Business

Proposal in New Highway Bill Would Mandate Trackers on Semis — and Some Truckers Aren’t Happy

  • A measure in the Surface Transportation Extension Act requiring electric on-board recorders (EOBRs) has small business and independent truckers concerned they will be too expensive for them to implement and an invasion of privacy. 
  • Some consider the the EOBRs a measure that would increase highway safety and ensure fair business practices.
  • But others call it “big brother” that could also be a tool of the unions to put small business truckers out of work.
  • EOBRs would replace traditional paper tracking of hours of service. These hours of service are monitored to help prevent fatigue-related accidents. 
  • The Surface Transportation Extension Act expired in Oct. 2009 and has received nine extensions as Congress tries to reach an agreement on the funding legislation. The act will need to pass by June 30 or receive another extension. 
Some in Trucking Industry Protest Requirement of Electronic On Board Recorders in the Surface Transportation Extension Act

(Photo: Wikimedia)

Although the Keystone Pipeline may be the main focus of the Surface Transportation Extension Act, which needs to be passed by Congress by the end of June, another provision has those in the trucking industry truckers concerned. It’s a measure that would require electronic on-board recorders (EOBRs) on rigs, which some truckers say are burdensome, costly and do not improve highway safety.

(Related: Here‘s what you need to know about the gov’t possibly mandating vehicle ‘black boxes’)

EOBRs are proposed in this highway transportation act as a measure that would help record hours of service, which truckers traditional report on paper.

Some in Trucking Industry Protest Requirement of Electronic On Board Recorders in the Surface Transportation Extension Act

Example of an electronic on-board recorder. (Photo: KOMU News/Flickr)

Including these devices would cut down on violations of hours of service that could result in fatigue-related accidents. In 2010, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration passed a rule that would require violators working too many hours to be outfitted with EOBRs. In 2011, it expanded this rule to include all trucks tracking their work hours in this manner.

That mandate, however, was overturned in August 2011 by the federal Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit because the “agency said nothing about the requirement that any regulation about the use of monitoring devices in commercial vehicles must ‘ensure that the devices are not used to harass vehicle operators.’”

The mandate reappeared in the highway surface transportation funding legislation, which has until June 30 or the current law and bill will receive another extension. The News-Leader describes the proposed mandate as a “little-noticed provision causing a big fight within the trucking industry.” The  Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association, a trade association representing the interests of small-business trucking professionals and drivers, is one such organization protesting this measure calling installation of EOBRs a move by “Big Brother.“ It also stated that ”EOBRs are an unproven technology, providing no cost benefit or highway safety improvement.”

“It’s exorbitantly expensive while providing no safety benefit whatsoever,” Todd Spencer, OOIDA executive vice president, said in a statement in April. “This is being done under the guise of compliance with federal hours-of-service regulations, but it is actually a way for large motor carrier companies to squeeze more ‘productivity’ out of drivers and increase costs for the small trucking companies they compete with.”

It is estimated the provision would cost $2 billion if enacted. The Heritage Foundation has more on the costs and how the mandate would affect businesses:

And these costs would be high, totaling more than $2 billion each year, according to an analysis by the FMCSA, making it one of the most expensive regulations in the regulatory pipeline. This new burden would significantly add to the already eye-popping $46 billion in annual regulatory costs imposed since the start of the Obama Administration. Overall, according to FMCSA, the proposed mandate would affect some 500,000 firms and close to 4 million vehicles.

Spencer said that EOBRs are no more reliable than traditional log books and don’t as accurately account for time given that the “device only tracks when the wheels are moving, not taking into consideration the colossal waiting times spent by truck drivers at shipping docks.” Heritage also points out the mandate requires the devices to have real-time tracking capability to record time and location data for the truck. It states, “mandatory recording of such information presents opportunity for abuse.”

WEAR-TV in Pensacola, Fla., reports some independent truckers saying they consider the black box-like devices privacy violation:

Mary Waters and her husband have been driving big rigs for the past 28 years. They still use paper logs to record their driving times. They say if they use the electronic recorder it would be an invasion of their privacy.

