HOS Amendment?

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Not that I am promoting the EOBR's but wouldn't they discourage and document any abuse of the provision. With a wifi, bluetooth, etc RF transmission when any DOT qualified officer or scale house comes within 30' or more of the truck it sets of the red flag of the violation. So it doesn't look like much room to fudge. The alternative is that the law becomes oppressive and abusive with that kind of enforcement available and no grace period available to handle the situations that come up.
Just my humble opinion.

 

Here is the problem, Our company when first installed the camera's they said it was for the purpose of helping out in deciding who is at fault in an accident with one of our trucks. Case in point one of our mixer drivers was heading out to a job site. He had both hands on the wheel and in his own lane.. Next in the picture you see a car coming at him head on, and then the crash.. The DOT showed up to inspect the truck at the shop later on in the day. When they company viewed the film, the called over the DOT officers. After they saw the film they left no questions asked. What had happened it showed the driver of the car coming at him in a deliberate manner. They also found a suicide note in his car. He wanted to die via a truck hitting him head on..

Now fast forward to today, they tell us it is unsafe and a violation for drivers to use their cell phones while driving even with a blue tooth.. When caught first time 3 days off then next time fired. What we have a problem is that those driving a company car can and do use their phones all the time. We see it everyday. About a month ago I was in one of the cars with my sup, and another company man. The company man driving the car was busy reading his phone while driving.. So you tell me what is wrong with that picture? If it is unsafe for the drivers, what is not unsafe with them using theirs?

Now if your even caught without a seat belt sitting in the yard of the company or customer, not moving your truck you can loose your job as well.. This is a new way for them to trim the pork now that the company is having a hard time makeing money in this down economy...

 

See.. This really stinks. The driver is really stuck between a rock and a hard place on this one. And it does go back to Greymatters original idea: there really should be some sort of "discretionary" time in the HOS rules to allow drivers to get to a safe place. I've heard of drivers getting tickets for parking on off-ramps because it was illegal, but they were just following the rules because they ran out of hours and needed a place to stop.

It seems that sometimes, no matter how hard ya'll try, you guys are going to break a rule somewhere, and that's just not fair! There should definitely be a little wiggle room.

 

I have more than once drove beyond my hrs to find a safe place to park. I know it is illegal, but not wanting to get a ticket for parking on a ramp, I felt as long as I was safe and did nothing to get the attention of the DOT, then it was worth it..

 

Yeah, but that still stinks... Having to violate a law just to get to someplace safe.

 

I agree that if shippers and receivers are kicking you out, then there is a problem. However, as a Trooper that is an inspector, I can not make regulations or rules and enforce something that doesn't exist or enforce my "opinion". The law is what I must enforce. I agree with PSanderson that FMCSA will probably never get involved in shippers and receivers. And I agree, there will be carriers that would cut the rate if carriers started charging a $200 detention rate. I see fly by nights cutting the rate every day and running O/O's out of loads.