According to new data from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, the roads are becoming a more dangerous place for truck drivers. In 2017, the number of truck drivers who died in a fatal crash was up 26% from just two years prior.
Jack Van Steenburg, the chief safety officer for the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), was one of the speakers at the 2019 Transportation Research Board annual meeting on January 15th. Steenburg said that 841 large truck occupants died in crashes in 2017. That number was 725 in 2016 and 665 in 2015. It’s the most truckers who have died in crashes since records started being kept on that statistic in 2003.
But that isn’t the only new data point that’s concerning. The percentage of fatal crashes that involved at least one large truck jumped to 12.4% in 2017, up from 11.1% in 2015. Also up were number of total crashes involving a truck or bus and the total number of fatalities from crashes involving a truck or bus.
The most common driver-related factors in fatal truck or bus crashes were speeding, distracted driving, failure to yield, impairment (fatigue), and careless driving.
Speaking on the same panel, FMCSA Administrator Ray Martinez said the agency would be working to lower those fatality numbers. He pointed to “streamlined data collection” allowing for safety improvements and placed at least partial blame on drivers.
“We all know about the human factor in crashes,” said Martinez according to Transport Topics. “You hear drivers say that they know when they’re tired. That’s not necessarily true.”
Chris Mathis says
Truckers warned that this new ELD mandate would cause more highway deaths. But no matter what we say they refuse to listen. Next well be wearing ankle monitoring bracelets like criminals. All in the name of safety.
Ted Chaney says
There seems to be a lot of drivers racing against the clock with the ELD devices now mandated. Left lane violations, aggressive driving/reckless driving, tailgating, and weaving in and out of traffic seem to be getting more frequent daily.
Greg says
Unsafe Drivers are going to be unsafe whether we have ELD or not.
Peter K Bennett says
But why make it worse with ELD.
Buck Ballard says
Close. Australia is in the process of testing fatigue monitoring hats on truck drivers.
John says
Why should we be doing what everyone else in the world is doing, monitoring your every move so they can throw the book at you when you sneeze incorrectly? I thought we were the land of the free. Or is it “the land of the free as long as we can monitor and report your every move”?
Rob Dobalina says
USA is a police state.
USA is considered the 18th most free country on earth. “Land of the free “ is brainwashing slogan. If you’re told something over and over you start to believe it.
Bob G says
Hey, if you read closely, it’s showing the statistics from 2015 through 2017. The ELD didn’t fully start up until 2018. Check on these numbers next time
Trucker Mike says
Most mega fleets started to implement ELD’s long before the mandate happened, starting in 2015. By 2016-17, most had them in place and functioning. Yes, the mandate took place and didn’t take effect until 2018 HOWEVER, why else would these numbers, especially speeding, left-lane violation and reckless driving be going up?
It doesn’t take a rocket scientist, a trucking expert or even some social media troll to realize, you put an egg timer on someone doing their job, they are going to scramble the closer it gets down to zero and they haven’t finished yet.
Duh. Next topic, we will explain why water is wet.
john says
duh,, there has always been an egg timer 10 hr, rule 11 hr, rule,, speed was only one issue, when you put people in trucks or cars that can,t count to (two) problems increase,, same as when you go into a warehouse or factory and watch supposed workers walking around with one finger in butt and other in ass and playing switch it once in awhile only diff, is they don,t kill people, so put blame where it belongs drivers have the right to so no,, so same sad story drivers talk a great game on a CB radio but when in front of someone in their company they get lock jaw,, so DUH
Trouble says
Well said!! 👍🕙✔💯
Sean Shaw says
It’s funny, most drivers don’t want to admit the ELD are an issue, especially when sitting at a shipper or receiver for hours. The government has even realized that the regulations don’t work, why do you think they are still adjusting them, the recent safe haven rules are proof. Then take in consideration that certain type of drivers are still exempt from ELD all together. If the regulations were truly thought out and safe, why all the changes and exemptions?
Phil says
No it started in 2017 as to be complaint most stated putting them in ahead of time Especially after the SCOTUS refused to hear OOIDA case a lot also knew they could use AOBRD then switch to ELDs later but the closer to the deadline more started using them
Bill says
It’s even worse now…
K. Tee says
Exactly my thoughts. This increase is prior to the ELD enforcement and actually could be used to show reason for ELD.
Martin Neltner says
What a copout to think that ELD are responsible for stupid drivers. I am insulted as a driver that you would play the “Blame Game” on the reasons for so many truck driver deaths. Reasons are poor training, poor screening of qualifying drivers and owner operators who think they own the road,
Bob camden says
Your a joke Martin. You crow about the “blame game” and then turn around and blame, of all people, owner operators.
Get your muddled mud slinging mind together before you post, then, maybe then you can run with the big dogs.
Good day.
john says
and when you get to the point of all ya got left is name calling,, you have nothing left,, sad
Dan says
It’s all about the 14 hour rule. We all have to start emphasizing how it’s the problem. Not ELDs in general. It prevents you from sleeping when you most need it. We must be able to sleep when we need to sleep. This is the crux of the biscuit! If I need a 2 hour nap, I need a 2 hour nap right now.
Babs says
Why blame ELD why blame drivers… anyone think it is the customers…
I think someone needs to learn how to spell YOU’RE right. If we want to place blame there is no blame. Our machinery is expensive to up keep, expensive to buy, expensive to operate, it is also expensive for us to live life on the road and to take care of a family back home. The industry is short many drivers so in all technicality companies cannot afford to pay us enough. That’s why some of us have to push as we do.It’s the name of the game and there is no blame. So stop with the nonsense.
Trish says
Like schools that push people through a 3 week course and turn them loose. One use to have to go with a trainer for at least a month but now they’re allowing people to rent a semi and trailer for their test, they pass the test and in the blink of an eye they’re hired with no experience whatsoever.
Dixie says
I agree!
Roy Slee says
ELD are not all to blame but they can also effect how some drivers drive.
K. Tee says
Else’s don’t change the rules. It only shows who is not or has not been following the rules. If you we’re already driving legally it will not effect how you drive at all. But actually makes it easier to keep up your log records. When you cheat eventually you lose.
Greg says
I agree 100%.
It’s simple Math.
The Mega Carriers are putting more new drivers on the road.
Has nothing to do with ELD.
Samantha Eddy says
so true,,, they can not even lay down when they are tired!!!
MARKROBERT MURPHY SR says
XSACTLY- FORGET NYC- OR NJ- CONN TROOPERS CHASE
TRUCKERS OUTA REST AREAS[ FOOD CORTES [ WHN THER BAKKED UP ONTO RAMPS,,,,,,,,,,,,,,U CANT JUST PULL OVER ENNYMORE
Frank Sampson says
AMEN
francis ngo says
Doesn’t make sense. Life and death and they choose death.
francis ngo says
Truck drivers are allowed to rest but why dont they do so instead of choosing death.
Chris Mathis says
ELD’S took away the right to rest. Now you’re tied to a clock and the boss man is looking over your shoulder. Every time you stop you better be ready to explain it to the boss.
Andy Parrett says
Sorry but if a driver don’t feel like driving eleven hours he has to any way because if he doesn’t he’ll run out of hours.
Dale says
Yep we are allowed to rest just like a damn machine. The electric nanny tells you when you can take that nap. Back in the day if you were tired or needed to stop you could you was not racing that piece of crap. If you needed to work around the traffic you could now the second you log in your screwed
Jeremy says
Because they have deadlines and families to feed puts them against the clock worried about keeping their job so they push harder instead of being patient, a lot of them being their habits driving cars into the trucks speeding aggressive driving distracted with phones etc not to mention the volume of traffic has increased greatly add in their way of driving and no one respecting each other you get today’s society on the road
Trouble says
That’s a whole different topic Samantha!!! But, unfortunately, a very true statement. They scream for us to get rest, yet more times than not we can’t find a place to park to get our rest!
Robert says
The problem is the ELB not the driver after new regulations the company’s increasing the speed hired driver not have experience the driver now have more estrés I have 40 years drive experience and 3.9 millions miles on the road after 1 weeks ago have a accident which 2 months driver don’t stop in red light hi is in the hospital and I loose my truck
Billy Basenberg says
GET RID Of 14 HOUR CLOCK! Drivers are rushing like hell to get all the miles they can in before the freakin clock runs out. I have seen more accidents ( mostly young drivers) in the truckstops by drivers driving like hell to get parked before they are in violation. STOP THE INSANITY!
Greg says
Has nothing to do with ELD. There’s simply more new drivers .
Scott says
At what point does responsibility shift to the drivers? At the end of the day the driver made a decision that lead to the crash. The politicians didn’t fall asleep behind the wheel, the eld didn’t drive the truck off the road. At the end of the day it’s the driver’s fault.
Malcolm Newcomb says
How many of these crashes also involve a 4-wheeler(s). Over 70% of crashes involving a big truck and a 4- wheeler are the 4-wheeler’s fault.
Kathy Brown says
I get sick of hearing the term “truck involved “ which is insinuating that it’s the truckers fault. How about stats on how many were other vehicles fault and the trucker could not make his truck go against the law of physics to avoid it.
mousekiller says
When the driver gets in the truck and starts it the drivers responsibility begins . It has always been that way. A lot of crashes are the road rage type and the less experienced drivers just will not slow down to avoid it.They tend to encourage it. Like has been said many times before The lack of maturity has hand in it too.
K. Tee says
And if you have 14 hours to drive 11 hrs. Why can’t you take a nap? My math says 30 min break+ 15-30min pretrip is 12 hrs. If you are delayed at a customer….they have provided personal conveyance to get you to a safe haven. This is where pretrip planning leaves the responsibility back on the shoulders of the driver. You decide safety or speed and you decide when to stop. If you don’t give yourself leaway in your planning that is your fault. We can’t make decisions for the other drivers whether 18 wheels or two but we can decide how we respond and what safety precautions we will take.
mousekiller says
It is an ankle bracelet. Just not attached to the ankle.