“It just causes a hardship,” explains Waters. “We’re a team so there is nobody out there trying to get around as far of the driving hours, but they seem to think we have totally deep pockets out here.”

The News-Leader reports Rob Abbott, vice president of safety policy at the American Trucking Association, as conceding there are some privacy concerns, but in reality it would only help to inform business owners of their driver’s potentially unrelated work activity conducted while using the truck:

“If I’m at the casino or the racetrack, my employer will know that,” he said. But he added that the owner of a rig has a right to know where his equipment is.

In a more recent press release the OOIDA said it found the support of the provision by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters — a labor union — as further evidence that larger corporations were behind this measure in bill.

“But support coming from the Teamsters, who filed comments to the government in 2007 opposing EOBRs, proves that this is more about attacking independent contractors and small businesses than safety,” Spencer said.

The News-Leader reports some larger trucking companies who have already voluntarily installed the tackers into their trucks support the mandate because they hope it would encourage fair business practices. Don Lacy with Prime Inc., a company with 4,400 trucks, said those using paper logs can misrepresent how many hours they’ve actually driven and therefore get away with cheaper rates.

TruckingInfo notes if the budget is not passed by June 30 and it receives another extension, this will be its 10th. The program expired in Oct. 2009.

Comments (80)

1 2
  • COFemale
    Posted on May 18, 2012 at 12:49pm

    If it hasn’t already transpired, it will soon. This requirement will go into the vehicles we buy. It is none of the governments business where trucks are, how long they’ve been on the road. This is the companies problem. If one of their drivers do not follow driving rules, then you fine them if their logs are not correct. If we let the DOT get away with this intrusion, then what is next.

    Say NO, but HELL NO!

    Report Post » COFemale  
    • right-wing-waco
      Posted on May 18, 2012 at 1:38pm

      The truck I drive has the electronic log. (What the story is about) Without that, my company would have me working 16-18 hours a day. During October & November I am worked 12 to 14 hours for 6 days a week and sometimes I am unable to sleep due to being so tired.

      Do you really think it’s safe to have “dead tired” truck drivers next to you on the road?

      However, I do not support the federal government’s intrusion any more that you do.

      Report Post »  
    • ENIGMA28724
      Posted on May 18, 2012 at 2:15pm

      I disagree. Having seen the results of truckers who drive more than their allowed time, I think it is everyone’s business. Safety rules enforced by companies and independent drivers isn’t working. Locally we had a trucker on the innerstate who dozed off and ran over [and I do mean over] a number of cars that were stopped due to traffic construction. Eight people were killed and others injured. And other accidents on the interstate where truckers have run over and killed State Troopers sitting in their cars on the shoulder with their overhead blue lights on. Go tell the families that it’s the business of the companies and drivers. I don’t think you will get very far.

      Report Post »  
    • The-Monk
      Posted on May 18, 2012 at 3:11pm

      Wow, I interviewed for a job monitoring the output of these devices, including the cameras mounted in the cab. Part of the job was to maintain the devices and make sure the driver had not disabled any of them.

      When I asked about the driver‘s reactions to having the devices installed I was told they weren’t very happy. When I asked about protection from angry drivers I was told I would be on my own. When I asked about health insurance, in case of an angry drives getting violent, I was told “no health insurance”. I was also told I was not allowed to protect myself and to run back into the office, lock the door and call 911.

      I said, “Look, if I’m attacked I will defend myself.” The interview was ended and I never heard back from them. The job paid $12.00 per hour.

      Report Post » The-Monk  
    • The-Monk
      Posted on May 18, 2012 at 3:31pm

      @right-wing-waco

      They’re not talking about just electronic logs; they’re talking cameras pointed right at the drivers face.

      I interviewed for one of these jobs, on the technical side of it and part of the job was to watch the drivers face for fatigue, alertness and several other factors on a “checklist”.

