New Hours Of Service

I don't think anyone claims the sky is falling. I simply want more control over what I do. I don't have a problem with limits on max hours worked. But I would like to take breaks when I need them and drive when I feel it is the best time to do so.

Are those days over? Yes.

I spent the last several years logging legal (there was a qcomm watching me). And I was a less safe driver. And I spent more time in traffic. More stress . More fatigue.

The last full year I drove, I earned $65k. So, my issue is not about money.

 

Folks who think they will not be affected by the changes... it's easy for them to be conformists... These new rules are a restriction on the driver to best utilize his/her hrs, they will reduce the amount of hrs one can work and it will create other problems such as more early morning highway and parking congestion This is a "War on truck drivers" We all know these rules will do nothing to improve safety. I do not agree with them... and it upsets me a lot that rules like these are made by folks that have no understanding of what this job involves.

 

A lot of drivers don't need to be micromanaged but too many CDL mill graduates need more than micromanaging . Starter companies put too many misfits behind the wheel . They fall asleep or run over people or damage property when they are inattentive and the DOT has one size fits all rules .

 

I think the rigid 14 hour rule makes the fatigued driving issue worse. The driver knows if he stops for a short break, he will lose work time.

 

I wonder about that. I run Canadian rules when I can. The CDN HOS give you a 16 hour window to do your 14 work hours. That means up to 2 of your 10 off duty hours can be taken during the 16 hour window in periods of 30 minutes or greater. We can also drive for 13 of the 14 hours in the work shift. I have tried to find statistics that compare US vs. Canadian fatigue issues but there's not much out there. This site shows similar stats for both Countries but is pretty vague.

None of that really matters though. We have to deal with the rules in place and like has been said it's ultimately up to the driver whether the truck moves or not.

 

It will take even more planning... as if we didn't have already enough to deal with...

 

If he logs off duty or sleeper he will only lose it on his 14 for the day , not for the 70 in 8 days . If you're scheduled too tight to take breaks you're driving for the wrong carrier . What if you had a flat tire or an inspection that took an hour . Could you manage to work around those ? So why is a half hour break unthinkable ?

 

[HR][/HR]

I agree but I think LR13's point was that alot of those drivers that DO drive with those wrong carriers will be now driving 6 to 8 hours straight without stopping even if they have to go number 1 cause they will be worried about losing time or gaining ground ...

What bothers me about it, now that I have more of an understanding to this rule is that now instead of stopping to eat my breakfast or lunch wherever I feel like that day I will probably have to wait till my 6 hour depending on what I got going on that day in order to maximize my earning potential...

The problem I see drivers facing is now AGAIN this will involve more planning for the driver ... You think dispatch is gonna run you any different? Not in my opinion ... Half of them dont even know when ure 70 is up!

 

I think some people make the job harder then it is
I plan and adjust my day every day all day
it really is no big deal
I get hung up at shippers and receivers just like everyone else
I drove before there was even logbooks running my own product in the seventies
I am far less tired then when I slept over the wheel because I would sleep too long in the bunk
I like the part of proving I am smarter then dispatch and the trip planners
the idea
that hiring another bozo in the office will fix stupid drivers irks me
but I cant lose sleep over that

and all the new rules come because of stupid drivers
common sense just isn't common