New Bill in Congress to Deley ELD Mandate

The ATA, many of whom CHOSE to run elogs, along with the ELD manufacturers and suppliers are also pushing for the mandate because it benefits them at the expense of everybody else. Makes you no better than they are, advocating the mandate of a device with a proven track record of decreasing safety on the roads just because YOU will benefit. Safety be ######! Just for that, I hope you get plowed into by a driver too caught up in racing his ticking clock to slow down for that work zone and stopped traffic. Those types of incidents are increasing in regularity the closer it gets to the enforcement date of the mandate you so desperately desire and more drivers are burdened with the devices.

 

A handful of carriers ("white volvo crowd" types) are why. There are more than a few ticking time bombs out there who are running 15-17 hours/day 7 days a week and monitored by the same "safety department" who assigns loads and signs paychecks and provides paper log books by the case to drivers. Many of these drivers are literally indentured servants who are expected to run near-team miles on solo terms.

Yes, there are other reasons, I suppose. But we all talk about "we have to get texting and web-surfing drivers off the road" ... we also need to get [at least many of] the dead-tired, delirious drivers off the road who have not had decent sleep in 2 weeks. If eLogs goes a long way towards this goal, I'm all for it.

And yes, it will have unwanted side-effects that can potentially hurt many other drivers. Carriers may find they need to put more wore out trucks and drivers on the road to act as "re-power" options to meet appointment times. Same revenue miles, but spread out over more drivers (smaller driver paychecks)

If a carrier or owner-op "can't make money" on eLogs [but can on paper], he needs to find another line of work.

 

The problem I see is that the companies you mentioned won't change their ways. They are already deliberately violating the law. What will stop them from hacking the elog system? I think it will possible to adjust your logs just like paper with out leaving a trace.

 

Why can't it be a choice? Why am I being forced onto something that is not needed.

 

Those in power do not give two flying ####s what a truck driver thinks. Follow the money.

 

You need to study the subject matter a bit more before offering your thoughts. A good start would be to google the answer to this question: "What is the difference between an AOBR and ELD?"

In other words, if you believe that the ELD mandate "levels the playing field," you are part of the problem.

Party like it's 1999, because it's going to be another Y2K-style dud. Your post is spot on, IMO.

 

Because the mega carriers dont want to compete with you and they have a lot of lobbyists to bribe congress to get their way.

 

That was kinda mean. ELDs do not decrease safety. If anything they will force tired drivers to take a break and will hamper unscrupulous dispatchers from pushing drivers beyond their limits. The only people there good going to be hurt by this mandate are owner operators that are currently fudging their books. No sympathy here.

 

I had a no name truck blow past me doing 78 in a 60 mph construction zone today..
I'm sure he only drove like that because of elogs and he was governed and had to make up time, LOL