      All the info was to be stored on the onboard (locked up) hard drive which was to be removed and replaced when it was full. The info on the hard drives would be analyzed, Excel spreadsheets filled out and the data sent to some Gov agency. : (

      Report Post » The-Monk  
    • right-wing-waco
      Posted on May 18, 2012 at 3:38pm

      The-Monk
      Thanks for that information. I did not know how far the BS went. That, (cameras), goes too far. That is the day the drivers should all stop working and what will the world do when your TP is gone? Maybe that is the day I retire.

      Report Post »  
    • GUT_CHECK
      Posted on May 18, 2012 at 5:56pm

      I BELIEVE THESE DEVICES WILL CAUSE DEATH AND DESTRUCTION…

      in this world, a driver knows when he needs a nap, and he takes it.
      in the new world, he is tracked and unable to stop because the damn recorder is tattling on his every move. if the customer is 2 hours away, and you have only 2 hours remaining by law, he will need to drive it no matter if he really needs a nap and no matter if he does not need to be to the customer for 4-5 hours.

      i took a government mandated nap once, and i woke up so mad i couldnt see straight. no damn government can tell a man when to sleep and to work when he knows he needs to rest

      it is criminal that they could get away with this, considering they know nothing of what is required by each individual driver. young ones dont have the stamina, some older ones need to stop and walk around every so often.

      you cant cage a free man!!!

      Report Post »  
    • LOTO
      Posted on May 18, 2012 at 6:02pm

      I have to tell you that most times drivers get tired is no where near the end of drive time.
      You cannot tell from one day to the next when you will get sleepy. It happens anytime your body wants it to. The point is that with these recorders you are forced to grunt it out rather than take a nap and continue when you are rested.
      HP writes tickets if you pull over on a ramp when you are afraid to go on and parking is a real problem.
      These EOBR’s are designed to protect the company while forcing drivers to be on schedule to maximize productivity. Drivers work a 14 hour day. Some might say they do too, but its not spent in less than a 6 x 6 work area. Think about this. You start work 8 am and get off at 10 pm until you work 70 hours ( almost 2 full time jobs). Then you get 34 hours off (of which you have a sleep time after work and hopefully another before work) and are expected to do it again and again and again without getting sleepy. You get a week off after a year, then another year of this. No holidays. No overtime. Its not like driving 20 hours and then spending a week on the beach, its nearly every day you work. Many places you deliver have no parking.and wont even let you use their bathroom.
      No one wants trucks parking around them. If you really cared about safety, parking is the biggest factor.
      Most people have NO idea how a drivers work is and nor do they care until tragedy strikes.
      Unless the machine can drive, this fixes nothing, and in fact makes it worse

      Report Post » LOTO  
    • MAMMY_NUNN
      Posted on May 18, 2012 at 6:55pm

      Also look at it this way non union truckers could become targets they will know who you are and where you are.

      Report Post »  
    • MAMMY_NUNN
      Posted on May 18, 2012 at 7:05pm

      After your Government mandated nap are you anymore alert ?

      Report Post »  
    • The-Monk
      Posted on May 18, 2012 at 9:01pm

      @right-wing-waco

      You’re welcome. Here’s some additional information for your personal edification:

      The job I applied for was about a year ago. It was a trial program in my area where some local (small) trucking companies signed up and “volunteered” their trucks to participate in the Federal program. This seems how it is done and I don’t know if the companies were compensated for their trucks being used as guinea-pigs in this trial program.

      Cameras? You better believe it. The main part of this program “was” the cameras. Being able to view the driver’s face every second they were driving (and also the audio) was the main point. I‘m glad I didn’t get the position, even though I’m still unemployed, for two reasons;

      1- I want truckers to keep delivering goods to my area (even though I can go 6 months or more with all the stores closed).
      2- I don’t want to hurt (or kill) a trucker, with or without a family, because he’s upset with me for following the instructions given to me by the Feds.

      I’m still unemployed but, I can sleep at night.

