EOBR a bad thing? See this..

ever since i started driving years ago i have been told, this new reg will make for better pay, conditions.all that i see happening is these super companys getting more controll over freight and the drivers conditions going down,i have never worked for big box co,nor will i ever,look at how these guys and gals say they are treated buy most companys,and this is with more rules.we have a saying at my house, be careful what you wish for you might get it and not like it

 

Well, I started at this game in 1982. Conditions and pay are far and away better than in years gone by. Maybe the "super companies" are getting more control of freight, but it is a bit of a stretch to say that driver's conditions are going down. Most all of those "big box" carriers have equipment that is less than 4 years old and spec'd somewhat decently, most are having APU's installed on them for driver comfort and fuel savings, drivers don't have to wait in line at the truck stop nowadays to get on the pay phone to call dispatch like we did for years and years, most carriers provide somewhat decent directions to a shipper/receiver and in some cases actually provide GPS routing. No more having to constantly ask for directions on the CB, or again, having to get on the darn pay phone and call the customer. Doesn't sound like conditions are going down to me. Heck, we used to have to duck and crawl into sleeper compartments. There is hardly a carrier now that doesn't spec either a tall mid roof or condo sleeper so you can get up and walk straight in. Pay could use some improving, but if there was not so much driver turnover and drivers did not abuse equipment and burn up fuel like there is no tomorrow, then maybe they would get a better pay rate.

If a driver is getting treated poorly by a carrier, they can vote with their feet and leave. No one grabbed them by their privates and forced them to work there or stay there. And in many cases, the driver is at fault, only because he didn't do his due diligence and research the carrier, ask the right questions, etc and find out if it was a good match before signing up. If all they ask is what is the pay rate, how many miles will I get, how new is the equipment, and how fast can I run, they will not have a clear picture of whether the carrier is a good match for them. A carrier takes the time to find out who you are, maybe drivers should take the time and find out more about the carrier as well.