CVSA 2010, why im not (as) worried.

Another excellent post, DocHoliday!

I would only add 1 thing. Perhaps if drivers were paid a professional wage,or they were paid by the hour for every hour on duty, then maybe there would be no need 4 us to be outlaws!

I know that I can only speak for myself and my experience! If I were paid even $15/hour for a maximum of 70 hours a week, I would have made plenty enough money to support my family and would have no need to work past my 70.!

IIRC, The main reason Truck drivers are exempt from the Fair Labor Standards Act and ineligible for overtime pay is because this WAS an unsupervised job. With today's technology, does anyone feel UNSUPERVISED in their truck???
The company knows the minute you are in violation of HOS! If they didn't pay you for ANY MILES TURNED ILLEGALLY, YOU WOULDN'T DO IT!!!

 

My take on it...

CSA 2010, could have serious economic repercussions that lawmakers have little clue or understanding.

Example:
For every 3 trucks running 'hard' on dedicated regional runs there will now be a need for a 4th truck and driver to cover these loads. This will drive up the cost of the load, thus increasing the cost of product... which will ultimately be passed on to the consumer in an already struggling economic situation.

Overtly, driver wages will also decrease as drivers will be given less work.

 

This makes WAY to much sense and would actually solve the HOS problems in trucking.

 

Your entire post is spot on.

I push my 70 every week, driving encompasses about half of that.

If they paid me by the hour. It would be fat city. But I'd want $18 minimum an hour to go OTR.

I'd take $15 as a regional driver Monday thru Friday, and be happy.

 

18 is about right.
In NY on unemployment they will not make you apply for any job as a driver for less than 16 an hour. I believe 16 would be fine for a starting driver out of school. But more should be paid for experience.
18 is fair though. And I would want OT for hours over 70. This would lead to even more regional work and a work week closer to 55-60 hours.

 

So let me ask ya this? If 18 is right for otr then what's right for a straight truck or a tri or quad axle dump truck? I'm making 15 an hour now driving a tri axle dump.Would I like more? Of course! I think the goverment needs to stay out of it and if somebody wants to run outlaw fine. BUT you cause a wreck or Kill someone then they should have the book thrown at them. It's all about PERSONAL responsibility. I no when I'm to tired to drive, when I need to fix something etc.

 

You are kind of right, the only thing the CDL regulation standardized is the way you are test on your CDL. As far as weight and size, the CDL had nothing to do with that. If you have been driving for 22 years like your profile says then the weight has been 80'000 lbs the whole time you have been driving. As a matter of fact the national weight limit was 73,280 before that. Lenght limits where increased in the early 90's to what they are now.

The CDL had nothing to do with standardized weight and length limits though. The CDL came about souly to bring all of the states in line with a standard testing system and a national data base to track commerical driving records. (CDLIS) In the past, like in my home state all you had to do is go to the DMV and turn in your Operator licence for a Chauffer licence with no testing and go out and drive a truck. Many states didn't recognise other states licensing and it was easy to have more then one licence at the same time. I had 2 licences for a number of years.

Also befor the CDL you could get traffic tickets in a state other then your own and it would not go against your licence if your home state didn't have an agreement with the ticket issueing state. When I got my origanal Chauffer's licence my home state only had agreements with a handful of other states. In 1986 I got 20 to 25 tickets and only 2 showed up on my licence. After they showed up I started using my other licence untill my home state licence cooled off. Then in 1991 with the CDL that all came to an end.

 

I think you may have misunderstood me.

I do not think the goobermint should regulate or legislate any specific RATE OF PAY for a given job. I think the goobermint should make companies/brokers/shippers change the METHOD OF PAY!

All drivers should be paid by the hour, FOR EVERY HOUR, that they are on duty to a maximum of 70 hours a week with overtime after 40 hours.

Take away the incentives for running "outlaw" , IMHO, will be far more effective and more cost efficient than increasing the enforcement/penalties.

With the anticipated push for mandatory EOBRs in every truck, companies will be able to know AND PAY for all LEGAL TIME spent on duty and driving. So there will be no excuse.

But what do I know? I'm just a stupid steering wheel holder!

 

UNTIL the drivers are paid a fair wage outlaw trucking will not go away ...And with CSA 2010 it will drive the bad companies and drivers out then the next bunch and so on .And when that happens look out at the grocery store walmart or where ever you shop prices will go through the roof ...CSA isnt about saftey its about MONEY MORE AND MORE just look at what has happened in the last 20 years had to get CDL cost $75 hazmat fees $120 TWIC card $135 for finger print and background and also lets not forget the seacard $25 or passport dont know the cost dont have one