Electronic Logs are a Joke

If that's the case, and I don't doubt you, then it is a driver issue. The elog doesn't coerce one to drive any more than a fuel guage coerces one to get fuel.

 

I'm afraid of Bears.

 

I thought I would not ike elogs, and spoke against them for several years. I have been using an elog since Feb 1st, and I actually save more time without being questioned, cover more miles constantly. Never have to debate with a dispatcher.

Love them wish I had tried it years earlier..... The nay sayers are letting fear of the unknown speak forthem...IMHO..

 

Well, it may be the case that one will be late for a delivery... In this case, the coercion is the driving trying to make it on time, trying to please the boss, the customer etc etc etc.

 

I agree completely. There is no way E Logs make anyone any safer. IMO, they promote unsafe driver. I have heard so much, when jumping someone's butt about driving like an idiot in truck stops, rest areas etc.. that I'm on E logs, I can't waste time. Baloney.

My brother is on E logs. He says pluses and minuses. He can't do split sleeper on his E Logs. But dispatch/log lady has told him that he has 90 minutes of off duty driving to use every day. They said if you run out of hours and need to find a place to park, shipper makes you leave or any reason you need to move after your hours are up, you get 90 minutes a day. I told him that is BS. DOT doesn't give you 90 minutes past your 11/14 every day to drive. Not long after he told me that, I heard a couple Decker drivers on CB talking about off duty driving. How it's cool they are allowed to drive a certain amount of time each week while logged off duty. I told them that DOT doesn't allow that and they said, oh yeah, the office said it's fine. Well let a LEO pull you over and see how fine he thinks it is. LMAO

My brother said a few times he's been asked at scales to see his log book. He told them he's on E Logs and was told, oh, you're good then. LMAO

Just cracks me up when I hear so many people talking about how great E Logs are, how safer drivers will be etc cause they can't cheat etc....I run paper and there are times I've pushed the pencil to make things come out good. That's just a fact. And I have no issue with people getting around the E Logs but don't say how better the industry is and how much safer it will be because of them.

 

That's my brothers biggest complaint. He said once clock starts with E Logs, there's no going back. I've tried to tell him, it's the same on paper. But his reply is, but if you set some where for 6 hours, you can make it work on paper. Yeah, maybe but if something happens, it'll be my butt in a sling. Once I start my time on paper, it's the same as E logs.....legally there's not going back. If I'm tired, I don't drive. Paper or elogs aren't going to make me drive when I feel I'm not up to paying attention.

If I ever have to go to E Logs, it's not going to affect me that much. It's just the point, to me. Why should I have to have a darn computer/gps in my truck, telling me when I can do my job. I'm not an idiot nor a child.

And I also think the single owner operator running under his own authority is what will prevent this from being mandatory in every truck. What, is the government going to pay for installment in companies under a certain amount of trucks and pay the monthly fee? I just don't see how this will fly. Cause rates sure ain't going to go up and expenses sure aren't going to go down. But the guy out there busting his butt, being safe and courteous, is going to be shafted by this. Maybe the mega carriers and bigger fleets need something to help with compliance. They can't hire drivers that are smart enough to do a paper log. Heck, how many are driving autos, cause it's easier to train? But just because these megas want it doesn't mean a blanket policy is the answer.

 

Many people believe they have figured out clever ways of cheating on elogs...however should they ever get an audit the elog will show their deception.

The reason this industry is so over regulated is due to people who believe the rules dont apply to them.

Before long the only approved elog system will be tamper proof....i am sure some super trucker will think he can find a way around that... and then the cycle continues...

 

What System?
The Qualcomm Units I have used/and am using now does Split (Sleeper) Log just fine.

Prolly shouldn't have that available.
None of the companies I have worked for allowed ANY off duty driving.

My Experience as well.
At some point they are going to start taking a closer look them.
Once the officers, Scalemasters, or whatever understand them a bit better.


Got a Level 2 Roadside once in Colorado.
Got pulled over to be told to go to Next Exit and they were there setup.
...anyway

They asked to see my logs, told him I'm on ELogs
I handed them the Qualcomm, he just kinda looked at it hit a few buttons...and said 'Well can't argue with that'
I said 'Yep, keeps me out of Trouble'.

 

Well keep on laughing without any real basis to do it. If one is unladen or not under a dispatch to go get a load and have to leave customer property or find a place to park, bobtailing to go eat, go home, etc, yes, you can drive while logging off duty, e-log or paper. And there is no time limit except one set by the carrier. I have been pulled over twice, once in KC and another in Iowa. Both times off duty driving. I met the conditions set by FMCSA and the carrier. I did not receive citation and was free to go on down the road... off duty. Yes, DOT does give you any off duty time you need, every day, 365 a year, as long as the conditions they and the carrier set are met. It isn't rocket science. And it is all legal.

Just because you haven't done your research does not make it any less a viable option to use.

 

If your the type to knowingly put yourself at risk by cheating the system, then I guess you always will.

But if elogs are setup correctly, they can accurately keep track of duty cycles and if used correctly save you minutes and even hours of legal time on yore 70 and 11. Counting time by the minute instead of rounding has proven to be more to my advantage, also math mistakes can cost you big money in fines, when your tried you are prone to make mistakes.

Drivers can argue all they want by the mandate is coming. I for one welcome it.