      Report Post » The-Monk  
    • routnom23
      Posted on May 19, 2012 at 2:46pm

      right wing waco, Why did you let your employer do that to you. I was a driver for 15 years and never once let a dispatcher make me take a load that would put me in a position where I would have to choose between driving when I needed sleep, or sleeping. You did that because you were either too lazy to find a reputable company, or HAD to work for the people you did, or didn’t have the nads to stand up for yourself. Even when the economy was good, a reliable driver could get a job in 10 minutes.

      Report Post »  
    • right-wing-waco
      Posted on May 19, 2012 at 3:04pm

      routnom23
      You are correct that a good driver can get a job in no time… IF he want to go long haul and seldom see home and work for $10 to $15 an hour or mileage. I am home daily and make $25 an hour. ( I am union, not that I like unions but I joined for the money.) Believe me most of the drivers do not agree with the union attitude. I have on several times told them that I was “fatigued”, (the keyword), and they have no choice but to let you go, but you know that if that becomes a habit that they will find “something” to fire you for. We work 65 to 70 hours a week during the Thanksgiving & Christmas holidays. I am also 64 years old and that is not the time to start over. Quitting is NOT an option, and when I am over tired, I just slow down and then it costs them more.

      Report Post »  
    • routnom23
      Posted on May 19, 2012 at 3:18pm

      Drivers who drive until they can’t see straight will continue to do that. There will be ways to beat the system, and those who can, will. Sometimes you can drive for 11 hours and still be wide awake, and sometimes you can get a good 8 hours of sleep and 2 hours down the road you can’t keep your eyes open. I’ve experience both in my 15 years over the road. Nothing, and I repeat nothing is a substitute for sleep. Those who ignore their body’s needs are going to have trouble sooner or later. As far as I am concerned, a driver who falls asleep at the wheel should be prosecuted to the fullest extent for whatever accident occurs, and should never be allowed to have a CDL again. I had 1.6 million miles with no accidents when I retired. I never had a service failure. The large majority of drivers out there are very professional and stay within the realm of sane thinking, Just think about how many trucks you see on the road, and how few accidents there are. Several years ago there was a story in one of the driver magazines that broke down the numbers of accidents involving cars and tractor/trailers, over 70% were caused by the car. Having said the above, I would rather have a tired trucker beside me than some guy coming home Sunday night from a weekend in Vegas who is hungover and didn’t sleep all weekend. In 1996 I counted 76 white crosses on US Hwy 93 from Wickenburg, AZ 105 miles up to Interstate 40. Mostly from just that scenario.

      Report Post »  
    • wntsmallgov
      Posted on May 20, 2012 at 5:16am

      To Right wing wacko
      I also work in the industry. I know of several companies that fine the drivers for not logging the drive hours with out the elogs. I also know of a few companies that need to go to them to protect the drivers. But most O and O’s can not afford to buy this system.
      The other fact is that there are not enough safe truck stops in some areas in the country for the drivers who need to stop.
      But the most important think about drivers. 40% no longer speak or understand english. that is dangerous in itself. In fact how did they get their lic. if they do not understand, speak or writed English? DOT Has issues.

      Report Post » wntsmallgov  
    • right-wing-waco
      Posted on May 20, 2012 at 9:03am

      wntsmallgov,
      Trust me, I’m on the side of the owners and drivers here. I do not want any more government snooping or regulations. I also agree, how do you get a CDL without speaking English.

      Report Post »  
  • KeithOlberdink
    Posted on May 18, 2012 at 11:43am

    Yes, just what we need, more regulations. Do these people ever quit trying to justify their existance?

    Report Post » KeithOlberdink  
    • Baddoggy
      Posted on May 18, 2012 at 12:09pm

      My boss wanted to put a tracker on my car. I said fine,,,Buy 2, the first one will be broken in about an hour…So he put a tracker on my cell phone. I leave it in the office and NEVER take it with me. he got mad about it and I said if you dont see the inconme I bring you as good enough the FIRE ME ASSH@LE! He has not said a word since….

