electronic logging...good or bad??

I was an early adopter of e-logs. Just did too much stupid stuff with paper. Over all, I like them. Yes, there are days when I get pissed off, but on the other hand I do like getting a decent amount of sleep and time to take care of other things like laundry and a hot meal.

IN GENERAL, the drivers who complain about them either haven't used them or are new to the system. Drivers who have become accustomed to them are fairly happy. Just gotta really work the trip planning portion of your job, is all.

 

Used them for years as a team - no problem there, somebody always had hours.

Now solo with them . . . I'll be honest - they're restrictive, and some days, they give me 2 options. Waste fuel, or make less revenue.

 

The difference is the electronic logs keeps a copy of every change you make, and will take some computer knowledge to be able to erase the changed records... not like just throwing a piece of paper in the trash...

all elogs to qualify as being acceptable, to the government, must maintain a record of edits and changes.

 

I disagree also. I think it is rediculous to have to shut down for a 10 hour break only 1 hour from home. Or even 5 to 6 hours from home. I run about 1,500 to 2,000 miles in a typical week. That could hardly be considered some heroic super trucker churning out 4,000+ miles solo. When I'm going to the house I'm done and I'm going to the house, no regulation is going to stop me.

 

I took my truck and left the last place I was at after 8+ years because they were implementing an e-log mandate for O/O's. I wasn't alone, either...25% of their O/O's walked away within a week after the company sent out the letter expressing their intent and laying out the time frame for the implementation. There were many more just trying to run out their plates or needed more time to find something else who stayed on...but will leave if/when they get the call to have it installed. If they keep even 1/3 of their O/O fleet intact once implementation is complete, I'd be surprised.

As for you as an O/O leased to a carrier, federal regulations outright prohibit the carrier from making the purchase of ANY product OR SERVICE through the carrier a condition of entering into the lease agreement. In other words, if the carrier wants you to run e-logs, the carrier needs to supply the system AND the subscription AT THE CARRIER'S expense, or give you the option to purchase a device from an outside supplier of your choosing and subscribe to a service on your own. E-log devices and subscriptions are no different than insurance, plates, or any other product/service the company is able to offer to sell you but is prohibited from demanding you purchase through the carrier.

 

My opinion would be not to call an ELD a deal breaker without answering some questions.

• What lanes are being run? Risk of traffic, congestion, construction, accidents, and so on?
• Are they drop/hook or live load?
• Are schedules achievable under HOS? With how much margin for error?
• How much irrational pressure might their schedules put on you? In other words, are you going to be running right on the 11 hour limit day after day? or will you be able to stretch out to 14 when you need it?
• Is the carrier willing to show you proof of these things?

If you're being presented an opportunity that can be done legally with paper logs with minimal stress on you, there's no reason why an ELD requirement should stop you. Just do your due diligence so you can hopefully predict whether the ELD will be a productive tool for you (the automation, one minute increments, etc), or a nanny that will be used to coerce you into risky driving schedules (driving when sleepy, taking breaks when wide awake, etc).

 

Nothing about sans trailer, only that you MUST be unladen.
http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/regulations/title49/section/395.8?guidance
Scroll down to question 26

Scroll back to the top and click "sections" to show the regulations.

TA