Beware of Landstar Sky Bitz and E-Log Mandate

I get the bigger point I really do,I just think there is an awful lot of needless worry and paranoia associated with the whole EOBR issue. I have been on elogs for almost twenty years and have always done far better than average. It takes a little time to get used to but after that learning curve most drivers actually end up thinking of it as another tool not an enemy that means them harm.

This is Landstar not Swift or one of the other .30 cpm rookie outfits where we need every single one of those seventy hours to scratch out a living. Most of us are successful here because we work smart not hard,we dont sit at docks for hours giving our money away. Guys should not be jumping ship here or anywhere else because they think they are are going to be operating under the control of big brother. Its going to be mandatory in the very near future and I just think its a big waste of time to get all worked up over it. Really I fear the FMCSA and the feds far more than the EOBR,at least with the EOBR I know Im always compliant.

 

Between the lack of satellite data channel bandwidth, round trip time between a ground station, satellite, your truck- and back again... and the computer time it takes to attempt to do anything in real time, we don't have anything to worry about in terms of "being monitored." I sat with my dispatcher one afternoon, and we attempted to do just that. You can't, at least with today's technology. The big limiting factor is the satellite link. The most that can be done is occasional snapshots, and if your dispatcher has anything like the workload my guy does he's not going to be playing big brother. He won't get any of his work done.

Restrictions? Elogs just keeps track of your drive line. Nothing more. If you're driving within the limits of the HOS regulations, you aren't being restricted any more than that. If you are pulling for a carrier that feels it's necessary for a dispatcher to hustle you along at the end of a break, inquire why you've stopped during the course of a duty day with the intent of prodding you on down the road- you need a different gig.

I know that's not a popular position. Heck, when my Qualcom unit broke down last month, I had a great time. It was going back to the ol' days, and it was fun. Overcome and adapt, or move along to something else.

 

If you want restrictions go have a look over on the Walmart forum and see whats happening with that operation,that was a really good job at one time. I just posted over there today about how much I appreciate the freedom and complete lack of daily supervision here at LS even with an EOBR. You act like were not currently working under constant supervision by the feds and others. Everytime you pull on the road your complying and your being monitored,alot of how we run our trucks is dictated to us by one agency or another DOT,FMCSA,CARB and every small town cop thats on the hunt for easy revenue for their cash starved community.

 

I get we are always going to be monitored that's life, I just don't really care for it my truck. But my biggest issue is what LS is charging for it! its way over the top for the amount of trucks we have and are running with EROBs.

 

Then, as another poster here already stated, pack your bags and move on down the road. Its that simple.
Don't like it? Your supposedly a big boy, act like one, and move on.
Or ####, and take it like a man. You are the employee of Landstar, ir you can't handle their rules, get going.

 

I'd bet it's more like herding grumpy cattle....

 

Landstar8891, Getting your own LLC is very easy, at least it was here in AZ about 50 bucks to do it yourself no lawyer needed. As for getting your own authority that too can be done on line just fill in the blanks same as setting up IFTA account in your state.