      Report Post » Baddoggy  
    • soybomb315
      Posted on May 18, 2012 at 12:25pm

      @baddoggy

      Lol. You will like this quote…
      “Find out just what any people will quietly submit to and you have the exact measure of the injustice and wrong which will be imposed on them” – Frederick Douglass

      It applies to government as well as people…basically, anybody who wants power over someone else. Way to take a stand

      Report Post » soybomb315  
    • Baddoggy
      Posted on May 18, 2012 at 1:10pm

      My boss knows where I stand. He hears it in my rants against the Government. He knows i am a hardworking and honest man. he knows his income would suffer without me. I have power over him and will keep it that way. Until he can find someone as good or better than me at what i do, it will stay that way…BTW after little discussion about the cell phone, I asked and got a raise in commission rate.

      They only get power if you are a crappy employee or you give them the power. If they enact this law, every truck driver should park the trucks in the middle of the highways. I am not so much on Union shennanigans but this is way too invasive. Screw them!

      Report Post » Baddoggy  
  • Scottscobig
    Posted on May 18, 2012 at 10:14am

    Once again, the real issues are ignored. I guess we’re all just okay with all of the guilty-until-proven-innocent factors in a trucker’s life. He’s only allowed to drive X number of hours per day and per week. And he has to roll over scales every few miles and submit himself to all kinds of inspections, etc. to prove he’s not doing anything our mommy-knows-best govt doesn’t approve of. Meanwhile, millions of other, non-truck drivers have no such problems. This is just one example, not just of a violation of the equal protection/application of the law clause of the constitution; but of legislation/regulation that affects 1000s of truckers who have committed no crime. There are plenty of laws that would go into effect if a trucker were in a wreck where he was at fault. It reminds me of the texting while driving law. What’s next? No conversations while driving? No thinking about anything but driving while driving? Mandatory seatbelt wearing? Oh…..wait.

    But truckers rigs are bigger and more destructive, so they should be more responsible? Check the accident stats at http://www.truckinfo.net/trucking/stats.htm#Accident%20Stats

    What? Truckers are safer because of regulation? Right. If you think that, you must really be enjoying the joys of our current socialistic state.

    But what do you care, you’re not a trucker. Well, these, like all regulations, raise the cost of all of the things you buy.

    Report Post »  
    • mom4times
      Posted on May 18, 2012 at 10:23am

      egggcelent point

      Report Post » mom4times  
    • wezzie
      Posted on May 18, 2012 at 11:01am

      I’m really sick of all these regulations that are put on truckers. I rode in a bigrig with my husband many times and 98% of the accidents are NOT the truckers. Just watch them 4 wheelers and you will know who the dumb—– are.

      Report Post »  
    • JRook
      Posted on May 18, 2012 at 12:38pm

      @wezzie Like many you speak of them or the government as though it is someone other than the wealthy and the large corporations talking through it. Take the time to see the lobbyists behind such regulations and you’ll find that it is the large trucking and insurance companies driving out competition from smaller companies and independent truckers.

      Report Post »  
    • RollyBones
      Posted on May 18, 2012 at 8:51pm

      JROOK,
      That’s an excellent point.! Big trucking companies do not in any way care one whit about it’s drivers. The believe that we are monkeys that know how to shift and steer. Al they care about are the costs of insurance and fuel and tires. What it costs us in the detrimental facets of these jobs doesn’t matter at all! We are the weak cogs in the gears. They would use robots in a NY minute if they thought they could!

      Rolly

      Report Post » RollyBones  
    • snufy
      Posted on May 19, 2012 at 1:05am

      Yea. When you’re in the cab, you‘re the DOT’s bitch. Lots of lawyers advertising on billboards for clients that have been in a wreck with a truck, because they know they carry good insurance. Someone can get in a motor home and drive across the country w/o stopping, but not in a commercial vehicle. The FMCSA says that they cannot regulate cars, and they regulate the heck out of trucks because they can. As for drug testing, Obama is allowing Mexican trucks to come across the border without our requirements. There are no drug testing facilities in the country of Mexico. All of our old trucks go to Mexico to die. I was watching a local tv reporter in Phoenix that was showing a Mexican truck that came across the border with a flatbed load of steel that was secured with baleing twine.

