The BEST thing to ever happen to trucking!!!!

A whole lot of people in the trucking business have no clue how much work a job takes or how much time a driver puts in.

 

And it's going to take a little longer now, too. With the speed limiter rule.

 

Here's how it works:

Right now, 'outlaws' earn a decent living (or a killing) by skirting HOS laws. This artificially lowers freight rates because those companies can haul cheaper because they can run as hard as their drivers can stand. And they can ignore the 14/10 rules in order to meet pickup and delivery times. Which means that they can undercut rates, where companies that run legal cannot.

The electronic log mandate will level the playing field. When that takes effect, shippers will have to sit up and take notice. They won't be able to get their freight moved as cheaply as they had been accustomed to, and they will find that their JIT pickup and delivery appointment times either won't work any more, or will command a steep rate premium.

Make no mistake, the mandate is going to be a game changer. And it will be for the good, IMO.

 

Supply and demand . When you reduce the amount of a product ( transportation for merchandise ) , you raise the value of the product, if it is needed.And trucks are needed more and more . E- logs, speed limiters, etc. will decrease the availability of trucks, ( supply ) , and rates will increase. Shippers, brokers, dispatchers will not be able to obtain trucks to break the rules and haul ### as much as they used to, decreasing supply. It will happen. Trucks will be in demand,pay will increase, but it will always a hard, thankless job, not for most people.
I have always been an outlaw trucker in the past, but times are changing. I saw the handwriting on the wall some 10 years ago, and decided to just build a local business, no brokers, direct to shippers and buyers. Change is coming for trucking, learn to adapt and be rewarded.

 

This is no different than the ignorant drivers out here that flock to the companies that advertise "Get More Miles, Make More Money.
The concept of LESS miles, more per mile is completely lost on the many drivers in this industry who cannot do simple math, or obey simple signs (No Parking Fire Lane) etc.

 

Even 26yrs later I'm amazed at a how many drivers have allowed their self to be waterboarded with industry/company koolaid into falling for the miles miles miles bs.
ITS NOT HOW MANYS MILES YOU RUN, ITS HOW MUCH YOU GET TO RUN'EM

 

You don't actually believe your own statement do you? What will happen is the mega's will setup relay stations like they had in the 70's, the O/O will still make nothing and the megas will grow even bigger. With that said truck driving will become even more of a revolving door job and the pay will be lower on the new seat meat they get. Most people are to stupid to see this was a move initiated by big trucking to choke the small carriers out even more than is already happening.

 

There's got to be a reason why the relay system isn't being used today. To me, that seems to be the most efficient use of resources, and more driver friendly than putting someone OTR for weeks / months at at time.

O/Os need to be creative. Specialize in finding and doing the things that nobody else is interested in doing, with a view to expanding your fleet, and you'll do well. If you're only interested in being a single truck operation without a niche, then your days of profitability are numbered.

This works for company drivers as well. Take the loads that nobody else wants to take. You'll find that you're one of the highest paid drivers at your company.

 

Speed rules are a different story. Before they approve speed rules, then the pay-per-mile should be disallowed, and a minimum wage should be instituted, which includes overtime paid after 8 hours per day.