am paid for every minute of work performed whether it's fueling, drop/hook, sitting in traffic, or waiting to load/un-load if I'm running P&D.. Why should I hold my breath - I'm breathing..

Why will things never change?? Real simple.. Good informative threads get brushed over yet I see 10 threads per week from new drivers asking which company pays the most and the options are Swift, Prime, Stevens, CRST, and Schneider.. The answer is UPS, UPSF, Wal*Mart, FedEx Freight, and Con-way Freight but nobody wants to hear that because they didn't read it in a POS truck stop magazine and none promise X off the bat.. Instant gratification is what it's all about right?? I always was told my age group was all about instant gratification and nothing else yet I put in my time and make more than 87% of housholds as the household.. I love it..

I plan to make this job that I somehow was able to land at 22 my last where I'm not calling the shots..

 

I for one cannot wait for e-logs to be put in place...Really,I am so SICK of dealing with dispatchers whose salary is comission,greedy brokers who either dont have a CLUE,or,most likely,could care les...Now,I know some will say,its UP to you,the driver to do it legally or not.,to this "arguement"I say,that is only true to a point.If working for a outlaw company,(been there)and raise a stink with dispatch,safety,etc.,sooner or later,probably sooner,the poor ol company driver who wants to do it the "right" way will find himself getting only s#it loads....Have I run illegal?- Of course,but I think everything considered,e-logs will be better,if not for everyone,at least for the company driver.

 

We've had Digital Logs in the UK for a while, about 4 or 5 years now and you will adapt and get used to it trust me. 9 times out of ten they will help rather than hinder your work routine. Believe me, it will be the Dispatchers and planners that are sweating the most as they are going to be forced to sort their s*** out pretty quick or they will be out of a job quicker than you can say 'elog'! As I say, embrace the change and make it work to your advantage. Good luck, safe driving!

 

Emphasis mine ...

They have experienced drivers lining up ... so not very realistic options for new drivers.

Though still better options then the usual suspects mentioned ...

 

The company Im going to next week has paperless. I will have to get used to them. I appreciated the 1st post on here about it. Its gonna be tough to get used to. But I guess there are alot of good points too.