      Report Post » snufy  
  • soybomb315
    Posted on May 18, 2012 at 9:58am

    Even when you think congress is doing something good like getting the keystone pipeline bill passed – they load it with all these attachments that make our lives worse. These days, there is no such thing as a good bill – everything is compromised with socialism and unconstitutional authority.

    Things like this prove the republican party has not reformed and is still part of the big government party

    Report Post » soybomb315  
  • Shylmysten
    Posted on May 18, 2012 at 9:57am

    I have been driving a Truck since 2003, and what most people seem to forget about this whole issue is that most of us out here get paid to drive, by the mile. When I’m not driving, I am on my personal time. But not really…you see I am still responsible for that truck, trailer, and the load in it – if something happens to it, I am liable – so I can never really go to far for too long from the truck. Yet I am paid absolutely NOTHING for this “on-duty” status, and I am also required to log this as off duty or in the sleeper.

    Does my company have a right to know where there equipment is – yes – does the government have a right to know where -=I=- am…absolutely not!

    The real kicker about all of this “hours of service” is that it is nothing more than slight of hand, because in reality, as long as drivers are paid by the mile, hours of service or not, they are being INCENTIVIZED to drive as long and as far as they can. Out here you never know what your paycheck is going to look like beyond the load you are driving. It’s tough…you might have had a great cross county load last week that brought you from California to New York, but this week since nothing is paying that great, you get stuck a few days in New York so your paycheck is short. Next week you will have to run the rubber off your tires to make up for the bad week.

    I offer a solution for hiway safety and our perpetual “on-duty” status…PAY DRIVERS A SALARY!! No more incentive to drive beyond our hours

    Report Post »  
    • soybomb315
      Posted on May 18, 2012 at 10:16am

      Thanks for the insight. In your opinion, is there a safety risk from drivers driving tired? Does making drivers drive less hours make the roads that much safer?

      Report Post » soybomb315  
    • GUT_CHECK
      Posted on May 18, 2012 at 6:09pm

      soybomb, you ask as if we are all the same person… we are not!!!

      each person is different, some “night people” some “morning people”

      all laws destroy the common bonds that we all build with each other

      when the government steps between a company and their drivers, the company must begin the play angles to gain lost productivity. the government cannot force you to work or sleep. but these laws do just that.

      next time you ask about laws and drivers, go to bed at 2 in the afternoon and stay there till 12 midnight, then work till 4 the next afternoon and dont complain.

      thats what these laws do for drivers

      and if the drivers dont like it, tough!!!

      Report Post »  
  • CulperGang
    Posted on May 18, 2012 at 9:50am

    Another legislation for the INSURANCE industry. Time to shut out big government from out daily lives. The truckers need to stand on the 4th Amendments. There are many private citizens on the road hopped up on prescription drugs, that are just as much in danger of dosing off behind the wheel.
    So this “instrusion” into the trucking industry is ABOUT monetary shakedown. Who in the government has shares in the “hardware” these truckers are supposed to put on the rigs!!

    BAN politicians from getting rich on insider trading on wall street!

    Report Post » CulperGang  
  • dopie joe
    Posted on May 18, 2012 at 9:44am

    I parked my truck two years ago because of high fuel prices,cheap freight rates,and all the regulations that have been imposed in the last 10 yrs.I have put in 26 years behind the wheel of a semi,logged over 2.5 million miles in the oilfield,union freight hauler,long haul 48 state company driver and owner operator without an accident and received only one ticket for speeding in 1986 and had every endorsement I could possibly get on my licensees.Every since 911 happened truckers have been considered terrorists.The gov. just keeps wanting to tighten the screws(back ground checks,finger prints,police records check),folks it just ain’t worth it anymore.The gov. would rather use trucks from Mexico to haul the freight than to use trucks from here in the US.Eventually a trucker will be able to pick up a load in Mexico and haul it all the way to China thanks to Nafta.They are building a tunnel now that will cross from Alaska into Russia http://inhabitat.com/russia-green-lights-65-billion-siberia-alaska-rail-and-tunnel-to-bridge-the-bering-strait/ http://www.didik.com/highway/

