Dispatchers ELD rant goes viral after driver sent her a video

Brother, it was sarcasm, humor! We are not installing a second ELD, or have I ever ran two log books. We are running legally, like we have always attempted to do. We have an excellent safety record and plan to keep it that way.

What gets me is that you would actually read that and even think for a moment that my company or myself would do something like that! No wonder it was so easy to get these ELDs and the inflexible HOS into law.

Oh, MERRY CHRISTMAS!

 

That last sentence, so spot on! This is my seventh truck, and it has left me high and dry more times than I can recall. Broke down on the side of the road, on a hook, limping to a shop. My old trucks, a mix of manufacturers and motors, never left me stuck like this. I can only recall two incidents with two different trucks. One was a busted ECM wire in a snow storm, and the other was a shifter issue in one of the trucks I had a driver in. These were trucks built in the 90's, GTO, Gas Tires and Oil. These new trucks, once you hit that 400,000 500,000 mark, open the wallet and hang on.

 

Good for you, you flip out of the unit prior to the fun beginning, which is smart. Myself, the last thing I want is a truck payment, so I rebuild. But, the trucks today are a hot mess, they have been cheapened in so many areas, especially in the electronic side. And that is a real problem, especially when these new trucks are 70% computer and 30% mechanical. I have plenty of diagnostic equipment and tools. That is one thing that I do not want to do, is to rely on a warranty. Been through that, waiting a week or more to get into a shop, and when they hear warranty they kick you to the back of the line. When you finally get in, they may throw a part or two at it, you get the truck back, and still have the same problem. Nine times out of ten it is a simple sensor, or the need to clean the soot out of the EGR system or repair an SCR box. Which is something you need to watch, the SCR box. Good to remove and power wash out every say 18 months. That urea is nasty, and when it gets a chance to crystalize... Not good. I'll stick with my fixed CM-871 for now. If she gives up the ghost for some reason, I'll go hunting for an old truck and go make some money. Good fuel mileage is great, but does little good if one is broke down.

 

Love how the cop had their siren on full blast to prevent drivers from getting their good mandated rest. I'll just blast my siren to encourage them to park elsewhere. Such a safety issue, parking on the curb, I know.

But mark my words, this ELD mandate will affect the U.S. economy. Rates will have to rise. Owner ops are talking about taking up to a $1000 a week hit, they will have to recover that money through rising rates. Who will pay for it? The American consumer will. Ironically, it may be the best way to get rid of ELD is to put it to the American consumer to pay for. They will not stand for it the same way they eliminated Prohibition.

 

I lost two loads this past week that I would have normally taken. And I was late for every morning appointment I had. I figure I lost at least $800+. These were short runs, around 130 miles all in, Dead Head, PU and Delivery.

 

Like I said, you sure are apocalyptic in your presentation.

As far as emission trucks, I have to have one. I work OR/CA. Oh, I suppose I could technically get an old jalopy and shine her up and stay out of CA.

However, I have no interest in doing so. I'm pretty happy with my business model.

 

Had the same thing happen to me. Wet, heavy early spring snow in MT caused the main plug to the trans ECM to come undone. $1200 wrecker bill back to Billings. Once we got there, the snow had melted and fallen off and the wrecker driver said we should see what we could see while we had the truck in the air. Sure enough, we found that when they replaced the wiring harness a year or two earlier, one of the retaining clips had busted and, instead of being good mechanics, they stuck with being idiot parts changers and didn't do anything to secure it. All it took, after the $1200 was a zip tie and I was rolling.
Another time it was a $36 Output Shaft Speed Sensor. That one left me sitting all day 12 miles from home at the base of Fourth of July Pass and cost me over $800. While I was sitting there, waiting for Kenworth to show up, I remembered another breakdown I had on that pass, 24 years earlier. Had an electrical issue in my 86 FLC and lost power everywhere. I just got out, opened the hood, turned a thumbscrew, put it in gear, released the brakes, fired her up and drove home to fix the issue. Guys that bash the old trucks don't have a clue what they're capable of when maintained. That's why you'll see a 40 year old truck still pulling freight and you will never see one of the new ones last that long.
When I had my overhaul done this summer, had I used my head, I would have put an older engine in it. I could have avoided ELD and potential breakdowns.

 

I have a 2008 ProStar, I bought for another job, not what I am currently doing, or know way in hell would I have bought this pos. I have had it for five years, and am just now to the point of actually banking some serious coin. The EPA items on the truck have been taken care of, then the in frame to repair the EPA damage, that was $40,000, and I did more than the in frame. I am now down to just a few items not even worth mentioning. Everything on the truck is now new, from the CAC/Radiator to the tail of the transmission, along with all of the u-joints to the rear axle. And I am sure they will be next... My only saving grace is that the truck is free and clear, no liens on the title, and I have no bills, house is paid for, no credit cards, etc., just the usual stuff, insurance and utilities. We paid cash for the in frame, over $33,000 in new parts. The rest was labor. I will paint her next year and keep my fingers crossed that she goes another ten years. She is running good right now, knock on wood. New Tri-Pac APU going in on the 15th of next month. My old one is getting beyond repair... It is time.

The ELD issue, I really don't care at this point, it is what it is, and the company I work for is not punitive if we do run into problems. They want us safe, and not sitting somewhere we are not supposed to be. Drive the truck they say, they trust us, most of us are old hands and take good care of our equipment. The reason I stay put, they pay way above average, and respect us for what we do. No wet nurses required here.

 

Not apocalyptic, telling the truth. Merry Christmas.

 

I'm thinking "apocalyptic" was on his Word of the Day calendar.