The Post Kevin Knight Doesn't want you to read.

exactly the same thing now happening at Marten Transport, Thank to Knight's former President, Tim Kohl, who is now Presiedent at Marten

 

Knight is also one of the carriers, including J.B. Hunt, Schneider, USA Carriers, and Maverick, that has joined together to persuade congress to pass legislation that will force EOBR's down everyone's throat..... not just carriers that have compliance problems, but every commercial truck operating in America. Northland Insurance is the one who let us all in on this little tidbit of info.

 

So, its an electronic 'black box' just like on commercial aircraft. Why not? Feds regulate that industry, why not big trucks?? How many drivers who have been in wrecks, who got the ticket, fired from their job (probably) when the whole time they're screaming it wasnt their fault, and there wasnt anything they could do...it was some freak accident.

EOBRs will give an ACCURATE readout of how the truck was being driven during a critical event, clearing the driver, or placing the blame squarely on their shoulders. NO GREY AREAS !!!

but as far as using them as the driver's logbook, why would they? It will end up costing the states and government money. Let the driver use a paper logbook. Then when they DO get involved in a wreck, they pull out the data on the EOBR, compare it to the logbook...down to the minute...and you can nail the driver for a $1,000 ticket (or whatever) for driving when they were out of hours.

granted they do that now, but how often do big companies willingly give out incriminating data to the lawyers and excape million dollar fines? They'll normally settle out of court, so they can keep the data off the record.

 

My contention was, I have no problem if a carrier or individual is showing a trend of non compliance that they be mandated to have EOBR. But that is not the reason these carriers are pushing it. They are trying to "level" the playing field for their own advantage. It is the cost involved to smaller carriers that will be mandated to have EOBR's that is the issue. Large mega carriers can absorb the costs. Smaller carriers are on tight budgets in this economy and adding a major mandate is downright silly. There is not only the cost of the unit in the truck itself, but also that data has to be downloaded and stored on a secure server. That can be a pretty sizable expense for the small fleets or independents. If a trucking operation wants to go EOBR, cool. But mandates... never.

And then, where does it stop? First they will want 100% EOBR use by all trucks, then they will want all the trucks governed down to 62-63 mph like they are, etc. And yes, that has been promoted by the ATA as well as the same carriers playing this EOBR mandate game.

I could really care less if I have an EOBR (which I will within a month or two because of the carrier I am with) since my loads are planned well, and I regularly drive around 60-62 because I like getting high 7's mpg (even though I can bury the speedometer if I chose to). An EOBR will have little if any effect on my revenue. But should it be mandated that everyone be in lock step with what I am doing, you're doing, or the driver going the other way is doing, or what JB or Schneider is doing? That isn't in keeping with our American heritage. We all complain about the government and then go running to it for more regulation. No wonder we are in the mess we are in.

 

I agree with you cowpie1. Its gonna happen regardless with the eobr's. I have an e-logs since july and I'm still averaging right At 2800mi wk. I can do as much as 3600 on e-logs and I can prove it. As far as these compasnies making more $$ well welcome to America where corporate greed is a bad as ever. It doesn't matter whether its trucking or other industries the wages have gone down substantially for everyone in the middle class in this country. Last but not least for all u crybabys out there,BE THANKFUL YOU HAVE A JOB UNLIKE MILLIONS OF PEOPLE RIGHT NOW!!!

 

They NEVER willingly give out incriminating data. Lawyers subpoena it and force the carrier to produce it. Then the carrier, once their bacon is on the line, will try to settle. They may or may not escape the fines. That is criminal action. Lawsuits are civil actions and fines are not part of that process. Depends on who is doing the legal action... a government entity or a trial lawyer. Either way, all carriers are left kicking and screaming before they will produce any incriminating evidence.

Same thing for you and me. I am not going to produce anything to anyone unless I am forced to legally. You want to know what my logbook was for last week? Then you had better be a law enforcement person or you are going to have to get an attorney to subpoena my log book. The law enforcement individual has a legal right to inspect my records of duty status. And individual is going to have to pony up several hundred dollars to a private attorney just to start a legal proceeding to find out the same information the law enforcement individual gets to look at for free. And it may run into the several thousands of dollars before they actually do get to see my logbook to find out there was nothing they could hang me on.

 

The part of this that really chaps my hide is that a select group of carriers are using the government to force other carriers/individuals to play the same game they do. And all in the name of Safety. Just like similar things we have heard before like.. "its for the children". We all know that is just not right. It violates everything that America has stood for. This isn't the only time it has happened, for sure. But when oppression is unopposed, it expands. The line has to be drawn somewhere.

 

What about the major player in the e-log market? Can you say Qualcomm? Bet they have crazy good lobbyists! Follow the $.

 

There a rip off company in the first place . Any company that uses your perdeam as pay is a rip off that your money all ready. Don't get me started on these cheesy companys that pull the wool over your eyes .

 

EBOR's are a logging device.
The ECM on the engine is what they pull from or the information that the truck was doing before an accident. The ECM also is what the EBOR is hooked to for it's information.
it needs such information as:
Engine in idle brake set.
engine in idle brake released
engine off
engine running at x rpms
truck moving
The driver has to push a stupid button on the EBOR to verify that he's line 1 line 2 line 3 line 4.
Information from an accident:
brake useage and pressure applied at (hard braking)
clutch useage
transmission gear selection
engine rpm
truck speed
lights on
blinker use
it might even tell if you had the AM/FM on!
EBOR's are just redundant crap needed as all the information the DOT needs can be taken off the ECM but these morons from the megas and lobbiestsfrom groups like CRASH and MADD,TADD and so on think it's needed so that ther drivers log can be checked at any given time and can't be falsified!
Yeah right! But forget to push a freaking button from off duty to sleeper and your arse is grass! EBOR's are not needed! As another stated above it's another way for these BFI's to run the smaller companies out of business!
My feelings is if the gooberment wants this crapola then the gooberment pays for it!

The DOT and the cops have had the means to check a drivers log just by hooking to the trucks ECM! They have been doing it for many years when investigating any DOT reportable accident the same that a company does.

Whats so stupid is airline pilots have rules to follow BUT they are not as closely monitored or controlled as a trucker! They hold up to 300+ lives in their hands and hav nowhere the limits put on them as to HOS! Go Figure! leave it to dumb broads that worked for Peanut Head Carter like Joan Claybrook who pushed ABS on to trucking before it was a tried and tested device but now this old and useless broad is pushing this crapola on truckers again!