E-logs and Reality

Legally now it's no different. Your at the controls in traffic you are on line 3 driving. I don't believe the E log will do it differently. I know what you are saying, most drivers will never show that, but will just average out there mileage with their time. So that will be different than is done on paper logs now. Maybe one of the drivers that has a EOBR compliant AOBR can give insight on how their particular device records that.

 

The issue I've seen with EOBR's is not the EOBR but dispatch not changing the time allotted to do a run. Most of the planners/dispatchers I've worked with say loads are planned at XX mph but no one ever figures in traffic, accidents, fueling, or any other type of slow down or stop. I had a run running from Lafayette, IN to Monroe, GA. 10 hrs 30 minutes at the posted speed limit. I could make it in 10 hrs 45 minutes if I stopped once (which was fine) and hit almost no traffic. Yea go 65 S to 24 W to 75 S and hit no traffic. I think they work but only with common sense.

 

1) True. Even though OOIDA got the regulation set aside, I'm sure it is only a matter of time before there will be some sort of EOBR regulation.

2) Loopholes do exist. However there are not many loopholes with the presenthours of service. Without seeing the new HOS in action I can't speak of that. I've seen driver's for years try to circumvent the system or re-invent the wheel. I can't tell you the number of driver's that have not had a log book over the years. Some just say the heck with it, they were not running a book. There is one driver that I have stopped 3 times over the last 11 years that everytime I have stopped him he does not have a log book. He takes his ticket and does his 10 hours each time. Why, I have no idea he must like spending time with me.

So any law can be made, it doesn't mean people will follow it.

3) I agree with your first point, the second portion I'm not so sure. With CSA, carriers do not want more attention drawn to them. Bad inspections may result in a compliance review. So I think the days of a lot of outlaw carriers are past us. WIll carriers push limits? Yes. Will drivers push limits? Yes .

4) Politics is a dirty business, period.

5) I don't know if I would say most wrecks are caused by 4 wheelers. Collisions occur for many reasons. The thing about a large truck crash is, they are big, heavy and very durable. An 80,000 lbs truck hitting a 3500lbs car is a no brainer. Car is not going to win. Driver's of 4 wheelers do stupid things, but so do professional drivers. As far as the hands free law, many State's have enacted the handheld phone bans. All most all have a no texting ban. But laws are only as good as the teeth they have. Some laws are practically unenforceable. Some are not. So if the law is a law that has some teeth it gives folks like me a something to enforce.

 

Generally I don't care about e-logs. I run legal. My company insists on legal, and they are very reasonable about routing times.
My only hesitation, and I agree this is rare, is when a few minutes makes a difference.
As an example, I recently was 7 minutes away from my receiver when my 14 expired. Weather, traffic, et al had held me back. e-logs would have required me to stop and do a 10 just 4.5 miles from the reciever.
e-logs would show a violation. My paper log looked good.
That's really my only reservation.

 

Yeah!! Lol. I think they all just started using Mapquest. I hope soon they offer a class so I can sign up and be special to.

 

Why do we have more restrictions on us versus a commercial pilot

 

cause we're lucky?

 

Because a truckload of toilet paper is way more important than the lives of several hundred people!