Congressman addresses HOS flexibility

Perhaps you could grow a pair and stand up to the shippers yourself without hiding behind the ELD skirts.

 

I do and do not understand this incessant whining about "lack of flexibility". Flexibility equates hiding on duty time. We all know it. We all know that the split sleeper was commonly used to falsify logs.

We all know it. So stop with the silly assed anecdotes. Stop the whining. Get your #### job done in a timely manner and make money.

 

Ok define your flexibility.

Working 16-17 hour days? Of some excuse will do. Look at the 16 hour provision available short haul now. It is supposed to be for unplanned delays and every #### local company plans one day at 15.99 hours because they can.

The 14 hour clock is so people do not plan on having a 20 hour day. Lying about the 6 hours they spent at a receiver calling it sleeper and driving until they hit the ditch at 2 am.


Look you want flexibility. I say there is no need for it. The HOS can be worked just fine as is. And they should be enforced. Which is why we have ELDs. Now we just need to end all of these fake assed excuses why people can not use them. Put everyone subject to 395 on them and maybe you folks could prove HOS is unworkable.

I doubt that because it does work. But until you actually have a clue if folks are even close to following it you have nothing.

 

Where did I offer any anecdote? When was I whining?

 

No, just more flexibility for the few hours we DO run. I go home every night. If there is something I need at the store, which makes more sense: 1) stop at the store and spend the 30 minutes or so grabbing what I need as I'm driving past it on my way home even if that technically puts me over my 14 by the time I roll into the driveway to start my 10; or 2) drive home because that stupid little box says I'm running short on time, only to spend the 1st 3 hours of my 10 hours off duty wasting gas in my pickup driving the hour+ back to the store I just rolled past, get what I needed, and then drive the hour+ back home to take what's left of my 10 hour break before rolling out again? Flexibility means 10 hours of rest at home. Inflexibility means 7 hours of rest.

As a person who goes home every night, I have the 16 hour exception available once per week. I was using that to get home and happened to think, "What happens if I get pulled over?" I had been stopped 2 weeks prior for a random roadside (got a clean inspection report) by a cop with nothing better to do...but this day I would be rolling into my driveway with just enough time to complete my post-trip and be released from at the 16th hour. ANY delay, and it would be an HOS violation (must be released from duty in 16 hours to claim the exception)...but I was already past the 14th hour meaning although I was legal at the time I would be stopped, and as long as I didn't get stopped I could legally make it home, IF I got stopped everything would change. I'd no longer make it back inside the 16, so it would be a violation. If I DIDN'T make it back, I'd be ineligible to claim the 16 hour exception so my time driving past the 14th hour (which was legal when I did it) would suddenly become a violation. Would it be better to stop and be in violation of the HOS, or proceed home within the HOS with a pissed off bear on your ###? ####ed either way, because the HOS aren't flexible enough to take into consideration the real world scenarios that occur.

ELD's haven't really affected me too much yet, other than changing the name on my door to avoid a company's demand. I'm still operating under the 8/30 exemption. Still only work 35-45 hours per week. Usually only have 1 or 2 days per week that run more than 5-7 hours...but those days hold the potential to be long ones. Just takes one big delay...or a series of small ones...to push that 10-12 hour day into a 12-14 or even 16 hour day. Box or not, I'm still going home.

 

Blame owner operators because you're an indoctrinated mega "driver". ANYONE can deprive themselves of sleep for as long as they can stand it then jump in the driver's seat and start the clock. So please explain to me how an ELD is able to tell who is "well rested" and who isn't? How does that boot polish taste?

 

I don't recall reading so much misguided opinion in one place. If anyone wants to know why truckers can't band together behind a common cause, I give you this thread.

SMH.

Carry on people. If you spent as much time moving freight as you do making senseless accusations and claims, you guys would be on the verge of very comfortable retirement.

 

Maybe Babblin could make elogs more flexible by letting all drivers edit their drive time.