HAROLD T HART says
That is ridiculous. I guess violating laws is the way to go? Makes perfect sense to me.
glen says
Yes we do no when we are tired the reason this is happening is you do nothing but make rules for us that make us ouch harder and the law does nothing with the card on the road that cut us off are coming aroundcuscand hit brakes like it’s a game till you do something with the card that cause a lot of this problem then it will only get worse.
Royce says
OMG! Crash statistics have been around since at least 1987 but the federal government changed the reports to “perfect” the numbers back in 2003 . Uncle B.S. started adding “All” transportation related fatalities to it to hide that stricter enforcement and The CDL program were not working and was just a federal money grab that put the states in the financial hole concerning enforcement money. We are still dealing with Bill Clinton’s signature on that legislation to this day. The hours of service as they are written are less effective than the old laws of drive 10 sleep 8. Training of new drivers relies more and more on machinery and less and less on aptitude. I hesitate to call them a “new breed ” because they are not new, many times ,they are incompetent. Truckers that can’t tell where the center line is when they pass are common , sometimes these geniuses can’t find the back of their truck either and will run you right off the road when they come back over. Always they have bad attitudes and drive with Mr.Ego on their sleeve. The industry has not turned out a new breed, they have instead turned out a malfunctioning product that needs to be recalled and retrained.
Jim says
Right on brother..a lot of new guys seem to lack the maturity to be “drivers”..a combination of new steering wheel holders and 4 wheelers that wanna play games on the highway are making it a lot more dangerous..I’ve never been a 8hr sleeper but now am federally mandated to take 10hr breaks after getting the most I can out of 14hr work days..i know when I need a nap but now days I can’t rest when I need it but when the feds say I have to..we are being regulated to death !
Trish says
The inexperienced drivers put on their starched denim, buy a hat and think after getting their license, many aren’t even going to schools anymore., think they’re in Smokey and the Bandit. That’s why they’re called Crash Dummies
Mya Vulva says
You are all right. It is a combo. The PUSH to make miles is still way the top candidate tho. Notice, not one word on pay for all miles AND for all work.
1. Pay for all work, with loading etc billed to customer, would give them all a wake up call. Not doing this is wage theft.
2. Carriers cheating on miles paid per trip must stop, and hub miles or Google miles MUST be used. That’s wage theft.
3. Reasonable delivery schedules must be used, ie averaging 50 mph for all ACTUAL miles is how to schedule.
4. And pay is simple to calculate for non-driving. Calculate mileage pay in an hour. (.50 / mile @ 50 mph would be $25 per hour. So driving and other work all pay same.
Then demand the cops get back out there and DO THEIR JOBS. If they stopped this dangerous driving, coupled with FAIR pay, most of these tragedies would not be happening. Shame on you FMCSA!
John B says
👍🏽
David Ciancaglione says
My point exactly Chris, I’m certain that the new hos regs played a part in the increases as well.
Alex says
90% turn over rate=new inexperienced drivers every year who don’t know they physics of their rig yet (inertia and stopping distances). Also our roads have more cars on them every year and more freight volume but the roads don’t change to absorb it. We’ve all seen and have probably tail gated each other for miles on end with only one hiccup in the chain causing a massive pileup. We are impatient sometimes but our jobs can be boring and tedious and we just want the day over with so we tail gate and speed but it just takes a second and we’re dead. RIP drivers.
Joe says
THANKS ELD!!!! Because of that, truckers are driver faster than ever!!
Calvin says
Only so fast they can drive. Most trucks aren’t governed above 65-69…,
Jay Johnson says
A lot of drivers put them in neutral on downslopes, some have governors turned off. Others just drive by the clock. A clock doesn’t mean you’re not tired!
Kathy Brown says
I honestly don’t know of any trucker who puts his truck in neutral going downhill. So to say lots do I’m saying professionals don’t. Been out here 45 yrs
Peter K Bennett says
Automatic trucks go into neutral on downhills to save fuel. I think its dangerous as the truck picks up speed quickly. But the freightliner automatics do have good engine brakes.
James Thompson says
REALLY?!?! ELD makes truckers drive faster. When I was less than a year in the industry I was at an LTL in Arkansas. They had a sign saying they would fire any driver caught messing with the speed limiter which was 85 mph. This was in 2001.
Jacek says
This doesn’t save from doing said 65-69 in 55 or lower speed zones. Because the truck stop is 7 miles away, and there’s only 6 minutes on the clock. Or doing full speed in bad weather, not taking safety breaks, becuse otherwise tomorrow’s appointment would not be made otherwise…
Ralph says
Only if you knew enough to use the bad weather exemption. Thing is everyone blames eld and its not the cause , its human condition .whether paper or eld the speed limit is speee limit. Know the equipment and laws. Thing is as much as everyone claims they are safe drivers and experienced they still cheat
Ricky Ferguson says
No its not its PEOPLE SETTING STANDERS ON A OCCUPATION THEY HAVE NEVER DONE …….
duh says
But why learn about the details of your profession when you can get online and complain? Complaining is so much easier!
Trucking: Fueled by Spite
Jay Stensrud says
A lot of carriers don’t recognize the 16 hr rule either. Ralph & Duh. ELD’s are part of our world now. If your tired. Pull over and take a nap. You know when you need it. Not anyone else. You make it fine. If not the world keeps spinning. Your company can look at where you where and when you were there. If you’re not fooling around and actually resting. I’d imagine that your outfit would be ok with that ?
Chris Mathis says
Ralph. I was out here before ELD’s. We used to park in the fuel island and shoot the breeze in the truckstops. Drink coffee and carry on. But around 2010 these Electronic Logs started getting popular and everyone became chained to the clock. Racing time and treating fellow driver’s like highway obstructions instead of neighbors. We used to help one another through hard times. Now everyone is harsh and reluctant to even speak to you at a truck stop.
ELD IS THE CAUSE OF IT ALL! !!!!
Albert Ferguson says
Duh, so they don’t get fired!
Trucker no more! says
Yup, appointments for a stressed out tired driver are like weights hanging around his neck! Before I retired, I was doing flatbed and I would tell them that I’ll get there when I get there!
John B says
👍🏽
mousekiller says
All driver decisions. NOT the ELD. Piss poor drivers ( sorry steering wheel holders ) push like that and should not even be driving their wife mad.
Joe says
Funny fact. Most of you that blame the driver, instead of your babysitting ELD, can’t post a 2 sentence comment that makes any damn sense.
Being a driver doesn’t mean uneducated. Those of you that are happy with a $500/week paycheck should be elsewhere. Back in the 70s drivers were paid double that amount. A company driver yearly income from the 70s would make, just under$100,000 a year (in today’s dollars, ie inflation)
The government, (Jimmy Carter 1980,) and the actual “new breed” which was from the 1980s in what screwed everyone today.
Robert Allard says
In Canada our truck are govern at 63 mph on the pedal and 60 on the cruise even going mostly to the USA delivery yes eld is a rush to get to do more miles during this 14 hours clock time.
Not only 14 hours but have to find parking before that driving time expire not so good.
mousekiller says
I doubt they are driving any faster. They are just ignoring too many things around them including weather in favor of hitting that 11th hour. Too afraid to shut down 2 hours earlier. There several more factors but I will let that go for now.
Josh Faircloth says
When an accident occurs involving a Semi-truck or Bus most of the time they blame the truck or bus if anything l mean anything is out on the truck or bus driver! It does not matter if the car or non-commercial vehicle broke the law in any way! The reasoning behind this is they say “we”(the truck/bus druver) are the professionals! Well, just a news flash! We are people with jobs and our office or work place is classified as a “commercial vehicle”! The fault most of the time starts as problems with the commercial vehicle and their drivers! We are guilty until proven innocent which is very rare these days! One of the biggest and probably the only factor is “we have large insurance policies” which had become big business! Never mind about who was right or wrong when the accident occurred! I could go on and on, but there again I have to he proven right all because “I” am a “Truck Driver”!
Bender says
I would like to see stats of where these fatalities got their training
mousekiller says
A good many of these accidents are caused by road rage. Car cutting them off and hitting the brakes.The frequently seen truck driver cutting in too close while passing and hits the passed truck and continues on. Dash cams are catching more and more of this kind of driving.I have front and rear cameras in my personal vehicles also. They have caught some really stupid stuff drivers have done. near Christmas a year ago it caught a package stealing couple in Topeka stealing packages off of a front porch of a home. Cops got called. Ruined their Christmas.
Calvin says
Many factor I suspect. After over 30+ years in the industry, it’s become a assembly line of just, throwing supposed driver’s out here. So-called trainers have as little as 3-6 months experience themselves. Walking around truck stops, venders w/their chests poked out w/a trainer cap-jacket on.., ELD: drivers being forced to “try” to sleep wen, they aren’t.., Trucks barely able to get around one another, due to most being neutered (governed) at, wat is becoming a national standard of 60-65 mph. FRUSTRATION!! Etc. Cell phones etc. So many factors. I for one, try to “RUN W/THE BIG DOGS” (through the night). While the PUPS r all on the porch, sleeping or watever!!! There r still those out there who, remember wat it was like to “BEAT THE TREES & RAKE THE LEAVES”!!! And, they like me, try to only come out at night!!!
Jeff says
I don’t need someone to tell me when I have to drive, when I have to sleep when I have to go to bathroom. If the government was so concerned about safety why don’t they Crackdown on these big carriers the train drivers for a few weeks and put them on the road. That’s stupid no common sense.
Brian says
ELD forces drivers to work a full shift without having an emergency nap power hour option. Timers don’t allow that. Drop the green flag at the last minute and let the race begin
Scott says
That’s just completely false.
