Electronic Logs

You "sign in" on the e-log. For me, I never do simply because it just automatically assumes I am the driver and I operate solo. For teams, it is just a matter of logging driver in and out of the unit. If the company put someone in your truck and used it while you were out of it, then they would log in to the unit and go. When you get back, you log in as the driver. Simple. If you are with a carrier that is notorius for using your truck when you are out of it, just log out of the system when you go home or whatever. You would never log over your 70 for some other rot. It is like having users on your personal computer or laptop. Just a matter of signing in and using the system, signing out when you are not. The e-log will keep track of each user.

 

Makes sense. THANKS!

 

Try this out you'll drive faster to make sure you make it in 11. which will cause more damage a truck at 62 mph or one at 70mph?
Companies will push to drive maximum speed to get there. with paper logs you can move 30 minutes this way or that way.
I see more pollution and more fuel burned and more accidents because of this.
Only ones I see liking them are those who are required to use them.

 

each driver logs into the system. for teams one driver logs out and the other logs in. the system tracks each driver hours

 

if your truck is in the shop you log off 2 in case the shop drives it around so as to not affect your hours

 

most of the big carriers with elogs have goverened trucks @62 mph so i guess that point is mute

i have ran both paper and elog in last year best checks were on elog

 

Bad thing about it is the fact you run harder using E-logs in order to make more than while you ran paper.... My philosophy is work smarter not harder but everyone has their own way of thinking I suppose.

 

That logic sounds nice, but does not hold water. Even though I use e-logs, and my truck will run triple digits, I normally operate between 62 and 65 mph. Never a problem making where I need to be, and hasn't hurt my revenue. This argument is used by those that have no experience with it. What about those guys that run for Prime? They are on e-logs also and yet they are running around at speeds below 60 mph. And that is carrier encouraged!

I am not "required" to use an e-log. I could easily pull my truck and go elsewhere. I told the carrier to put it in even before they wanted to put it in. Reason? I knew this kind of thing was coming, so I wanted to get past all the truck stop junk about e-logs and find out for myself. If I didn't like it, I would take the truck somewhere else. Well, 2 years later and I have no problem with e-logs. I just spent the day running to a couple of towns and taking care of some personal business (wife had the jeep, so I used the truck) all on OFF DUTY DRIVING under personal conveyance guidelines put out by the FMCSA. Not one hour logged as driving or on duty. Racked up roughly 90 miles total. And all legal. How is that different than doing things on paper?

And no carrier or customer "pushes" me. I decide if the load is one I will do, and I determine when the load can be safely delivered. Period. I have a clear understanding with the carrier I am with. I will do everything possible to give the customer timely service. I will work with dispatch and the customer to determine a reasonable delivery. If we can't come to terms, then get another truck. I pay the bills to run this one. I have been with these guys for 5 years, and we have never had a conflict. With the recent snowstorm that barreled thru the Midwest, I knew it was coming, I had a very light load on (less than 8000 lb), and there would be very high winds. I knew approximately how far I could get and then would most likely have to shut it down for a few hours. I communicated that to everyone involved and we rescheduled the delivery before I had moved one mile. Customer had no complaints. Carrier had no complaints. Act like a responsible adult, and it is amazing how much things go much more smoothly.

And, with the so-called driver shortage, CSA scores, and other rot, why is anyone taking any kind of bull from a carrier and being "pushed"? That is nonsense. Sure, one must do their best, and customers want things yesterday, but this whole idea about being "pushed" shows a lack of intestinal fortitude. If someone can't face their carrier and work things out like adults, then move on somewhere else or find another career. No one is forced to work for anyone.

 

Then if your philosophy is "work smarter, not harder" then why would the e-log even be an issue? If you are getting a decent revenue on loads (part of working smarter), then why would anyone need to run harder to make what they did on paper? I haven't had to work "harder" on paper or e-log. My philosophy is the same as what you stated. I operate the truck the exact same way I did on paper. Not one thing changed except how the logging was done. And my revenue has not taken any kind of a hit because of it. But then, I had learned how to manage my loads and my time years before e-logs were ever considered. I spent two years prior to getting the e-log, logging things on paper the way it was happening. The transition from paper to e-logs was a joke. Only those that have not figured out how to manage their time well (the working harder part) will have a problem. So, I guess they can wait to get things together when the e-log thing becomes a mandate, or they can get their act together now and make is a smooth transition. Hope it works well for them.

 

I got a brand new perfectly executed argument boys! I was running 2 logs. I woke up when I wsn't tired and I drove until I stated getting tired. I was very productive and felt great and well rested. I got into big poop from "Safety" because when I was in Montreal, Qc getting fuel, I logged that I was resetting in Winnipeg, Mb. After the "Verbal Warning", I promised to be a good boy. I make so much less money now and I am forced to drive when I should be sleeping if I want to make money but since I refuse to go "the extra mile" when I'm tired because $0.40 - $0.44 isn't worth risking my life over.

When I was recieing my bull poop from "Safety", she explained that all the trucks will be going E-Logs because I could be charged with Motor man slaughter had a drunk rear-ended me and killed himself while I was stopped at a red. The cops have can and will plug into the computer to see everything I did from the amount of throttle I gave, braking power, any little thing I do is date stamped and available to anyone. It only makes sense that they go E-log but I rather them make the HOS more lenient. I can't make money safely like this. The day they go E-Log is the day I quit. I'm already am going to work local this winter sometime because Long haul is becoming one big waste of time for me. I made more running $15/ hr local- For my American friends: I can get a job making just under $20 doing local. (wages are higher in Canada which also drives up prices for goods- which is why I do all my shopping in the U.S. since the Dollars are at par now.