I worked for a fleet that I volunteered to try EOBR's out. thank goodness I had a dispatcher that knew I would be on time and could preplan my truck to keep me running. Yes, being in the specialized flatbed industry, there were times out on a windmill site that by the time you got loaded or unloaded, my 14 hour clock was up. So, I would have to call it a day out in the sticks, with nothing around for miles and miles. Luckily for us, we had a fridge and an inverter with the ability to be able to cook and take care of essentials. All we could do was pray we didn't need to poo.
My point here is, even with the best laid plans, drivers will still be stuck at shippers and receivers because of electronic logs (EOBR's) when the unexpected delays occur. I am fortunate due to the industry I am that I am well prepared, but some box and reefer drivers are often stuck with shippers and receivers who will threaten to have them escorted off or detained by law enforcement for not leaving. If these are going to work, they need to first get the shippers and receivers to timely and efficiently load/unload these trucks. For, the true issues lie with them, not with the truckers. My fiance informed me of one who texted her asking what he should do because they were threatening him with the police and his 14 had ended before they had unloaded them. She informed him to call DOT, and DOT refused to get involved and help the driver uphold the laws. Without proper back up, do you really think EOBR's will work?
On the other hand, I see the big fleets that are currently running EOBR's, cutting their drivers miles, only to shove their load off on another driver or utilize rail.
I feel EOBR's are going to do nothing in the way of safety or fatigue. If you want to fix the fatigue issues, let us stop the clock and take breaks without worrying about losing the hours. EOBR's are not going to stop the drivers in big fleets who's trucks are cut to 65 mph from speeding through speed differential states, work zones, city speed limit zones, or SCHOOL zones. EOBR's will not stop the steering wheel holders while tailgating while their foot is on their dash and they are talking on the phone. (Before you say anything, I've seen this too many times, and I don't care to see this kind of careless, irrational, unprofessional behavior.) Case in example. My truck runs 75 mph, and I go exactly 55 mph, unless there's traffic, in California. All the further cut, 62 mph, fleet trucks, zing past me, cut me off, tailgate me, and like today, intentionally swerve at me for being in their way for they're going 62 in a 55. How will EOBR's fix this?
Maybe big fleets should take a good look at the drivers they want employed by, and representing them. Instead of an *** in the seat. They'd prefer steering wheel holders to pay $1000 weekly for a truck while making $1 a mile, and yes, I know some that do this as a lease operator (that'll be saved for another blog).
Basically, I'm competent enough to do my own log book and can figure out 6 am + 12 = 6 pm, 6 pm + 2 = 8 pm. It is a slap in the face to me for you to tell me, as a responsible, professional adult, that I don't have the intelligence to do my own log book and should have a computer (p.s. they malfunction, I was written up during my test period for mine malfunctioning until they figured out I really didn't unplug it) do mine for me.
To put it bluntly, EOBR's takes the little guy out, while helping ensure that OTR is further fading into the sunset. All I have to say is, do you want real drivers or do you just want steering wheel holders?
Safe trucking to yall.
My point here is, even with the best laid plans, drivers will still be stuck at shippers and receivers because of electronic logs (EOBR's) when the unexpected delays occur. I am fortunate due to the industry I am that I am well prepared, but some box and reefer drivers are often stuck with shippers and receivers who will threaten to have them escorted off or detained by law enforcement for not leaving. If these are going to work, they need to first get the shippers and receivers to timely and efficiently load/unload these trucks. For, the true issues lie with them, not with the truckers. My fiance informed me of one who texted her asking what he should do because they were threatening him with the police and his 14 had ended before they had unloaded them. She informed him to call DOT, and DOT refused to get involved and help the driver uphold the laws. Without proper back up, do you really think EOBR's will work?
On the other hand, I see the big fleets that are currently running EOBR's, cutting their drivers miles, only to shove their load off on another driver or utilize rail.
I feel EOBR's are going to do nothing in the way of safety or fatigue. If you want to fix the fatigue issues, let us stop the clock and take breaks without worrying about losing the hours. EOBR's are not going to stop the drivers in big fleets who's trucks are cut to 65 mph from speeding through speed differential states, work zones, city speed limit zones, or SCHOOL zones. EOBR's will not stop the steering wheel holders while tailgating while their foot is on their dash and they are talking on the phone. (Before you say anything, I've seen this too many times, and I don't care to see this kind of careless, irrational, unprofessional behavior.) Case in example. My truck runs 75 mph, and I go exactly 55 mph, unless there's traffic, in California. All the further cut, 62 mph, fleet trucks, zing past me, cut me off, tailgate me, and like today, intentionally swerve at me for being in their way for they're going 62 in a 55. How will EOBR's fix this?
Maybe big fleets should take a good look at the drivers they want employed by, and representing them. Instead of an *** in the seat. They'd prefer steering wheel holders to pay $1000 weekly for a truck while making $1 a mile, and yes, I know some that do this as a lease operator (that'll be saved for another blog).
Basically, I'm competent enough to do my own log book and can figure out 6 am + 12 = 6 pm, 6 pm + 2 = 8 pm. It is a slap in the face to me for you to tell me, as a responsible, professional adult, that I don't have the intelligence to do my own log book and should have a computer (p.s. they malfunction, I was written up during my test period for mine malfunctioning until they figured out I really didn't unplug it) do mine for me.
To put it bluntly, EOBR's takes the little guy out, while helping ensure that OTR is further fading into the sunset. All I have to say is, do you want real drivers or do you just want steering wheel holders?
Safe trucking to yall.
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