Unsafe Truck Drivers

I find that the 14 hour rule is the worst for ensuring that someone will drive tired. If you're tired and need a 1-2 hour nap to continue to drive safely, your options are 8 hours in the sleeper (that will make you miss your appointment), stop and take that 1-2 hour nap (which will make you miss your appointment), or just continue to drive while tired. I fail to see how enforcement of the HOS rules improves safety. Heck, abolishing the anti-idle laws would do more to improve safety than HOS ever thought of doing.

Unsafe drivers that abuse the system need to be dealt with on a case by case basis, and dealt with harshly. Why are Americans so afraid to single someone out for their unsafe actions, and instead create inefficient and burdensome policies for everyone to follow in order to rein in the abusers?

 

Thank you windsmith that was my whole point

 

from what you said, I can conclude that the 14 hour rule has nothing to do with this example. Sounds like you need some trip planning lessons... Not that I'm great at trip planning yet. If your load is that hot, and you can't make it on time with taking nap time every day, it's probably best to pass it up.

 

You have to remember that not everyone is doing long haul loads. The 14 rule is fine if you are running long haul, but it becomes a huge problem with those that do short hauls.

 

I see. I forget about that scenario as I am OTR and have never had a problem with the 14 hour rule in my short career. Touché.

 

Perhaps, but long haul or short haul, all of us bump the dock to load/unload. Long and short hauls alike go into LA, Chicago, Atlanta, the 14 hour clock does not recognize the length of haul, it does not care about rush hours morning or evening, it will not cut you any slack because there was a paperwork snafu at the dock. The list goes on and on......

 

Breaking the law does not mean you are standing up for your freedoms. Freedom comes with responsibility, which includes not infringing on my freedom to drive slower. Elogs do not force a driver to do anyrhing. A driver may use that as an excuse, instead of standing up for his freedom and taking that power nap, or saying no.

 

Because as a society we have forgotten about personal responsibility. It is look to someone else or something to blame instead of ones self. HOS were originally put in to protect the drivers from the bosses. The 14 hour rule is the dumbest rule, but those in power see no need to change. It has gotten to the point that we infringe on the freedoms of everyone, so that we do not infringe on the freedom of the indivudual. Can't profile a criminal, we no longer have winners and loosers in school sports...

 

I fully agree. You have 14 hours to accomplish driving 11 hours, once you start your day. Use 1/4 hour for your DVI and a 1/2 hour to fuel, you stiil have 2 1/4 hours to nap, before your 14 runs out.

 

Me and my boyfriend who has been a driver for over 20 years just went on a road trip that took us over 8000 miles. I must say that I felt that alot of the semi driving was extremely dangerous. I would be going 75-80 and a semi would tailgate me and then pass. Same went for being in bad weather, total downpour and couldn't see but 12 inches in front of me and I kept getting passed at high speeds causing the rain water to go over my windsheild to where I couldn't see AT ALL....I try to be courteous as much as I can and always let truckers in when needed. I truly felt (with my 4 year old daughter in the car) unsafe for most of the trip. I let my boyfriend drive most the time because he is from the East Coast and drives more aggressively than I do and even he as a long time driver had a few times that he felt very unsafe himself.
Not to mention that we saw at least 4 horrible accidents on the turnpikes and they were all semi to semi accidents...very scary.