Millis OTR journal

Yeah the 14 hour clock is the one thing about modern HOS rules that I have a problem with. They need to either make it more flexible, extend it to 16 hours, or just get rid of it. Combined with elogs (and it really chaps my ### when drivers cry about the elog mandate) it really hamstrings us and I think maybe makes us a little less safe. I know I have caught myself getting careless when doing drop and hooks and fueling and other non-driving activities when I'm banging on that 14 when I would otherwise take my time.

 

Would run into same problem with 16. Get rid of the 14 all together make it an 11 which would make your time even more valuable.

 

Has to be some sort of clock. Why do people want to drag out their work day even longer? Let’s say it’s 16 or 18 hour day. That just adds quite possibly another 2 or 4 hours to your day that you probably aren’t getting paid. A load that doesn’t get picked up or delivered today can be picked up or delivered tomorrow. I have run out my 14 several times already in the 2 months I have been doing this and if the 14 was changed to 16 or 18 it would still get run out except I would be even more tired.

On a side note saw my first accident today. Took a second to realize something wasn’t right. I was giing north on 65 and on the south bound side of 65 a car was passing a semi somehow bounced off trucks drive tires spun around in front of semi smashed into car on other side of semi and ended up in farm field off to the side. Happened pretty quick don’t think anyone got hurt.

 

Any of you among the poor schmucks in Trenton?

I'm #24 and not really even giving a #### coz I'm due home Monday morning so they'll either find me a load or they'll send me home empty. Been taking a load home with me lately, though and I prefer it that way. I like being able to just get in the truck and get moving once I'm ready to go back out.

 

i know when I’m tired not some bureaucrat 1000 mikes away.
Some days I could drive 14 hours other days I’m tired after 6 but must continue on.
Which would be safer?
Driving an extra 15-30 minutes to get thru a big city during non peak hours or having to stop before then having to drive thru morning rush.

 

As far as this 14 hr clock thing. I can see benefits to the driver such as one radioshark pointed out. Sometimes an extra 30 minutes would make all the difference.

Unfortunately I suspect it will mostly be used to extend our work day longer for reasons other than that. It will surely be exploited by the companies and we will all end up working even more for the same pay.. I personally do not want to work longer per day than I already do.

Maybe they should give OTR the same thing as local drivers have, with the ability to have one 16 hour day per 8 day work period. That would come in handy for unexpected issues.

 

I like that idea a lot.

 

The sitch in Trenton currently.