Albert Ferguson says
Troll.
mousekiller says
The ELD does nothing but record your activities. No different than paper logs did. It is the drivers that make all the decisions to drive tired, sick, in spite of weather conditions. The driver makes all the decisions. Not some electronic device.Drivers push them selves due to that constantly ticking clock in their face. Trucks runs just a fast with or without the ELD.
mousekiller says
Once again. The ELD does NOT make any decisions.NONE. It is the driver that does and some are not good decisions . the ELD is to record your activities of the day with a clock telling them loud and clear you have X number hours DOT to shut down or one minute late and your in violation of federal law. The perceived pressure is the key factor that many new drivers can not handle as they can’t make any decisions for themselves in the first place..how hard is it to shut down with 3 hours left on the clock? You start 3 hours earlier next day and golly gee at the end of their day , there is a parking spot available. for some the pen and paper is too hard and time consuming .
dkbean says
you are willing to give up three hours per day?
Randy says
They already admit 90 plus percent of all truck involved accident were caused by a four wheeler doing something stupid. Plus they don’t specify what they are considering trucks. They don’t class 18 wheelers or 6 wheelers. That makes slot of difference.
I see a lot of box trucks in accidents.
All their studying is a waste of money and time.
Ray Martinez say drivers don’t know when they are tired. What planet dies he live on?
Does he really think a computer knows when I’m tired or have to eat or pee ?
Sick of all this. Let me do my job!!
Government has no business in tell us how to do our business!!
🇱🇷🤬
Marcel Dunant says
Their is no doubt that current ELD rules are driving these numbers. Since implementation the figures have skyrocket.
ETHANOL IS THE CULPRIT FOR FIRES!
BASICALLY THEIR KILLING PEOPLE WITH REGULATIONS!!!!!!!
John says
Why ethanol? It is mixed in gasoline only. Trucks don’t run on gas. Where does ethanol fit in? Sure, I haul it, but it is just as flammable as gasoline.
duh says
Because they probably saw some BS story on Facebook and now its a huge problem!
Clyde says
The trucking industry also has a lot more inexperienced drivers who are ran through a trucker driving training course like a butch of cattle to the feed locker. I see drivers every day doing stupid stuff in some of the basic driving fundamentals. I am not surprised by those numbers.
Jack says
Nice to see a well thought out and rational reply! Our industry is plagued with low quality drivers and managers! You cannot place all the blame on that big bad ELD! Admit it folks, we have idiots in trucks way more than a couple of decades ago! This will just bring more Government intervention! Hide and watch!
Turtle says
This is true too. I’ve seen way too many foreigners with CDLs that can’t PULL IN to a pull through at a rest area. I video them ALL TRYING to back in (idk) taking more than 20 mins and 30 pull ups and back ups. Welcome to America. What we gonna do? Nothing. I’ve also been around under/uneducated getting CDLs and have absolutely no common sense whatsoever. Again, what we gonna do? Nothing. I’m almost at retirement so I really don’t care anymore.
Sher says
What we are going to do is a nation wide shutdown on April 12..go to Facebook Black Smoke Matters.
Shelly Winterberg says
Not a US citizen ?? No CDL.
Peter K Bennett says
What does being a citizen have to with anything??.As long as you can read and write english and speak it. Theh it should not be a problem what country you are from as long as your here legally.
D says
U exactly right. More laws more laws more laws. So more revenues for states.
John Lackland says
But the inexperienced driver problem has been around for years. The ELD mandate is new, so it is more likely the cause of the increase in accidents.
Dpollock says
Except the economy has been on steroids, which creates more commerce, which creates more freight, which creates more trucks on the road, which in turn puts more inexperienced or poorly trained drivers on the road. Companies need to fill the seats to move the freight. I’m tired of the ELD whining! It has nothing to do with it. If anything it makes the roads safer.
Trucker no more! says
Jack, you are right on the money! Today drivers, having been pushed thru a driving school, wearing flip flops, foot on the dash, don’t know how to pass so they sit in the center lane holding up everyone, can’t back up, don’t speak English for half of them if not more…it’s a cluster you-know-what on today’s freeways and truck stops!
Jerry says
Old time trucker here and your spot on. There is no driver shortage, just a shortage of guys who want to work 70 hours a week away from home for peanuts. So they replace us with immigrants and new inexperienced drivers and tell them the more miles they put in the more money they make and let the carnage begin. Proper training is only a part of the journey as there is no substitute for experience. Problem is is shippers and fleet owners do not wish to pay for experience which is why we have a problem in the first place.
mousekiller says
The mega carriers are getting paid by the govt to school and train new CDL drivers. Call it any kind of program you want to. It is still subsidizing. A few mega carriers own and operate many of the truck driving schools today. Carriers are being reimbursed for the wages paid to the new trainee driver for a given time period .When they have the govt paying most of the 2nd largest expense in trucking ,drivers wages.They are not going to willingly give up this gravy train.
B says
Statistics show most crashes involve drivers with 3 to 5 years experience. The new inexperienced drivers are still being overly cautious while the veterans have been around and seen enough that they know better. It’s the 3 to 5 year drivers that are over confident and think they have it all figured out causing most of the accidents.
Gregory Baker says
Eld’s and shippers who keep you bumped at the dock all day w/o pay and expect it next morning @ 6 am…
Jigga says
Keep in mind too, all this is more incentive to push the autonomous truck movement right on along. Its coming yall mark my words.
Jay Johnson says
I agree. I pray they reconsider! More jobs lost to technology! I anticipate it will make the roads worse! Why doesn’t anyone see that it takes more jobs away?!?!
TruckerBob says
Autonomous trucks can’t read instantly changed weather conditions…They can’t know to move over because a cop is giving someone a ticket…They can’t back up…
jay says
Just what they asked for. More drivers with low skills to haul their cheap freight. How do they find these people and let them drive; I am seeing more and more drivers that can’t even speak English. I wonder if they can even read road signs.
Jay Johnson says
No doubt! We are the only country that allows this unsafe behavior! How can you be a driver and not be able to communicate?
Richard Steiner says
I would bet many can’t read fast enough at highway speeds and miss many signs that if understood might save lives.
Wayne Stout says
The need for more truckers is rising,the quality of driver goes down, its all in the training or lack of.
Sher says
No, its not lack of training, it’s the lack of a generation that has no brain. They all get training, they are just too stupid to do things right. If their cell phones don’t tell them what to do they can’t figure it out..brainless morons on the highways.
mousekiller says
Thinking for themselves is an alien experience for many of them and it scares the hell out of them. Along other factors that have popped up over the last 15 or so years.
Jay Johnson says
We tried to tell you! This is what happens when the government and big business get together. My prediction is that it will get worse with autonomous vehicles! The log book needs to go back to the way it was. ELD’s need to die! Who cares about the profit loss of the ELD manufactures when lives are being lost! Truck driving schools need to teach the basics and be less profit driven. Underlying theme: profits. People are trying to capitalize off of every aspect of trucking by making changes in the name of safety with the motive of money. Please leave our industry alone! There is no need to try and reinvent the wheel!
mousekiller says
The ELD is not making the decisions in the truck. It is the driver( steering wheel holder) ELD is a record keeping device that has a clock telling you how much time you have until you violate the law.Drivers are either unwilling to think for themselves or make the decision to push on in spite of the weather or traffic or how they feel. It is either stupidity or greed or a combination of both that has a strong bearing on having the accident or not.
Turtle says
It’s the ELECTRONIC LOGS! I have NEVER been more exhausted than I am now using this thing. This is the first time I’m using it in 19 years OTR and being FORCED to be on a clock that doesn’t stop is dangerous. The speeding, reckless driving is coming from trying to get as many miles as possible before the clock runs out. I run less miles and am more fatigue than when I used paper logs. The government wants to always blame the driver because they can NEVER admit they messed up just to CONTROL us like they do with EVERYTHING else. They don’t care who gets hurt so long as it’s paper in their pockets. I’m bringing LESS money home and sitting more because of all the drivers that are being hired for “relaying” loads that we can no longer take all the way. Smdh
Sher says
You’re right Turtle, by relaying the loads these companies are skimming miles off every driver. Need to file suit to get rid of practical mileage pay, the companies are stealing from the drivers plain and simple. We need to be paid for all the miles we drive and all the work we do!
Chris says
How is ELD responsible? It’s the same as logbook regulations just electronic. Your point is moot. Are you saying because you can’t cheat the law as easily as you can with a paper log that is why the increase in deaths?
John Lackland says
Yes. That is what we are saying.
Max says
With paper logs, if I saw I could run another 90 miles, but come in to the truck stop 3 minutes late, no one cared. With ELDs, you’re worse than a serial killer, tax cheat and dog napper!
So many drivers don’t do that last 90 miles and that’s why the average cross country load takes one more day now than when we had paper logs. ELDs give no wiggle room. You are a criminal if you go one minute over your time.
The spirit of the law doesn’t count anymore.
I’m retired now, but in all the years I drove (I started in 1971) I never found anything I hated more than ELDs. Not because I couldn’t cheat…because there is no consideration for common sense. I had them for three months, then pulled the plug. Good luck everyone.
Tim Ryan says
Actually an exemption that allows you to use personal conveyance if you’ve exceeded the 14hr rule to find a place to park up to 30 min but you must notate in remarks section
Rasmus says
Good point about common sense in the law. Desk-drivers and computers don’t have common sense. Safe driving to safe heavens must be legal.
Trucker no more! says
Max, I too started in the late 70’s and am retired. I miss it a bit, but then I see where the industry has gone in just the 3 years that I’ve been out, and then I thank GOD that I’m out of it! It’s an absolute mess out there!!!
Thomas says
I know what you mean on the common sense ELD is making us robots.geti ready to retire my self.Let the new generation be robots.
Scott says
So you’re saying you would rather blatantly break the law instead of adjusting your habits around it. Cool.
B says
blatantly Breaking the law was safer
william slater says
Eld’s make the road more dangerous for everyone, this is what happens when no nothing politicians get involved and try to reinvent the wheel,paper logs worked just fine for decades , they should try to make a living,with all of these stupid rules
Jason L Turner says
The old rules worked a heck of lot better. 10 hrs of driving and 8 hrs off. I never drove tired. I was always able to take a nap and legally move down the road. The change in hours and ELD makes me drive tired or not make money. It’s that simple.
