Do you feel elogs should be mandatory or optional?

They do matter, but it's not the point. You're using what others may or may not be doing to justify not following the regulations of your industry. Worry about your own actions, that's what you can control, you cannot control the actions of others in a different industry. You can speculate all you want about what they can or cannot do, but it doesn't change the regulations that your are supposed to follow.

 

Thanks for participating. I'll step back now.

 

Do I get a participation ribbon?

 

if that's what floats your boat and makes you feel better.


Try speaking out against that which chokes us instead of simply rolling over and accepting it.

 

Regulations, or lack or regulations, in other industries are not what choking you. Elogs will not choke you, they just record things differently. If you want the regulations changed then support an organization that is fighting for what you believe in, or start writing your representatives and the FMCSA.

The action of not following the current regulations are more likely to lead to more regulations and stricter enforcement. The system isn't perfect but it's what we've got. I'm all for you trying to make a change for what you see as better, just use the right channels.

 

had a discussion with DOT one day, he says to me "you guys dont make the most accidents, but you make the most headlines"

and thats the issue here

even amongst us, there is nothing more disturbing than seeing a big truck upside down, or even a small car pinned underneath the wheels of a big truck, its human nature to "point fingers" at the larger vehicle

when you see two 4 wheelers crushed, you feel there was an even chance, but when you see a large car ontop of a small one, you cant help to feel some pity for the smaller vehicle

headlines are designed to do just that, to pull at our emotions, which is why they will put the picture of some pretty girl who got kidnapped, and rarely put the picture of "not so pretty" girls who get kidnapped

the other day, North Carolina had 4 truck accidents, and we all say "whoa", we dont even care they may have been 50 4wheeler accidents, and this is how we wind up getting all of the regulations, BECAUSE WE ARE BIGGER

 

so cars and other OUTSIDE influences cause 80% of the accidents around heavy trucks.
http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/facts-research/research-technology/analysis/ltccs.htm
View attachment 38133

And the answer is to put MORE regulations and HOS requirements on trucks?

 

you can have a political ribbon. cuz didn't this thread turn political for awhile. LOL

 

Ok, here we go.

 

Melton, MN has a point

it would be nice to see some of these mega-carriers standing up against these government regulations, like ATA is presently doing against the CSA2010 now, but someone standing up for DRIVERS

at present, we have OOIDA, but i guess we are getting the leadership we deserve

its sad that something as infringing as elogs is even debatable amongst drivers, so how can we expect the govt to see the opposing side?