Hanging up my Hat to ELD's

I have to agree with tucker, there is a huge amount of fear over them and many are actually acting like toddlers over it, I have heard some of the most childish crap from grown men on thIs issue than anything else - sorry if this offends you guys but I it unbelievable what I have been told.

 

I'm sure that some are freaking out about them but me personally I'm not too worried. I'll just keep doing what I'm doing I'm sure by the time February rolls around we won't be hearing anything about e logs.

 

Another once-viable occupation ruined by meddling bureacracy. Count me out

 

At 63 I had several years left in me, but I was old enough the decision was easy. I just sold out and said no.

 

A lotta times I find myself on a short haul. 20 or 30 miles each way. Takes a half hour to drive it. A half hour to unload. Half hour back to the sand plant. Half hour (at most) to load. So, a 2-hr total turnaround. Problem is, the frac isn't burning thru sand near as fast as we are hauling it. Six hours between stages, then 2 hours to run the stage. So we sit six hours, then work two hours, sit six, work two, etc.

I'm in the sleeper 18 hours out of every 24. But it can't be logged legally because of the timing. I'm better rested than almost any other driver on the road. But big brother says I'm not safe (somehow). On paper, it can be made to work. On elogs, no.

So legally, the only right answer is to bring in even MORE trucks to sit around and clog up the location. Now we all make even LESS money, and sit around even more.

One of you Elog supporters wanna tell me again how this is a good thing? I need someone to show me where the good is in this deal, cuz I just ain't seein' it.

 

Or the place you deliver to could be helpful and allow you to follow the laws by installing a storage area for the frac sand. That way you could do your 3-4 runs every day, log out and go have a nice 18 hour break and all the laws are followed.
While yes, the driver getting screwed is more likely to happen, it's not the only option.
And really if the receiver cannot pay a driver enough to live on, that driver will go elsewhere. So the receiver will have to eventually change their ways, instead of relying on drivers to break the law.

 

The scenario you described happens a lot with the elog... it makes me more stressed (and I bet it does the same to many others) knowing that I can't slow down the clock, I can't make small changes... it's what it is... If there are delays on the road, and many times there are, I will not make to where I would like, where I had planned... I have to plan more than before, park much earlier so I can find parking and will have to drive more on the following day... will have less hrs available then...
Besides, we don't have 14 hrs any more... now it's 13:30 hrs... Sometimes, I leave a place with about 7 hrs available to drive and 8 hrs till the 30 min break.... and if I rush I will be able to get where I need... so I rush... but then, I hit some delay on the road... and considering I have to stop for those stupid useless mandatory 30 mins, there it goes my plan.... I end up parking much earlier so to avoid going over my hrs... and to avoid ending my day later than I wanted...
As if the HOS and the elog weren't enough, I also drive a company governed truck at 65 mph...
I have been trying to find another company that I like with trucks that go at least 70 mph... but I wonder... by the time I find one that I like, the speed limit will be mandatory on all trucks...

 

I respect your opinion, partner, but I can tell you haven't hauled frac sand. See, they can't build anything to store massive amounts of sand for several reasons. The main one being that there already isn't enough room on these locations for the equipment. There's a LOT of equipment crammed into a well pad during a frac. That's why you have to be able to back really well.

Also, everything involved in the frac has to be packed up and moved every few days to a new well pad. So no permanent sand storage. We already unload into sand storage boxes (called movers) and they have to be kept full. As soon as there's room for a load, a load goes in.

If we delivered to a plant or a warehouse, then yes, your idea works. But this whole show is mobile. It only takes a few days to frac a well, and then everything moves to the next well.

The problem is the HOS rules. But the government has proven that they have no interest in fixing that. So we have relied on paper logs to give us a little wiggle room. It's not like we are out here being dangerous running 24/7. We are just tryin' to do our jobs and make a living.

 

yeah and guess what happens: the end user gets charged more for every product hauled by truck. Thanks a pantload big gov (you SOBs)

 

Yep, having run both elogs and paper, this is elogs described perfectly. Always a mad rush to get everywhere and beat the clock.