Michael says
There are ways to cheat the ELD, so that’s not the issue. The unrelenting, unstoppable 14 hour clock is the issue IN ADDITION TO all the hastily trained drivers (not all are rookies, either).
And, there is NO driver shortage. If there were, pay would be far better. Economics, man. Learn some.
Gabe says
It was so much easier, drive 7 hours, stop sleep 3, drive 4, stop push your logs back sleep the remaining 7 hours the start your day again. Starting your day feeling energized and yith out the stress of losing time. Unfortunately company’s don’t load you within a hour you could have a 9am appt sit up waiting and not get loaded till 5pm but just like that your schuedual flips from day shift to night shift. The ELD is the newest problem to the mix. Since they love forcing pointless regulations down our throats they might as well make a curfew and only allow drivers to drive only between 6am-7pm
mousekiller says
I don’t know why the newbies think the old timers cheated to get the job done because we were on paper. infantile thinking.We, back in the good ol days we could take a 2 or 3 hour lunch with out penalty. Take a safety nap for as long as needed without penalty. Wait out rush hour traffic without penalty. No real reason to cheat. In case some of the newbies have problem figuring it out. “With out penalty” means we stopped the clock. We made all the decisions. We did not have this BS childish 4th grade regulations in logging back then.We worked as our bodies say we could. We stopped when tired, hungry, bad weather. We were captains of our ship ( truck). by the way , We had the 1/4 hour on the logs we could go back or forward depending on the circumstance. Check it out. Truck for truck we had fewer accidents back then too. Less technology . and the one major factor was We had a strong work ethic. So much missing today.
Sher says
Yep, and you can thank the newbies for the increase in accidents. These companies hire idiots because they can control them, they don’t want someone who has a brain and can think because then they will stand against the companies cheating them and forcing them to drive dangerous or illegal.
dkbean says
AMEN
Rick Blatter says
FANTASTIC!
You are a True Professional!
Well said⚘
Trucker mike says
I have been driving since 2006, I personally like ELD,s. Drivers should have the attitude I have, “it will get there when it gets there”. Stop being stupid there is a driver shortage, if a carrier wants to push you, leave! Most big carriers dont push anymore.
Tammy says
Yeah and that load you are hauling gets pushed on someone else because you can’t get it there in time.
Richard Steiner says
And if you can’t get it there on time they won’t consider using you and will find someone who can!
Kelly says
BS on that. I’ve been at 3 different carriers as an O/O in 12 years. The majority of the time at all of them. When I get a load and do the math and the delivery appt isn’t feasible, I tell them when. It’s not an issue, especially when theres been plenty of time, then a shipper takes 4, 5 or 6 hours and screws the receiver. You just tell them straight up as it’s going. I do a lot of broker freight now and ltl, it happens and it gets adjusted with minimal hassle. You speak up, you be polite, and you do what you say, they work with you. That’s been my experience ovet 90% of the time. Last week I even got my two Tuesday stops off on Monday. I called and asked if they wanted it early as I had my others off. They checked took me, that allowed me to get empty a day early and get a nice haul back near home. It can be done.
Jon says
No they can’t read road signs & couldn’t care less the path of destruction they leave…….just like the federal government & elds. So glad big government can watch over us so well with all that truck driving experience they have. Don’t worry, crashes are higher than ever, drivers are stressed out more than ever, no reason for alarm…….big brother government got our backs! No worries! 1 million thumbs downs👎👎👎
Andrew H says
We all seem to be in unity in what’s really causing the problems. Everyone makes these studies, based on observations, but do they ever ask those of us who are in the field?
I think the increase is mainly the following 3 issues, in this order.
1. Distracted Driving. Both by truckers and especially by passenger cars. The advancements in technology has made people behind the wheel less atentative, plus new trucks and cars are coming equipped with adaptive cruise control, which just incentivizes more people to drive less.
2. Lack of Experience. With common carriers getting bigger and bigger, they’re making more desperate moves to fill trucks. Instead of looking for quality drivers, they’re going by quantity. I worked for a carrier that drives blue trucks, and I was just a number to them. Everything is just a number game to these big carriers. Which leads me to number 3…
3. Electronic Log Mandate. I often found myself running close to the end of my shift. Maybe an hour and a half left, and I’m all settled into a nice safe Haven, and all the company cared about, is trying to make me go do a live load pickup with that extra time. Well knowing that I’m tired, and once I leave my spot, odds are I’m not getting back. And if you tell these big carriers no enough times, they’ll just start giving you crap freight until you eventually give up and quit. This is what happened to me over the span of 7 years. When you drive based on a clock, that records in hours, and you get paid by the mile, the only way to get better pay is to get more miles in that hour. That leads to extra stress, more accidents, and more driver turnover.
I work for a smaller company, doing dedicated line haul, and I love every minute and mile of it. I get paid by the hour on a set route and they know me by name, not number. This is the way it should be.
James Jonas says
It will always come back on the driver. But the large companies with schools need to be held accountable. C.R. England for one that puts two students in the same truck with less then a month driving between them.
D says
Well duh eld makes u race the clock and makes ur more reckless but the fools at fmsca will never admit that. Plus the trucks are made with alot cheaper parts now than they used to be.
Scott says
What the hell does a trucks composition have to do with anything?
mousekiller says
Why does the ELD make some one reckless.? The ELD does not make any decisions. It is a recording device of your work activities no different than paper. The ELD is for the non critical thinking drivers that have issues with pen and paper. If it is not using the thumb or one finger it is too difficult for far too many.
Fred Bacon says
I quit driving after 45 yrs acc free for the reasons mentioned. I have taken 3drug tests and received 2yr physical but have not went to wrk for any of them as yet because after chatting with them i lose interest in the industry.
Jim Getten says
You and many more of us. My 38 OTR years are but a sweet memory.
mousekiller says
I made the decision to give it up after more than 50 yrs behind the wheel. I don’t miss trucking as much as I miss seeing the friends I have made on the road. The truck stops are less than the ideal place to stop today. No home made pies. The bottomless cup of coffee and the trucking knowledgeable waitress that knew as much about logging as the drivers did.. To boil it down to simplicity. .Trucking is not fun any more.
Buck says
Not to mention all the idiots running around with the fog lamps on in perfectly clear night that could be causing more drivers to go blind and crash
TruckYouToo says
Now fog light driving on a clear night should be a topic.
***Pet Peeves***
Fozzy says
So here come the victims.. because they have to plan their trips instead of being able to goof off all day at some truck stop.. its the electronic logs driving this… Has anyone been out there lately? Its STILL not the ELD’s fault.. its unprofessional asshole drivers who tailgate in packs, drive aggressively and force other drivers to avoid them. I would also say that the fact that cars cause most crashes with big rigs is coming to an end rather rapidly. I have way more near misses with idiot truck drivers these days than cars.
Kirk D says
Can’t blame it on ELD only. We had the same rules on paper log only thing we can switch around times to catch a nap. It’s the 14 hour Rule that is the main issues along with big fleets throwing anyone with just 6 weeks exp on the road.
When the FMCSA asked drivers to voice their opinion on splitting their time only 5000 response were made out of 3.5 million drivers so go figure Majority Rules
Theodore Doucet says
Eld, aobrd, is great, it’s the 14hr clock, the main problem. Need to be able to drive and take necessary breaks as a person’s biological clock changes daily, depending on the day before etc
Mark Rosser says
Why not post the statistics of how many were inexperienced. Or who was racing there clocks.
mousekiller says
If the govt kept records like that they would be embarrassed due to the facts they ignored. And we know the govt cannot say they screwed up and made a mistake.
That could bring on more stupid regs. Such as No new drivers with less than 5 years experience can have a Class A CDL and operate on Fed funded highways.. That sounds like the quality thinking we get from the FMCSA
Anthony Calderon says
Dang right Mr Martinez we driver’s sure don’t know when we’re tired thank God for these eld s to tell me when to go beddy bye ………why can’t you people ever admit your wrong and chalk up the loss instead of risking our lives to do so trying to brainwash anyone who will listen the great pointless data your collecting as a result of these devices.honestly other than proven accidents and death increases .it hasn’t helped the industry much just exposed how more messed up we are than most thought but nothing changed or will change I believe any time soon that will benefit our industry .
Robert S. says
speed No Doubt is number 1…..many truck drivers go way to fast, im a truck driver and i see these truckers tailgate cars. they come off the ramps & Do Not not slow down, i understand many are paid by the mile or load, were im paid by the hour, so i take my sweet merry old time, but always put safety first no matter how im getting paid , but either way, speed kills
Paul Burkett says
Everybody knows ELD,s require drivers to push themselves everyday to get their miles in. It has made drivers more aggressive, risky behind the wheel, and pushy. We all see it everyday. Its very dangerous out there right now.
Chris says
Foreign drivers! They won’t give you that statistic. Continued overburdensome regulations. Inadequate training, etc……
SANDRA MARACLE says
I agree with this 100%!!!! This is the main problem and these accidents have been happening well before the ELD’s came into play.
Ra pierce says
Fmsca needs to be held liable for making rules that put us in way more danger
birdie says
As some as the trucks when auto and they put any body behind them with out proper training .boom hello trouble !
Zoltan Tamasi says
Less qualified drivers as well. Transportation jobs across the board are becoming less lucrative.
Sherman says
I am so tired of everyone blaming the ELDs?
Its the HOURS OF SERVICE regulations that we’ve been kicking down the road & “making it work” for years!
Its because of drivers like us, who have masked the problem for years, that we still have this problem.
The ELDs have at least brought the problem to the surface & started the discussion on HOS flexibility!
Stop being victims because of a piece of plastic!
BTW, there was no mandate during the time referenced in the article.
Linda Merritts says
Thanks to the new HOS law. Thanks to the law makers that a making the rules in and industry that they no nothing about. Maybe the truckers should be making laws for there job. Carma
A true warrior isn’t immune to fear. They fight is spite of it. Fear is a liar that is what most of the congress is anyway. They don’t know the meaning of a warrior that set, sleep, and eat in a truck for weeks at a time.
