FACT::: ELD's will make you a safer driver.

Was running down 81 when i came upon a hazmat spill. 2 left lanes blocked both directions. Middle of the night, and trucks were scattered on the shoulders for 30 miles. Sitting on the shoulders for 10 hours.

We know what happened. Hours ran out and they were in compliance. But, were they safe? Traffic is moving 70 mph, but you're napping 3 feet away from the road.

 

You were there huh? Last week Thursday I Believe.....I got up from the TA in Wytheville at 5am CST- headed North on I-81-77...Dozens and Dozens of Trucks on the Shoulders before 77 split going south- Very Unsafe

 

30 miles. At least a hundred trucks.

 

And this is my issue with all this. Something like this happens, people run out of time sitting along the highway, and most don't have the brains to get off the road when it clears up. No, they would rather sit on the shoulder causing yet another unsafe situation, all because their lame brain safety department might whine a bit if they move the truck after their hours have run out.

 

This is the exact situation caused by bureaucrats who make "feel good" regulations without taking into consideration the fact that things happen. They won't care about the unintended consequences until they are FORCED to deal with them. If every time traffic came to a stand still, you had 50-100 trucks shut down for 10 hours on the side of the highway, it would create pressure. People would start asking "WHY is this suddenly starting to happen? WHAT has changed?" There is only one answer. Strict enforcement of a bad regulation through electronic means of tracking HOS compliance has removed drivers' ability make the SAFE decision. Risk a parking ticket (non-moving violation) tonight or a citation for violating the HOS if you're pulled in for an inspection in the next week. Move that truck, and the company will give you a stern talking to about the importance of running legal, whether you get a ticket or not, so the risk of staying parked where you ran out of hours isn't nearly as bad as the risk of moving that truck illegally. Park it and go to bed. The ATA begged the government to create this problem, so let them figure it out. They obviously think they know what's best for everybody.

 

You're absolutely right about all that. But I'm still not going to park on the shoulder with traffic whizzing by at 70 mph. They can write tickets for moving until their hands fall off, the company can scream all they want. I'll be dammed if some nitwit behind a desk is going to demand I put my life on the line against my will. The cops can write tickets all day. And I'll have my day in court.

 

That doesn't make sense IMHO. Even with e-logs you can drive past your hours to the nearest safe place to park, noting it was "adverse conditions" IIRC.

What might make sense is by the time traffic cleared a lot of drivers realized if they move NOW they will be hours behind schedule. Instead they chose a very hazardous and illegal option to complete a 10 earlier.

 

Saving 26 lives per year with those ELD? Its complete opposite when they are parked in the shoulder of 65+ mph freeway.

 

The solution will be the standard rule landstar uses , sitting duck , if your parked on the side of the road , on ramp , or anywhere that's not a legal parking spot that's grounds for immediate termination .
And your fellow fleet member will drop a dime on you quick
Makes it fun to find a parking spot after dark .
I guess we'll have to be the early bird , maybe 4am to find a parking spot at the end of the day .
Or cut your day short at x hours used on your 14 hour clock .
Well they wanted to cut us down to 8 hours driving a day at one time , this may accomplish that , at least on some days