E-LOGS

No, it doesn't "tell you when you can drive"... it just automates the log book. It hasn't figured out yet how to rip pages out so you can't do any serious falsification though!

 

Does your paper logbook pipe-up, and say, "Bumpy - its 8 AM, you may now drive. Better get on with it boy, I'm gonna cut you off at 10 PM!"

This isn't any different. You make the choices, you tell it when you're going to take a break, when you're on duty not driving, and when its time to shut down for the night. Elogs/EOBRs are just the scoreboard - keeping track of where you are in the day. Just the same as a paper logbook - except you don't need a pen and paper.

Oh yeah... you don't get to rip out the page and start over.

 

You have to be right the first time - so you really need to understand how the HOS rules work. Always give a thought to whether its better to turn a delay into a break (splits are good!) before you commit to line 3. You don't have a second-chance loose-leaf page.

Get in the habit of regularily checking whether your drive plan fits into whichever clock (11 or 14) is limiting you - while you're enroute. Its easier to adjust your speed early on, than to get "Scotty" to beam you up when you're up the creek with no drive time!

If you're running out to the end of your day late in the evening where truck stops are scarce, its better to call the game early than to push on and get caught with no drive time and no parking.

...its no big deal really.

 

Personally, I'm not a "fan" of elogs or EOBRs. I was just fine with logbooks, and dealing with the rules and the situation as it comes down. I'm on elogs, its not that bad - so its called deal with it and hammer on down the road...

But to be honest with you, there are days where I can see why the Congress, the NTSB and the FMCSA want elogs/EOBRs to be manditory for all trucks. And what's worse... actually agree with it.

Read this little adventure with a newb and "Capt. Redbull" - and tell me you can't see that point...

http://www.thetruckersreport.com/tr...rs/141100-my-first-solo-run-horror-story.html

 

Log book violations can even be higher like in the 3,000 range depending on the type and the state.

 

Ironpony just hit a big nail on the head by turning your unload / load time into a break instead of committing to line 4. Sounds like cheating the log book to me.

Let's face it If you pull into walmart then go to the sleeper since you know your going to be awhile do you actually sleep? No because when they yell for you on the radio and you miss it and someone doesn't wake you up you are up the creek.

So you say sure I sleep with the radio turned up. Are you getting pure rest? Nope and by all definition your cheating your log book. And now that you have most likely used your 8 # walmart now you get to go down the road and get a whole 2 hours of good sleep. Sweet Dreams.

Cheating your paper log is no different than cheating your EOBR except I get to sleep when I'm actually tired and for as long as i need to and when I need to.

 

This situation is no different than so many others. Way too many people want the government to "fix" a problem that doesn't need fixed. The accident rate has been steadily dropping and is now at an all time low, but that isn't good enough. It doesn't matter what the subject is, someone will always find examples to "prove" that there is a problem.