Lady Doe says
ALL OF THEM LIARS, THEY COME TO CONGRESS RICH AND THEY LEAVE RICHER. JUST A PLACE TO STEAL FROM THE POOR AND THEY GET RICHER.
Mike says
The data is for 2017. The first year of the ELD mandate was 2018. Wait for the 2018 numbers. I sure the will blow your mind.
Barb says
I see to many drivers who are not trained properly. Inconsiderate, to other vehicles on the road. The past 7 years companies are hiring non speaking English drivers. Can’t speak it, how do they read it. No damn excuse for that. The HOS should allow for a driver to log off two hours to take a nap if needed, without it affecting his 14 hour clock. Face it, truck driving is a dying dead end job. Would not recommend to anyone. One more year, and I am done.
mousekiller says
To be honest it is not that they are hiring them as . They bought the company they already worked for, so they are under a new umbrella.Several companies bought out companies or merged with them from Mexico and Canada.Yes some are bought out for cheap labor to do the same job we do.Bottom line was motivated by greed . Not good business sense.
BD says
Private driving schools are releasing CDL drivers with minimal experience.
Chris says
I’m exempt from eld regs, but I see the trucks are crazy running now, speeding, zig zagging in and out of traffic racing against the clock now. If a driver isn’t confined to a specific time frame to deliver the freight due to driving regulations, they’ll be more efficient because they can rest during high traffic times, accidents, or just to take a power nap to be more rested and alert. I’m sure if anyone in government were truly concerned about these unnecessary deaths, and did a study, I’m sure they’d find the drivers at fault, but wouldn’t understand that the laws they implemented put these drivers in a no win situation with the e logs clock.
Lady Doe says
FMCSA SAY THEY ARE GOING TO HELP . THE ONLY WAY MARTINZ CAME HELP IS STAY OUT OF IT. HE HAS MAD IT WHAT IT IS TODAY . A DEATH TRAP FOR DRIVERS. IF HE REALLY WANT TO HELP. STOP TELLING DRIVERS WHEN THEY NEED TO GO TO BED AND WHEN THE NEED TO DRIVE. HE KNOWS NOTHING ABOUT OUR JOB. BUT YET HE MANDATED US. THE BLOOD IS ON HIS HEAD. GO AFTER THE SHIPPERS AND RECEIVERS AND BROKERS. THEY ARE ALL A PART OF THE INDUSTRY .
Donna says
If you pay attention to the article, the figures are for 2017, before ELD regulation. Wait until 2018 statistics come out, I think that number is going up. I’m pretty sure most of us owner operators will tell you we find ourselves driving when tired because if we stop and take a nap, our clock will run out before we reach our destination. The 14 hour rule has got to go. I say o/o ops because we have more at stake than a company driver. Usually when someone supports ELD they are a company driver.
Short Stack says
Short Stack
I agree with a lot of your comments. And we are all responsible to some degree of accidents happening. We are all human, and make mistakes. But, since I have been out here with my husband for the past year. I have a whole new perspective on what truck drivers go through. Four wheelers are a lot of the problem. Whatever age you are when you go to be tested for a drivers license. All should have to go through a testing simulator on what it’s like to be behind the wheel of an 18 wheeler. I wonder how many would fail. Then they might have a little more understanding, and respect for the driver of that semi loaded down can’t just come to a stop because four wheelers are cutting us off. Out here on our roads, where they need to go is no more important than everyone else.
Edward J. Jones Jr. says
Ok, lets get to the real. I have been on all sides of the spectrum. Here’s the truth. The ELD is not at Fault, it is a very real variable that carriers the BLAME when attatched to an Inconsiderate, Unsafe, Ego/Money Driven Dispatcher or Driver Manager. Couple this with a driver who is not aware of their own Rights and Rules and is easily Intimidated then you Have an 80,000 Bullet traveling on the Road. Please Don’t Forget the new Generation of Distracted, Don’t Care, Lawyer Invoked 4-wheeler who will risk it all for a Law Suite. Then and You see the real Picture.
Ken says
I blame the eld and the companies , drivers have to race the clock and also companies are putting inexperienced drivers out with drivers that have 6 months experience to train them,their both wet behind the ears yet , when I first started driving the guy trained me had almost 35 yrs under his belt, now that was a trainer
Donnie says
Out of all these text I have not read the first person has mentioned holding the shipper or receiver responsible for the drivers be in a rush when you get to shipper and receiver’s there’s times I’ve sit there for four and five hours how much behind time does that put the driver they need to be held accountable because we would have more time on the road and not sitting wasting our time in their parking lot.
Charlene DeSimone says
RAY MARTINEZ THE DUI KING
Rita says
If the dim lights weren’t so dim and you could see more than 10 feet in front of the truck I wouldn’t use the fog lights.
Jim Getten says
My retirement date was 11-17-2017 and was brought about by the ELD mandate. Glad to be off the road.
neonjohn says
Has to be a reason for the 26% increase in fatal truck accidents. How many accidents involved 4 wheelers using their cell phones? Why put the increase in truck fatalities and accident on the drivers. Oh wait isn’t there a design firm working on a self driving tractor trailer. An increase in fatalities in the trucking industry would surly attract attention of those billion dollar companies, have the greater good in mind, to support self driving trucks. Look see we need them self drivers now! How many of them drivers died behind the wheel were caused by some moron on his/her cell phone? All accident vehicle accident are up 20-30% due to cell phone use that should include all trucks.
duh says
All the Comments Summarized:
•Something Something Government!
•Someone else is to blame!
•I don’t drive anymore because I don’t want to, but I still blame someone else!
•Vaguely racist comment!
•I love America, just not the leaders, the rules and the people!
•I don’t understand how my job works so I came here to complain about it!
Trucker no more! says
duh, I guess when guys park for the day, and they ain’t sleepy, they get online to read and say something! Can you blame them? I’m retired and like so many of us veteran drivers, I’m glad I’m done, never got hurt and never hurt anyone! But I was trained and started out with other vets who knew the ropes…that is JUST NOT the case anymore! There are a bunch of real crappy drivers out there, and the ELD sure doesn’t help! When I started, computers hadn’t even been invented yet! Now look at how much they control! An absolute mess, the trucking industry is now!
Ronald says
Government, it’s never ever been the solution !
Government, it’s always proven to be the problem ! (R.R)
1913 (federal reserve act) and 1933 (expropriation act) has changed the nature of the US government which is nothing more than a Corporation which uses you, your property, your assets and your soul as a colaeral asset, besides the fact that you’re automatically classified as an “enemy of the state” which needs to be monitored, controlled and kept under submission at all costs.
There are no such things as the Constitution and individual Rights anymore in this ”Corporatocracy”, for these were suspended, rendered ineffective and replaced with the “Universal Commercial Code”.
If you’d understand “the system”, then you’ll understand what’s really taking place and why you’re being micromannaged and controlled from the cradle to the grave in the manner in which a slave is treated.
If you ain’t taken the “red pill” yet, I’m afraid that I’m just wasting my time writhing this !
Ken says
Right
C says
I’ve been driving scince 92 accident free knock on wood I drive a bus our clocks reset after 8 hrs off u can drive 10 hrs I have pretty much run this way scince the start …driver’s have to know their is no freight worth ur life if ur tired stop go to sleep they can reschedule del or pu time …iv stopped the bus at a mall got a room went to sleep the people had no prob..common sense use it ..
Justin Boyd says
Almost every article on theTruckersReport.com is written in a way that automated trucks would solve the problem. Real eyes realize
Lady Doe says
ELDS IS WHATS DRIVING ACCIDENTS UP ALONE WITH 4 WHEELERS THEY CUT YOU OFF ALL DAY AND YOU TRY TO MISS THEM BY PUTTING YOURSELF IN DANGER, AND THEY JUST KEEP GOING ON DOWN THE ROAD LIKE THEY HAVE DONE NOTHING WRONG. THE GOVERNMENT NEED TO REGULATE THEM. THEY GO DOWN THE ROAD IN LA LA LAND AND ON THE PHONE . WE TRY TO MISS THEM AND KILL OURSELVES . ELD S MAKES US WORK A PENCIL PUSHING JOB . TRUCKERS ARE NOT PENCIL PUSHERS.
Lady Doe says
DO ANYONE KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT A SHUTDOWN ON THE 24 OF JANUARY?
Isabella Kirby says
Go to Black Smoke Matters on Facebook. That page is about rallying truckers to stand up and make the regulators notice that we are not going to take the crap anymore.
mousekiller says
I went there.Did not take long for me to leave. Far too many stupid uninformed people thinking shutting down the interstates and blocking truck stops entrances and exits is the way to get positive changes made. They demonstrate their total lack of knowledge on how the transportation system works.. They do not have any real leadership . ideas? yes. How to implement them? , Not a clue.
Frank says
ELD= Elementary Learning Device..
For those that like ELD’S run them however for those don’t want to should not be required to.. It is fact ELD’S have increased accidents due to “racing to beat the clock or just lack of driving experience”. I witness every day driver’s running faster than posted speed limits below 65 mph to gain time..They can’t run over 68 mph on freeways however constantly jam up the middle lanes with there lack courtesy for those of us that can run the posted speed if so desired.. but give them a 40 mph zone & they are driving 50.. I’m an OSOP (Old School Owner Operator) whom bailed out of my newer model truck & went back to pre 2000 engine SN so I don’t have put up with a mandate that was implemented during a president’s term in office whom knew nothing but regulation which is the move to socialism… More regulations have done nothing for driver pay or safety.. Politicians want you to believe it has just so they can again pass more regulations & pull more money from you & give CDL Licenses to people in the US on a green card or work visa to fill what they are calling a driver shortage… Till we band together & shut down the trucking industry for a day or 2 or better a week we can all be prepared for more idiotic regulations to come..