    Report Post »  
  • mastice
    Posted on May 18, 2012 at 9:41am

    I will agree with Snufy that the system does have it’s advantages, but there are some disadvantages as well. (former driver myself – used both paper and electronic systems)

    I am with the crowd that questions whether the electronic monitoring systems (qualcom for example) makes things safer. One thing I learned in a hurry under the e-log system is time management, and how fast that can be screwed up and put you in a worse bind than the old paper systems. I also learned there are ways to fudge the system, just like with paper logs. Just because your “computer” says you are not moving and “resting” doesn’t always mean you are doing just that.

    For example many systems don’t track small movements (less than .6 miles), as long as you restart the system/engine, which allows you to reposition the truck around shipper/receiver yards for loading and unloading. You may sit all night long at a job site or loading dock getting unloaded (awake the whole time) but your computer shows you “resting” for 10 hours, which resets your clock and allows you a new 11d/14od shift.

    Speaking of the 14hr ‘on duty’ time. With the old paper system, if you got tired after 6 hours you could take a 2hr nap and ‘back your logs up’ (fudge). But under the e-log system once you go on duty you are screwed and have to push yourself or sit for a mandatory break. (or if something happens that burns your 14)

    So you see, there are some major disadvantages to it. And, again, I question how i

    Report Post » mastice  
    • mastice
      Posted on May 18, 2012 at 9:55am

      …I question how it will make things ‘safer’. (got to remember – even though Blaze gives us 1500 characters, it ‘always’ cuts it off around 1400….. they need to fix this I think)

      Report Post » mastice  
    • mastice
      Posted on May 18, 2012 at 10:04am

      I have another rambling side point to add to this here too. One thing that irritated the heck out of me when I drove was all the ‘concern’ for the big rig drivers. What about all the half asleep, intoxicated, reckless, speeding, texting, phone jabbering, eating, drinking, idiot ‘4-wheelers’ who bared passed drivers education?

      (a rhetorical question) Tell me why truckers are picked on and over regulated … when a 18 year old (kid) can jump in his souped up sports car and drive/speed (non-stop) from New York to Seattle fueled on snickers and Red Bolt?

      I, like any other current or former truck driver here, can tell you that we saw/see far more dangerous behavior and accidents caused by/from ‘4-wheelers’ than we ever did from fellow truck drivers.

      Report Post » mastice  
  • Vickie Dhaene
    Posted on May 18, 2012 at 9:37am

    This is more than big brother! This is Communism at the very least.

    Report Post »  
  • soybomb315
    Posted on May 18, 2012 at 9:34am

    Republicans and democrats are part of the big brother party and are rotten to the core. If republicans had any principles, this would never see the light of day

    Report Post » soybomb315  
  • Building-5
    Posted on May 18, 2012 at 9:32am

    how long before it’s put in private passenger cars?

    Report Post » Building-5  
    • mom4times
      Posted on May 18, 2012 at 9:49am

      won’t be long at all….they already have cars that put on the brakes for you and park…..they better leave my bicycle along ; )

      Report Post » mom4times  
  • sawbuck
    Posted on May 18, 2012 at 9:31am

    Hey Cass ..How can we start tracking ALL that moves..?

    I know …lets START with something the people will accept..

    Big Rigs…They DO tear up them side roads…
    They constantly side-stepping all those regulations… we have put in place.

    Then when we have our foot in the door …

    THEN…

    Then to ALL vehicles …..Then to ALL products…

    Then well….???

    Do you think we can make the jump from vehicles …to people..?

    I don’t know ….“The sheep ”…Seem to buy into it..

    As long as they think its for the greater good….!

    Good idea CASS…good idea..!

    Report Post » sawbuck  
    • The-Monk
      Posted on May 18, 2012 at 3:38pm

      Yep, and the TSA‘s VIPER program on the highways to stop everyone to make sure the devices aren’t disabled.

