Electronic Recorders

You can't have 20 different brands of software and hardware in a company. It's a PITA with just one getting drivers to figure it out. If this all eventually gets passed and implemented I wouldn't be surprised to see some sort of standardization and OEM installations but for now it's just not practical to have multiple brands.

 

As far as LS goes, they give you three choices of Qualcomm, and you have to buy the unit, the cheapest being $600, and of course pay for the monthly service plan, just like a cell phone. If you leave LS, you keep the EOBR. There are plenty of companies that require certain things, like non EOBR Qualcomms, so I don't think that argument holds water.

I remember in 2002 when everybody said they were going to park their trucks if fuel hit $2 a gallon. Then it was $3. Then $4, and $5. It didn't happen. We simply adapt, charge more, and go on with business. I have no problem putting one in when everyone else has to, but not before. I personally think it will change company drivers lives in the end. With real time monitoring of the time it takes to do the job, an argument could be made to repeal the act that excludes drivers from normal labor laws. Overtime over 40, getting paid to sit in traffic jams, etc.

 

That gets into the contractual law part of the FMCSA. No carrier can REQUIRE you to purchase ANYTHING from them to operate under their authority. Just how it is.

 

I did actually park and sell my equipment back in 02 before diesel hit $2 a gallon. Then purchased equipment again when the market stablized 7 years later.
But I won't be selling this time as I see it to be good for the industry once, everyone is on the same playing field/ everyone has to have it.

For the line haul guys currently using EOBR's, it will log into off duty statis if your moving less than 10mph for more than 2 min. And they have the option of moving the statis to off duty if using the truck for personel time like going to motel, home or walmart ect. Also it logs everything in 2 min. marks not 15min. marks. So stops at the rest area can gain you time. Those guys have no problems loging 600+ miles every day.
It will be a disadvantage at shippers that hold us up several hours, but most carriers are already keeping track of the shippers that have long wait times so when it comes to those shippers, they will be pressing harder to get more money or pass on those shippers. A lot of shippers already very aware of how things are changing.
The days of running illigal over on logs, is already pretty much gone. So this could be a good thing for the industry in general.
Now O/O like myself will have to pay for it in the beginning and monthly but don't we usually have to pay for things we don't want.

 

They can buy making it a job requirement. Just can't require you to purchase from them. How about chains, straps, headache rack, becon lights, banners. All required. Headache rack isn't even a law requirement but still gotta have one for Mercer or Landstar.

 

Then you are welcome to go shopping for them elsewhere.

But to say, "you MUST buy our system/part/supplies" is against the law. And I can see that being a MAJOR issue because of compatibility issues.

If this does go and I can find a relatively inexpensive system that fills my needs as a 1-truck O/O, what reason should I have to purchase theirs? I am complying with FMCSA regs, so what if it's not compatible with your system.

 

In regards to that, a standardized data transfer for the EOBR manufacturers is all that would required. That won't happen without the Feds though. A requirement of your lease can easily be to have any device capable of interfacing with lessor's system and still be legal.

 

do you know how many times in 34+ years ive heard this will be better and mean more money to drivers.....you just keep believing that

 

A freind of mine just went to EOBR and he is not a big fan. In the last week he has bin late for appointments and has had to stop in not so truck freindly areas to sleep. Delays at shippers and traffic back ups where the main problems. Tonight he is stuck at a shipper in Altoona PA because he was delayed 3 hours getting unloaded and ran out of hours just when he arrived to get loaded. He said they are great for the time management because they record by the minute but when he gets delayed for any amount of time it realy screws him up. He said there are some ways around some things but you can only do so much messing with it. Most shippers still do not give a rats behind about your time and never will.

 

Not gona be better and not gona make us more money. Gona make the government more money. Gona be better for the government.
But the strong will survive and not gona be a major deal. We'll be eazed into it and so we won't notice be shorted.