Mike says
I think when you take your mandatory 30 minutes the clock should stop, drivers wouldn’t be rushed. Perhaps drivers would take an hour or more if they knew the clock wasn’t running.
Yeah it's me says
It’s the difference between new kids from school to those who have been out there long enough
Christopher Audette says
This is another smear against drivers always guilty till proven innocent example I have been driving from 2006 when I retired from active duty as a scout sniper of 21 yrs and no civilian job but cmv operator was available my truck has a 600hp rebuilt cat in a 2016 glider kit and has no speed limitation installed but I only exceed posted limit when passing all the 65 mph company trucks out there but constantly see every day posted limit of say 70 mph I cruise set at 73 mph (dot reg on speed 0 to 3 mph over no primary pull over 4 to 5 mph over limit officer discretion 6 plus mph over limit mandatory pull over and level one inspection required) but cars fly past me at 80 mph or more and troopers will go after the truck violating 4 mph over instead of the car violating 10mph or greater that’s total be. I know because people will say cmv more dangerous but from my experience all these slower trucks and lower speed limits for trucks only ie Mich Il ca etc make it more dangerous doing that than like tx who I can cruise with traffic at posted 80 mph it is much safer to cruise with the flow of traffic than creating bottlenecks every mile or two trying to get into a hammer lane when you are restricted to operate 10 to 15mph slower than the flow of traffic that’s how accidents happen and cops are to quick to blame the truck driver or like tickets they realize you as a driver will most always not show up for court to fight a ticket. So take some advice guys I have a leagle cdl protection law firm on monthly retainer that will go to court on my behalf and get any ticket reduced to a equipment violation so my dak csa and PSP scores are not affected it’s worth the 19 bucks amonth to keep you earning money. Remember it’s a us against the cops game for road control I fully support cops in 12 yrs operating a cmv I have only met one asshole female dot officer and she must have been visiting her aunt monthly FL at the time but they have there job to do and i need to get this cargo to my destination as quickly and safely as possible to get home to see my family as well.
Krossbonzz says
I’d like to know what ratio we’re foreigners who just got a cdl after their 3 week course with CR England or the Swift shitheads, newbies vs seasoned drivers over 3 or more years OTR driving. Also how many were the local a’holes that drive as bad as a 4 wheelers….. And women vs men ratio per accident etc. Break it down into categories and not one big “at fault” number.
Robert Tomlinson jr says
No we they drive even faster with that eld.!always racing the clock. Maybe they should change hours of service. Cause we can’t get nothing done
C. Smith says
No one has mentioned shipper/receiver delays? Personally I find this to be a prime culprit of any of the above mentioned misdriving bad habits. If not the number 1 reason especially with reefer. But once again no government mentioned attention to this 14 hour clock mandated abuse.
Wendy Gregory says
Everyone in favor of ELD’s denies that drivers know when they are tired. In a way they are right. Before I drove how I felt, within the law mostly; but when I did bend the logs it was only by a short overage. There just was not the “to the minute” pressures. Choices made after ELD pushed my limits when I knew I would have otherwise taken a nap, I really did not feel tired. The accumulation of running in this pressured environment myself, surrounded by others stressed, even so slightly by the clock made an unhealthy life. It took its toll on my health. But I didn’t know when I needed rest (by quitting this ridiculous race) and got to the point that I’d rather do anything else for work. I was a safety conscious experienced driver. Now they can deal with whoever they can get. Not that newer drivers are not as good, may even be better, but they won’t last long. And they never had the benefit of driving when it was good.
TruckerBob says
People who type their thoughts in all caps are either too lazy not to or they don’t know it’s like yelling out their written words.
LUIS A. CORNIELES says
In Mississippi Highway Patrol don’t let you idle if you’re resting, unless you have a pet in the cabin!!!…it looks like for them is more important the life of a pet than the life of the driver!!!!!
Shogun says
That’s a lie. There aren’t any no idle laws in Mississippi.
Casey says
It’s not just one thing causing problems it’s the combination of everything. There were stupid doped up drivers 30 years ago on paper logs so you can’t say that it’s just the new drivers now. Fact is ELD are not not safe. They don’t think about when we are sick or have a rough night sleeping. We are human not a robot. That ELD is taking the human factor out of the equation. As far as 30 years ago and now. Well 30 years don’t change stupid. The difference is that now verse 30 years ago the population has probably tripled and with more people come more accidents.
victor claudio says
The problem is the ELB not the driver after new regulations the company’s increasing the speed hired driver not have experience the driver now have more estrés I have 40 years drive experience and 3.9 millions miles on the road after 1 weeks ago have a accident which 2 months driver don’t stop in red light hi is in the hospital and I loose my truck
James says
Once a dumb truck driver, always a dumb truck-driver, is what I say.
John Carlos Calvo says
I’ve been driving for under 3 years and was trained on the qualcomm, so I don’t mind elogs. But one thing no one mentioned is that brokers are also playing a part in this. Instead of posting a respectable rate on a load immediately, they post disgraceful rates. So then the load will sit on the board for hours and days even. They then eventually have to raise the rate in order to get the load moved, but meanwhile precious hours went by and now a load that should have made it with time to spare becomes a hottie.
Al says
to quote Martinez,
“We all know about the human factor in crashes, you hear drivers say that they know when they’re tired. That’s not necessarily true.”
How about all the (tired, doped up, distracted, drunk) unregulated motorists that cut you off or pull in front of you or whatever because they’re tired and then just motor on down the road without stopping, while your left to blame for the accident you caused?
Just because we’re the biggest vehicle in the accident doesn’t mean it was our fault it happened.
Why is it assumed that we get more tired driving a truck than anyone else on the road?
There is a safety problem on the road, but I don’t think the truck driver should be bearing the brunt of regulations as the solution, which has shown to be ineffective at best.
LUIS A. CORNIELES says
Statistics are the tool to excuse the government (or whoever manages the numbers) for not having the capacity to solve the related issue (s) in those numbers…The real question is…Are these deaths increase are higher or lower after ELD’s were implanted?…on the other hand, everyone have clear the problem about inexperienced and young drivers on the road have been an issue for long time…way before ELD’s…so here is the second question…What policy have the government to prevent or regulate the assignment of inexperienced drivers to OTR long runs?
Michelle says
Yes, we know when we’re tired, but if we want to make a living within the law, we can’t do anything about it.
Ether Bawny says
Like many have said this was predicted and foreseen by drivers who are out there daily watching the behaviors of all drivers car n truck. You see more insanity in the lane changes n lane usage. Speeding i see mostly in construction zones n urban areas where traffic is heavy. People racing to get through. On open highway i seldom see any trucks doing any insane speed levels beyond the average speeds set. 85% are running from 65-70 in 70mph zones. I have noticed more accidents in areas that accidents really shouldnt happen. Where the weather is tame n traffic is light n speed modestly decent. I do pay attention to the sides of the trucks that drive erratic. Frankly ive noticed way more california base companies and i found out many of them are cheating logs n driving excessive hours. A large group arent talked about because they been imported n handed work permits (a government thing).Someones pulling a sly one n passing out CDLs like crazy n no doubt getting bribes to do it. Many have no home they live in trucks and push as hard as they can to make money to send home. Understandable ambition BUT its added to the chaos on the roads. Many of these operators companies are sitting at their desk doctoring the logs for the driver. Theres lots of snakes in the grass. Drivers ignorantly turn to racism and other idiocy to address these issues while the real crooks are getting away. You cant berate and demean people who take advantage of an opportunity to make a life for their families n to earn more income than they would at home. And its not just the imported drivers that are driving lousy and irresponsibly. I see just as many native drivers simply oblivious to driver etiquette and the mental levels are down. The ability for complex decision making isnt there. THE DOTs failure to follow real earnest management practices has cost the industry its skilled drivers. It was predicted theyd be driven out and has come true. The DOT followed the advices of the bandits in the industry. The companies attempting to corner the market for themselves baiting the DOT to let younger drivers in and those simply pretending to be responsible companies that were secretly adding to their fleets preparing to take over the various areas like flatbed, tanker, cattle, oversize etc. The ones who swamped the refrigerated and drove the market into the toilet but caused raw food price spikes in insurance losses from incompetent driver crashes n damage freight. Ironically the DOT followed advice from all the ones being sued over n over for neglect and scams they pull on their drivers. These companies are directly responsible for the lack of skilled drivers. THey have done such tremendous damage to the market of drivers. Tens of thousands of potentially decent drivers lives and careers wrecked while these companies went through em by the hundreds a day. Making fortunes off lease and pay scams that drivers could not survive. You follow a bandit and expect civilized results. We have people in place in government who will sell out anything for a buck. They dont do their jobs. They do whoever pays em off the best. A solo independent driver cant match these mega carriers political contributions. Payola is the king until the corruption is weeded out.
George says
How about the rediculous 8 hour, line 2 rule? Drivers are not aloud to shutdown during rush hours, without losing 3 to 4 hours
Ether Bawny says
I notice a lot more of what i call the HE-MAN drivers. These are your primates that see purpose is to drive a monster machine and must defy everyone by going faster, pulling off driving stunts in curves n off roading. Running red lights and basically driving without a responsible mindset.They’re one skill is their accelerator foot. People dont realize you might not cause the accident. You create the environment for accident causing chaos in the road that leads another driver to get into accident. Many of these drivers dont see much beyond their hoods. Its a narrow frame of thinking that kills.
Mike says
I think it has alot to do with fatigue and distracted driving. When I drove all of my focus was on the road, even when I had a trainer in my truck I wouldn’t let anything distract me. I was on Arizona’s highway one time and this trucker beside me was on his phone and barely grabbed the brakes fast enough to slow down for stopped traffic ahead. I also saw a trucker falling asleep one time and had to call it in to 911 since he was swerving 3-4 lanes and his head kept tipping over. Don’t let the company push u over the limit and always keep focused on the road while driving. Be careful out there
James says
If electronic surveillance devices – a.k.a. eld’s – are such a great idea, and are not a violation of the fourth amendment, then every free American should be forced to have one!
