Just before I lose my mind

Really Hurst the last thing we need are more restrictions. I feel perfectly fine driving my personal vehicle 18 or even 24 hours non stop on vacation. Not a big deal. Dare say I've even done it in a big truck. Legally and not legally. If you get sleepy pull over simple as that. They're already building nanny cars I suppose really it's just a matter of time before government says only use 3 toilet paper squares per wipe anyways.

 

We all do what we gotta do,.. and I feel ya. The last thing I want is more regulations.

But I hold issue where 4 wheelers point the finger at a trucker who drove 11hr 15 mins, where they feel perfectly fine driving, as you said,.. 18hrs+. Its a double standard.

Hurst

 

The double standard that needs to be eliminated is the whole "court supervision" deal. If you are not a CDL holder and your license isn't your livelihood, you are allowed to get caught breaking the rules from time to time and just pay a little extra money and maybe attend a bs class for a couple hours and your record stays clean. Even if you mess up BIG TIME and get a DUI or find some other way to have your license suspended, you can STIL get a permit which allows you to drive to and from work...UNLESS you have a CDL. Nevermind the fact that a professional driver operates his vehicle more in a month than most "ordinary" people drive in a year. You are SUPPOSED to be a professional and therefore need to be held to a higher standard.

Well, I'll agree to that when politicians are held accountable to the fullest extent of the laws they pass (as opposed to the current trend of writing themselves an exemption to the laws). Cops, Judges, Prosecutors, etc. should likewise be mandated to serve the highest possible penalty anytime they run afoul of the laws which they enforce...higher standards and all since they are supposed to be "professionals".

If a higher standard exists for one class of citizen based upon his chosen profession, then an equal form of higher standards should be applied across the board for every industry.

 

he DID accept the load, and he quit shortly there after.

unless you know of someone else, in that exact same situation you spoke of.

 

Was waiting for the message to pop up in the video stating this episode of 20/20 was brought to you by the association of american railroads.

 

I agree it sucks they always blame the trucks. Regardless of facts. But that doesn't mean I think more government intrusion is necessary for cars. As things go I now have a bigger fish to fry so that's all I have to say about this, lol :-/

 

I think it's okay that truck drivers are held to a higher standard, we are the professionals after all. But there is definitely a point where (if the government is serious about highway safety) they need to regulate non-CDL drivers a bit more instead of continuing to dump regulations on truckers.

I've seen a lot of changes in truck safety over the last 20 years. It used to be more or less a joke, now most companies and drivers embrace safety and we have the data to prove it. IMO, we've done our part. If DOT is not satisfied with current safety statistics, they can't be serious about improving safety unless they are willing to look at additional training and reg's for non-CDL drivers.

Think about it, we all drive cars. Yes, it is a problem sharing the roadway when one vehicle can accelerate 0-60 in 10 seconds and another one takes 4 minutes. It's a problem when a vehicle that weighs 1500 lbs has to share the road with one weighing 80,000. But we all drive cars and many of us drive motorcycles. The problem isn't that we don't understand how those vehicles operate and how to share the road with them. The problem is they don't understand how trucks operate, how long it takes to accelerate, difficulties with visibility, etc... They don't know how to share the road with us.

 

I hope they ban semi trucks.

 

I got 9 more years and I walk away from this nightmare. In those 9 more years I will be as safe and legal as I can possibly be and when they are completed, the immigrants can have it. I take great solace in knowing I have more behind me than in front of me.

 

9 More bummer I have 2