I think ELDs are Unconstitutional

Well don't get me wrong, I'm neither for or against the mandate. I don't believe you smaller companies or single truck operations that have a verified safety record for being safe should be required to have them. I think the issue sits in the law itself.

To clarify, I run on them yes, I love them, yes, I have a big enough target on me with hauling oversize loads that I don't need the added scrutiny on my logs.

 

I disagree. Ever had a rough night where you had a difficult time sleeping for whatever reason? Maybe you could have used a nap after driving for a few hours? The 14 won't allow it. As far as 14 hours being manageable; it should be, in a perfect world where there are no delays of any kind, but I truck in the real world with real world scenarios where there are several things that could impact the work day.
If you like them, fine, I'm okay with that. I can police myself, however, and know when to quit when I'm tired and, with the old HOS, I liked being able to have the flexibility to drive as I see fit, not as you or any other person thinks I should. One size does not fit all in this instance.

 

No matter what the HOS are there will be times I would want to break the rules.

Elogs suck but the idea that they violate your constitutional rights is silly.

 

@Joetro
I've had several instances where ive just hit a wall where I got incredibly tired, and I stopped and took an hour long nap. If your operation has you constantly running into your 14hour buffer, then maybe you should look into changing the way you operate. If that isn't going to work because it's the shipper or reciever that's slowing you down, then look onto them about delaying you.

 

Ah, now I see. OD loads. Well, that's a whole different kettle of fish. You are already limited to when you can drive and, especially this time of year, you have shorter days. Most of my career over the last 30 years has been open-deck and my last trailer before I lost my mind and started dragging a reefer was an RGN, so I know. Whenever I was over 10' wide, 11 hours was plenty because it was tiring making sure none of the idiots hit me. The reefer world is different, I've found, and I don't like it, but I'm pretty much dedicated and I don't know that the elog will hit me too awful hard, but the current HOS is a joke for everyone, even you, if you don't plan your run just right, lest you kill your time waiting for curfew to end so you can roll.

I don't really care to haul OD anymore, at least nothing over about 10' wide. However, I am maybe looking at getting another open-deck trailer and getting away from the reefer biz. The clock doesn't hit you as hard when you are at the mercy of a shipper that will leave you locked to the dock for 7 hours and then tell you you have to leave the property, but your clock has run out.

I miss open-deck.

 

Ok, I can see the argument that a driver may not get good sleep once in a while. You can legally pull over and take a nap. It may cost the appt. Time, but it IS legal.

I would be cool with at least SOME flexibility. I respect an argument on desired changes to the HOS rules. Argueing against ELD's is irrational at this point. They are a done deal.

 

Even before I come over to transport I was on elogs, I did a whole lot of 8/2 splits while at p&s. I hated it at times, but I always seen it as an issue with the hos and the shippers/ reciever taking their time.

 

Never said it wasn't legal, but it does cut into my revenue if I have to delay an appointment. I own my truck and I need to keep moving when I need to keep moving. My point is; if the 14 went away, at least to the point of a window, and they went back to the old way, where you could take an hour (or two, or three, whatever) and the clock stops, as long as you aren't on duty more than 14 hours (in the "good old days", as I knew them, it was 15) in a 24 hour period without a 10 hour break (old days was 8), it would work fine and take a lot of pressure off of a lot of drivers. I'm okay with the elogs as long as the HOS regulations fit. Right now they don't.

 

See? That's another thing; that stupid 8/2 split. It's confusing. Even a lot of cops I've talked to get confused by it. I understand it now, mostly, but it took awhile and I try to avoid it at all costs because it jacks up everything else.

 

I hope this mandate forces demands for sensible HOS changes. Chief of which is allowing the 10 hour break to be any combination of Off Duty and/or Sleeper breaks that exceed 2 hours. This would help greatly. Example it would work the same as the 8/2 split except, an 2-4-4 or 2-3-5 or 5-5 split would accomplish the same thing. It adds a lot of "flexibility" that many complain they don't have under the current rules.

Also, doing away with the 70/8 and 60/7 rules or allowing these to be a "carrier enforced option" would be very helpful without causing fatigued driving. This in fact would also show other safety benefits, as well.