James says
Let’s also not forget the that eld’s are also a violation of the 14th amendment.
Bruce says
You don’t think it has anything to do with more trucks on the road. I don’t understand these companies adding all these trucks. If they were smart they would decrease trucks so rates would have no choice but to skyrocket.
Ether Bawny says
I became suspicious of the sudden surge of california companies showing up on the road. There is simply no market for it UNLESS your cheating the system in some way. I dont blame people for cheating. The government puts people in such impossible situations that to follow the rules is suicide financially or otherwise. What its boiling down to is a drain of talent and replaced by unskilled fly by nights. WHen the demand for skill is prominent we destroy the viability for skilled drivers to make a living. We want professionals but yer really bums and dont forget it.
Darwyn Norris says
As long as we have to play beat the clock with governed trucks, speeding and careless driving among the drivers without discipline will prevail.
Many think that they can make up time in the lower speed limit zones by keeping their foot to the floor and weaving thru everyone that slowed to the legal limit.
Jessie Pruitt says
Did you know that distracted driving and fatigued driving are symptoms of sleep apnea? Drivers with sleep apnea that is being treated DON’T NEED NAPS. But, of course, there is not one driver who will honestly admit that he/she has sleep apnea or the symptoms.
Scott says
Wow. You are so cool, can I hang out with you after school?
Don says
ELD!! Enough said
william slater says
You are absolutely right!
Jerry says
Btw, for anyone new to the industry driver shortage means a shortage of drivers willing to work 70 hours a week for a few hundred dollars.
mousekiller says
Drivers today have no skill levels to be OTR truck drivers. Far too many for the most part had little or no parenting at home. Their actions today show that publicly loud and clear. the ELD was thought of way back in the early 70s. The mega carriers CF Gateway for two of them needed a way to track their trucks.. It has grown from that idea to what we have today. It is not tracking the truck per se but the driver now. The carriers insurance companies promoted the ELD idea thinking much like some govt officials do today. A cure all regulations. Remember this. Just because they have a CDL does not make them truck drivers.
Robert Hall says
it’s not ELD’s, it’s the 14 hour rule. been saying this would happen from the beginning. now watch the ATA, the government and the “mega carriers” doctor the figures so they can keep it.
David says
As a one time Truck Driver. The obvious is right before there blinded eyes. Drivers are made to drive longer without any pauses. This is due to lack of drivers. I attended a so called Academy last year. I thought I would re-enter the work force as a tucker? The academy was short handed when it came to instructors. Students such as myself was teaching others so that they could pass their driving CDL test. There was men and women from other countries there. They spoke broken English and did not comprehend very well. Once I was tested and received my permit. I was transferred from Central Texas to Indiana to finish the driving part. From there to the Mexican borderlands to be matched up with a trainer. He was beyond adoubt a Driver who was unhealthy and shouldn’t have behind the wheel. Was told, “we’ll stop and get showers one a week if your lucky. The product has to reach its destination on time. That was produce. That was with C.R.England. Needless to say I packed my bags. Paid for my way back home. They won’t pay for you. Given $25 daily for food. If you eat out, then you know this is a joke. Not to mention paying for a taxi from A-B. The accommodations are in a 1-2 star dump. What I read about more fatalities then the years before? Take your backside there in the trenches. There you will find the answers to make trucking safer for all on the road. Cars are getting smarter, those who drive them needless to say are getting dimmer an dumber. Just take the time to look at the entire picture. Stop insurance companies from dictating new rules. Their you will find your first problem to this delima.
Ether Bawny says
This story exist in the thousands literally. So many share this same nightmare experience and it often cost them a potentially decent driver right away. Where as a useless driver with no self respect might have gone on not caring one way or the other. Its very unfortunate that you went thru that. And very unfortunate that new trainees have no real safe place to turn to. Companies that are responsible and training drivers properly. Damn near all who are willing to take on trainees are the crooked ones. These stories often are worst if a driver hang in there and tries to make it work and they get deeper into the problem and their lives get consumed by it. I addressed this earlier. The thousands of victims that couldve been good drivers were instead robbed n cheated n abused to make a few extra bucks off each load every day. Its how much can we rake in this WEEK! Its a feeding frenzy and you sense it with the internal operations. The people in place to push the drivers. Many posting here on this can tell stories that have become common acceptances in many companies. LIES. Dispatchers that dupe and trick drivers into doing things that will benifit the company but often put driver at risk or offer not financial gain. Stuff you avoided by simply stepping away.
Steve says
Put drivers under more and more pressure, force ELD’s and take away their flexibility, and hire all these inexperienced drivers all in the name of boosting profits for the mega carriers. We warned the FMCSA this would happen. They still won’t listen. They will use this data instead to demonize drivers and push harder for autonomous trucks.
Ether Bawny says
They might as well take freight and put it in super catapults and fire it across the skies and hope it lands on target. Its just that rediculous and obvious that they arent after the truth. When the truth is so glaring and blaring at you and you see them going in a completely different direction then you have face the reality. This isnt a case of ignorance or human error. The truth is not in their interest. Makes for fancy paperwork and articles for discussion that nobody reads.
David says
We the people for the people. Stop those who don’t know anything about the life on the road. If your tired? Shut down regardless. You are, we are important.
Steven says
Here comes the reality of ELD and saving life’s.
I knew then as I know now that STRESS kills faster than anything else behind the wheel.
Yes
We cheated here and there a little bit to make it legal in logbook but never tired like I’m with ELD.
They introduced CSA scores but what that CSA its good for since I will die in a crash due to fatigue or 4 wheeler fault.
No legislation was introduced to protect me the little truck driver.
All the legislation were introduced to kill me or put me out of business or to protect big corporations and to put big bucks into lawyers pocket.
Bernard dembowski says
Politicians have ruined this industry!!, trucking is the unemployment line of America!, if you can not do anything in life then become homeless on wheels , go to any unemployment office in the country and they push like crazy for a person to become a driver with lie, after lie about how good it is out here 32 yrs and I’ve seen it get worse with every election cycle , wages are stagnant, electronic logs now dictate when where and how long you stop , they want cheap labor , trucks rolling , no home time, the heck with family you are married to the company you work for . No wonder no one wants to drive anymore for these companies, waiting on retirement myself in 7 months .
Rc1234 says
ELD mandate and HOS rules and pressures from shippers and dispatchers are to blame…this coupled with alot of new and inexperienced drivers is a recipe for disaster…
TheAntiObama says
Not surprising considering how many idiots will cut a driver off so close they have to butter their bumpers to get around.
steve says
The government dont give a dam about trucking industry but when it comes to getting there food cigarettes and liquor they will be scratching heads and trying to figure out what happen with no drivers to deliver the goods. As far as the Eld goes it sucks the roads are not safe anymore and noone cares I got 48 yrs in a truck the last 29 yrs has really when down in the toliet it sucks greatly
Jeremy says
The numbers are likely fudged.NWO weasels are bound and determined to get that 5G infrastructure in place to support automated transportation grids,among other things.As we are witnessing,they will lie,cheat and mislead the public through every media they can in order to accomplish their twisted agenda.Stand up and shout!Stand up and fight! The future of humanity,as we know it,is under attack by this filth.
Steven Mitchell Gill says
I wonder if bright lights are causing any. There are as many truckers using and not dimming as cars now. There is no courtesy left among drivers. Industry has gone way down hill. Can’t wait for retirement.
HardTimes says
Drive 10 sleep 8 where are you ,please come back these idiots crazy!!!!!!!!
Mr. G. says
Besides trucking rules.,
Production in the industry, delivery and Truck drivers– The Safety department educates ….. The Driver Recruite.. .rules and regulations for the Carrier and for the Public.,the Dispatch system educates for a Timely pick up and delivery and a push on keep on moving for production. Once graduate and become a driver, start driving, drivers worries about all sides of the business that matters,making them sometimes affect on their Safety and we’ll being.
Drivers are allowed to Stop when they feel Unsafe out on the road, but the dispatch System may be not allowing the Truck driver for an extra break on production for real, instead they would rather tell the driver, –“I want you to move.” If they still do not, cannot move, worrying about disciplinary action,they are having to move or be terminated from the Job or quit the job.
Kevin Chevalier says
Racing against that clock a side effect of control, how does it feel to take orders
from a machine? that’s your babysitter your not professional enough to make
your own decisions just another part of that machine your not trusted to think
for yourself to many flaws in the human thought process there’s no need for
judgement that’s taken care of now some people need it some don’t, I don’t
know about you but i’m pretty good at knowing when I need to stop no job is
worth killing yourself over some days I can run like hell some days I can not
I have pretty good idea of the time it takes to complete a run before it’s started and the route needed to do it safely without GPS can’t wait to see AI’s in full
operation gonna get me a bag of popcorn break out the lawn chairs and enjoy
the demolition derby.
Mr. G. says
Real trucking Carriers, cares about Real truck drivers, worries about the clean up, other trucking makes.
After going in thru the recruiting and orientation process, those drivers are put out there on the roads, and they don’t do nothing wrong, they dont get a ticket out there or be placed out of service.
Steve Hughart says
Well I think it is a combination of a lot of things like improper training witch that’s a lot of mega carries fault for putting drivers out there with no backing sciles and a lot of the new drivers don’t know how to use a map they usually just depen on GPS and I see a lot I mean a lot of drivers texting and driving and when they come in to truckstops they fly through the truckstops and its a lot younger drivers I see and another reason that we have problems is nobody runs a radio something happens then everybody runs into each other and yes the ELD has a lot to do with it too.
Steve Hughart says
Well I think it is a combination of a lot of things like improper training witch that’s a lot of mega carries fault for putting drivers out there with no backing sciles and a lot of the new drivers don’t know how to use a map they usually just depen on GPS and I see a lot I mean a lot of drivers texting and driving and when they come in to truckstops they fly through the truckstops and its a lot younger drivers I see and another reason that we have problems is nobody runs a radio something happens then everybody runs into each other and yes the ELD has a lot to do with it too. Slow down and think
JR says
Steve a radio won’t do them any good morning if they have both ears plugged with ibuds or beats. It’s sad.
