Why CSA 2010 and E-Logs are a good thing.

We can cuss and discuss this, until the cows come home. The fact is, we know the rules. We may not like them, but they are the rules. People keep breaking the rules, just brings on more rules and tighter crackdowns on those that break them. Mandatory EOBRs are coming, either by FMCSA or Congress. We will see that before much longer. I figure within the next three years. You can either figure out how to work within the framework of those rules, or you can look at leaving this industry, either voluntarily or otherwise. I plan on using the rules to keep making money and keeping that money in my pocket, not giving it to some local court.

 

So, I guess that I've never loaded or unloaded coils, in the middle of the night? Or met a crane appointment at oh dark thirty, in downtown D.C?

 

I think he was talking 'in general' dry freight loads are nearly always factory hours except for a few exceptions, every man and his dog knows this, it's the same all over the world, reefers are 24 hrs everywhere because of the time sensitive nature of the loads etc,

 

i did say, and i quote, not MANY flat or tank loads.

and i beleive that congress already shot down fmcsa request as they can't gaurantee the box does anything for safety OR driver harrassment.

BUT, on the other hand. they want the box as a provision for highway funding.

what in the heck does that box have ANYTHING to do with highway funding????? putting us truckers on a leash makes the deciding factor in wether highway funding gets passed or not. WTF.

 

Congress had nothing to do with it. The courts are the reason it was taken out for now. But as soon as they redo the regs to keep them from waking us during a break they will be right back in.

 

Could be interesting.

Used to get a bunch of beeps from the Qualcomm with no volume control. Then my phone would start ringing.

 

The court shot down FMCSA for the time being. But, they are working hard to come up with a rule that will pass a court challenge. On the other hand, Congress is looking at requiring EOBRs with an admendment to the Highway Funding Bill, being hammered out. That would bypass the FMCSA and the courts.

 

So. The point being made was how some think the elog is going to hamstring someone an hour or two from the house. I was just elaborating that it is a false idea.

Regarding fuel. So what. My wife would have had to drive the Jeep round trip two times to pick me up, take me home, and then take me back to the truck, and go back home herself. That costs money in fuel and vehicle wear also! For a short hop, that is reasonable and we have done that several times. But it is far easier to just run on home sometimes at 0300 in the morning than to wake her up, have her come and pick me up, etc. It is all about choices and the situation. Both methods are deductible and neither are free.

 

I will admit it can fall into a "gray" area, but all you are required to do is to document the reason for exceeding the allotted driving time such as for parking purposes. The key is to not exceed the 14 in doing so. And, of course, we are talking about only a few minutes here. I have gone over my 11 a few times for 5 to 10 minutes to get to a parking area. Have never been questioned on it, even when DOT did inspection of last 7 days logs and saw it. I suppose that if one gets the "Barney Fife" DOT cop, it could be a hassle. But I have not had one person in safety dept or DOT question when I have had this happen. I think they look at something like this, especially if it falls in 7 min or less, as the same as a flag on a paper log. Matter of fact, went over by 4 min last night in getting to parking area. No comment from carrier, as usual. One has to use a little common sense here and not use it as an excuse to go over by a large amount of time. That just isn't going to fly. And even for me, it is something that happens maybe once every couple of months. There is no habitual pattern here. Maybe using the term "safe haven" provision was not quite right, but that is the term a DOT cop explained it, and the head of the carrier's safety dept used that term also. They both put emphasis that going over the 14 will warrant a violation no matter what.

http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/rules-regu...fmcsr/fmcsrruletext.aspx?reg=395.1&guidence=Y

 

I have run e log sence 07. I am by far not a suPer trucker or an old hand. But I make decent money work hard and have a family. Wich is what we all want. I have been asked to run out of bounds and it's real easy NO. And I still make out. My mentor is an old hand and I was tryin to explain the e logs. And I don't think it's that he doesn't like the idea, it's that he doesn't think it nessisary. And for local operations it may not be. But for those of us who run nation wide it is all designed to keep our families safe. Like I said I run how and when i chose. Even on e log. LIFE IS WHAT YOU MAKE IT. Good luck