the whole trucking a mess

Well here is the thing there are some of us who will do it like we need it. If we need sleep we sleep if we need to go we go but don't push it. Then there are others who don't need to be behind the wheel because they do the exact opposite. So the logbook and coming to a truck near you black box are going to be there forever whether we like it or not. The book is what you should root for no matter how much you don't like it because when the box comes it is going to be able to report you to the scale just like a prepass and they will pull you in cite you and shut you down. So 10 hours is fine with me all day long. I can make the book say whatever I want it to say, the box on the other hand, no so much. You can look it up thats why all the major groups for trucking aren't fighting the book that hard because they know the box gets installed and transportation changes forever, and the economy will as well. If your a one truck operation you'll have to buy three just to get the job done... I'm not saying to just lay back and do nothing, but there is only so much we can do.

 

And with the little black box, they can see how fast Your truck is going. I see many problems for anyone that has to drive a big truck for the next 30 years. Your solution. UNIONS. Myself, I`ll be standing at the door at Walmart, greeting you. RETIREMENT. Wonder if they`ll give me one of those little blue vest, with all the pins on them. LOL Good luck newbies, wannabies, Your going to need it.

 

In a couple years everyone will have EOBR's, trucks will be cut back to 68 mph including O/O's and timestamps will be everywhere. There will be no more flying under the radar and looseleaf tricks.

 

And until then...

 

Wow, it's all in this thread.

So 14 hours is too much? No, it's not enough.
We need to go on strike? Erm, but we can't 'cos not everyone agrees.
We need to run bent, but there shouldn't be any need.

And we wonder why we need the government to regulate our industry for us. I dread to think what HOS laws would look like if a gang of truckers wrote them, particularly after a gang of lawyers had picked over them. It would certainly alleviate the "need" for a strike, because nobody would be going anywhere.

 

And there you have it boys the truth as it is!!!!

 

Illegal to strike? Not a chance... UPS has had several strikes in the last 20 years... I don't see many guys in prison wearing brown uniforms and shiny shoes!

We can't have guns? Huh?

A trade organization can't call for a strike ie: OOIDA.... but you can withhold your services anytime for any reason...

 

Well said Krooser ! Done deal! All you have to do is not take the load ! .09 left over and he needs 10 tires? Stop pulling cheap by knowing your costs and don't pull it !

Simple math 101.

 

And there you go! Make the big companies do the same and the difference will be made!
otherwise steal all the high payn freight out from under then, oh wait, youcan't because it costs you more to operate than it does them... that's right I forgot lol

 

I consider myself a newbie... so don't have much experience and knowledge but will vent my opinion here.... I agree that this industry is a zoo... so many people from so many walks of life, and so many variations, local drivers, union drivers, owner operators, company drivers, newbies without any clue... immigrants from third world country who can't even understand English well, and others who are so grateful for making any money and having a roof over their head... People who enter this industry for all kinds of reasons... and it seems nobody agrees on anything.
In the mentime, government and big companies will do whatever they want to benefit themselves and collect more money of course. In this electronic era, our powerful government will mandate e-logs for everybody very soon. What are we going to do???? We will comply because there's too much talk but nothing else. Every man/ woman for him/herself.... that's how I see it...
When I started trucking I was very excited :smt026and very happy cause after 30 years looking for some satisfying way to live and make money, I finally found it!! I am a nomad and LOVE the road. :smt055 That's is my passion!! I like freedom, like to be "marginal", non-conventional, be left alone and constantly on the move...
Thought about buying my own truck after a few years and be self-employed again.
But little bit by little bit I am becoming disapointed and sad because of all these changes, CSA, HOS, e-logs, black boxes... that's too much control over my life. I'll not be a slave, a prisoner in a truck... This will become just a job with no freedom, no joy, and perhaps less money... IMHO trucking is saturated with drivers and I wonder if with all these changes there will be less drivers... maybe more, after government gives amnesty to illegals...
I will have to go back to my "eternal" search for happiness... Cause I'm not looking for any job just to make money... Heck, I had my own cleaning business and was making the same or even more money than trucking but HATED that... I want fulfillment, purpose, happiness... and trucking seemed to be "perfect" for me... maybe 15 years ago.... but the future.... We all shall see....