Joe says
So, I read several comments that state speed isn’t a factor because “most” trucks are governed 65-69??
Fact, I have driven for 5 companies in 10+ years and 1 company had trucks governed less than 70mph. Maybe “most” trucks are set 65-69 because of the large billboard, rookie hiring fleets, BUT, most companies are NOT governed below 70-80mph. It’s your choice to drive a 65mph, so stay out of the left lane and take notes on how many companies pass you. It doesn’t make a bad driver for doing the speed limit.
Ks says
From my experience its ELD to blame.
Trucker Mike says
Good thing those ELD’s are working so well!
Maybe they can invent one that limits the throttle to 55 mph max and keeps the trucker firmly in the right lane. That should solve it.
Matt Mims says
You blame ELD seriously. I’m only aware of 1 truck manufacturer Volvo that makes an air bag standard. Trucks are being constructed based on weight and cost not to f you will live. If NHTSA was really worried crash test data would evolve at the same rate as passenger cars
Tom Peacock says
There are a lot more trucks on the road now also, and a lot of the new drivers aren’t adequately trained in safe driving and especially in courtesy.
William Thomas says
Enough about bad the ELD is. I don’t like it either, but it is what it is. I’ve been out here driving civilian rigs for 25yrs. I guess I’m one of the old timers you could say. One of the biggest problems we have, is these new drivers/steering wheel holders are not getting properly trained. Either driving forward or backwards. And alot of the old timers are so arogant in their driving, that they don’t know how to be courteous anymore. Everybody is in a hurry and has to tailgate other trucks in front of them and try and push them out of the way. Monkey see, monkey do. Why can’t you drivers quit blaming everybody else for your arogence and dangerous driving habits. I have probably over 4.5 million miles both military and civilian driving both in Europe and the United States. Get real and be a safer driver.
Kevin Chevalier says
If your dispatch or you yourself use any electronic device to calculate
your ETA add 4 hours to that time weather they like it or not, a good company will do this anyway, nobody takes in consideration the unforeseen events that may take place, if your dispatch doesn’t like your ETA then let em assign it to somebody else or reschedule it to fit your schedule their not going to fire you because it’s easier to do that than it is to replace you, if they do fire you than you don’t want
to work for that company anyway, this is their way of practice committing to an
arrival time without taking in consideration for the unforeseen or adverse
conditions that may arise it’s a foolish way to do business GPS or computers
figure driving time at maximum speeds then subtract speed through minimum
speed limit per city limits in route that only gives you driving time and nothing else, does not consider breaks, fuel, weather, traffic, shippers, receivers or anything outside moving these are the causes and reasons your time disappears so quickly then your forced to run like hell to make up for that lost time the side effect our
government did not nor does not take inconsideration in all these events the
clock keeps ticking, the overwhelming sense of falling behind takes over the side
effect.
Louis says
It is the HOS rules. We have been in business since 1982 and for the first time ever we had two drivers driving teams that fell asleep behind the wheel within two hours out of the bunk. To stop this let teams split every 6 or 8 hours. Having to drive 11 hours in 14 is too much!
Maverick says
That’s why the trucking industry need drivers because it sucks to be one lol..
Robert K Rupp says
Lots of reasons that trucks are involved in wrecks today, but how many are dying over the trucks catching fire? Trucks never used to burn like they do now. Drivers and others involved are dying because of the hot boxes for pollution control are catching fire. Can’t anybody see this? This junk is why trucks are sitting on the roadside broke down, that’s real safe right? When a truck burns, it burns everybody involved in the wreck. This is insane.
JR says
I don’t see many of y’all addressing the phone/entertainment device usage. Too many drivers can’t seem to function at all if they’re not yapping on the phone or bouncing up and down in the seat grooving and moving. I don’t care how much experience a driver has, either one of those is distracting.
Bill Warren says
Does that increase also reflect increase in the number of trucks added each year? Also you need to take into account the age, training and experience of these driver fatalities each year. Don’t always blame the trucker. There could be outside influences that are causing these crashes.
Matt says
Has anyone including the feds not considered commercial vehicles are the only vehicles not required to have airbags and only 1 manufacture has them standard? Not to mention only 1 manufacturer even considers cab structure in roll over collisions VOLVO. It’s sad how federal agencies want to regulate drivers and overlook the 1 element that would save lives
Drew Clymer says
The Federal government lawmakers who took lobbyist money from big corporate Truck companies are fully responsible for this. It’s funny how all the new laws every year that are implemented on the basis of safety have created a more unsafe industry! I’ve been truckin for 24 years and it just keeps getting worse out here!
Jax says
Having driven before ELD’s and now having to use them I have noticed a big difference in my performance, energy, health and over all feeling of being safe. I could go into great detail but for those of you who don’t really know what it’s like to truely drive and be a driver I’d be wasting my time trying to explain.
But training people and passing them just to fill seats is also a big cause of this.
Deaconblues62 says
Truck drivers have too many mouths to feed, if truck drivers decided to take a 3 month vacation in Hawaii or Las Vegas, People would Starve to death 💀. We’re always under pressure to make appointment times, Sleep anywhere you can park the truck, eat unhealthy foods, neglect personnel hygiene, drive 70hrs a week which is like working two jobs.
Drive #100000.00 miles a year, Forced to drive even when you don’t feel like it, drive when you’re sick 🤒 because you’re afraid to say anything because they might take your truck from you and dump you in the street, my opinion is; drivers across the board in 🚘 cars and trucks are dying in crashes because they are falling asleep due to the insane working obligations that we face.
34hrs off to recharge is a joke.
There should be a MANDATORY LAW, a trucker cannot do a 34hr reset in his truck, You must be home 🏡 or in a Hotel Room, all with PAY$$$ only for the 34hrs off.
Drivers would live much longer and be more positive and productive if the animal treatment was eliminated.
sandy e. p. says
As i read some of this comments, makes me wander if most of them even or ever drove a truck.And why is it that if you have 6 month worth of driving that you can become a driver trainer?I Drove 31 years. retired for 11. Went back, what a change.Seem to me if you don’t have a comp, smart phone , and a GPS, you are lost. I still don’t and won’t get a smart phone, a don’t and wan’t use a GPS. Just a Rand McNally Map A phone # and Common Scene.
Deaconblues62 says
Bottomline is that this industry will never change as long as the freight keeps moving down the highways, doesn’t matter who or what is doing it.
The only way to change this industry is to QUIT DRIVING , PERIOD.
sandy e. p. says
Will i did quit. I was old school and i am not about to change at my age.
Lynn says
You can’t learn to drive a truck in 6 weeks and a couple of weeks with someone who isn’t trained todo it either.
Tyler says
Hay get there under 11 and die trying. Who is to blame on this phone conversation? Conversation should be get there safely as soon as your able too. But thats the old conversation. This is the new one. Thank you edl.
NomadicVeteran says
There are three reasons for this.
Limited hours of service/driving,
Consignee delivery times,
Limited parking.
The best way to remove two of the items is quite easy.
Remove the hos, but keep the elogs, and the dot can drug test on the spot.
Make the shippers and consignee’s, first come first serve.
This way, the driver can drive as far and safely as possible. With the elogs, the dot can look how long a driver has been working/driving and can drug test on the spot.
Ri ma says
After reading this forum, I realize we are not so united. It’s a good time for me to go part time and free up one more parking space for my fellow truck drivers.
Rick Blatter says
Way More Truckers Are Dying In Crashes since the ELD Mandate!
Open letter to Mr. Ray Martinez, FMCSA Administrator:
Dear Mr. Martinez,
PLEASE STOP KILLING TRUCK DRIVERS & other road users!
https://www.thetruckersreport.com/way-truckers-dying-crashes/
The only “significant change” since 2003 is the UNWARRANTED “new” HOS RULES and ELDs!
Before these DELETERIOUS CHANGES, roads were actually SAFER!
ELDs and/or PREPOSTEROUS “new” HOS RULES are KILLING PEOPLE, CAUSING ACCIDENTS & inflicting both physical and mental injuries & pain on Drivers & the unsuspecting public.
CEASE & DESIST this lethal error.
Data does not lie.
Here are REAL SOLUTIONS:
RESOURCES, CTAtrucking.ca
https://ctatrucking.ca/resources
Rick Blatter B.Ed., M.Sc.
Fitness, Wellness, Safety & Efficiency.
http://www.RickBlatter.com
Spokesperson for the CIA-TA:
http://www.CIA-TA.com
CTA Canadian Truckers Associations (www.CTAtruckers.ca)
ITA International Truckers Associations (www.ITAtruckers.org)
ATA American Truckers Associations (www.ATAtruckers.com)
JOHN H ONEILL JR says
“News” articles heck even blogs HAVE DATES…I could be looking at this in oh I dont know…November of 2019….it may contain outdated info…you know why sloppy sites like this dont put dates on their articles? Becasue their results would be fewer on Google. Its a crappy thing to do. put dates on articles to be considered legitimate.
Theotis Sistrunk says
There are a lot of idiot truck drivers on the road today period
Rob Dobalina says
Between giving any idiot with a pulse a CDL in 3 weeks, over regulation and a clock stating on the face all day, I’m not surprised in the least bit. FMCSA is the real hazard in the trucking industry!
Bigdee says
Elds need to go .due to all the trucking companies closing down less miles less drivers less trucks should equal less accident but the number staying the same or most states are reported more accidents in recent years hmm all because technology being forced by greedy companies and politicians
John Colburn says
ELD didn’t cause the accidents. Poor drivers did! It’s the person behind the wheel period. Just like it’s the person behind the gun. No excuses! It’s bad/inexperience drivers and driving too fast/carelessly to gain an extra couple of miles! Force companion to go to hourly wage and take the pressure of the cpm which is a shitty way to pay someone anyway.