      Report Post » The-Monk  
  • On_The_Spot
    Posted on May 18, 2012 at 9:26am

    I have a friend who drives a truck for a big company that also uses the EOBR. What irritates him more is the company, under the guise of “fuel economy” has set the maximum speed on their trucks to below the speed limit on most Interstate Highways. With the recent spike in diesel prices, they lowered it again (I believe he said it is currently 63MPH).

    He’s forced to getting fewer miles, and being paid by the mile, a smaller paycheck. He also runs out of service hours in the most inconvenient places. At the same time, other drivers are at risk by a slower moving vehicle on highways were the posted limit is 70-75MPH.

    So Unions and big name companies, maybe you should consider a concession and stop limiting truck speeds in trade for EOBR in all trucks, otherwise, this should be allowed to die as another unfunded mandate.

    Report Post » On_The_Spot  
    • JRook
      Posted on May 18, 2012 at 9:37am

      Once again the group here will miss the forest from the trees. Look who is behind the legislation and I’ll bet substantially that there are lobbyists financed by the big trucking companies pushing the regulations. As in most industries it is the established, large, well funded companies who are behind such regulations that limit competition and maximize their profits. This is when capitalism breaks down and understand it is not originating from the government. It is because the politicians on both sides of the isle are bought and paid for by the wealthy and large corporations.

      Report Post »  
  • starman70
    Posted on May 18, 2012 at 9:26am

    Another Orwellian ploy by this administration to micro manage every facet of everyones lives. Pretty soon, they will number every piece of toilet paper used to insure that you don’t use too much.

    Truckers, already squeezed with high fuel prices, increasing highway tolls and taxes surely don’t need this proposal. If it is implimented, we, the the consumers of truck transported goods will see the expense incurred by the trucking industry reflected in increased prices for food and merchandise in the stores.

    HEY FOLKS, IT’S YOUR MONEY! Clean out the Senate and the House along with 1600 PennsylvaniaAvenue in 2012!!! GET RID OF CAREER POLITICIANS AND THE AMATEUR PRESIDENT!!!

    Report Post »  
  • lukerw
    Posted on May 18, 2012 at 9:24am

    Socialists do not understand how Ad Hoc Business operates in a Free Economic System… so the Obama Administration requires tons of Reporting & Tracking… because, given a Socialist Take Over and Direction of Labor, they (those whom are Smater than everyone else) need the information to Run the System without Traditional Executives… for their Planned Economy and next 5 Year Plan!

    Report Post » lukerw  
  • LOTO
    Posted on May 18, 2012 at 9:14am

    Trucking has become such a crap whole industry that it could be used to incarcerate criminals efficiently. It is ridiculous the hours these people work and the conditions they endure. These conditions in any other industry would bring be subject to all kinds of labor violations but heads are turned when it comes to trucking.

    Report Post » LOTO  
    • afishfarted
      Posted on May 18, 2012 at 9:29am

      well that’s an interesting comment. The guvment regulates the crap out of the industry — at the behest of the teamsters — and adversly affect the independent owrner/driver and you speak of the conditions they work in. This is not to say the teamsters havent had a pivotol role in trucking safety and workplace improvements. But still ~~~ interesting comment.

      Report Post »  
  • LARR
    Posted on May 18, 2012 at 9:09am

    i worked at a grocery store 1969-1970 in Gainesville FL (GO GATORS!). Even that far back the semis that brought the case goods had a paper disc/clock type recording system that graphed the time/duration as to whether the truck was running or not. The drivers hated it, said that mgt used that to see if they were taking breaks along the way or not.

    Report Post »  
    • servant100
      Posted on May 18, 2012 at 9:34am

      Did a year with TMC OTR before I got sick and tired of the disconnect. You have two competing and opposite “desires” here: safety and low prices. This comes from safety…exhausted truckeers = wrecks = dead people. Second is low prices = maximum 60-70 hr weeks…no stops…= cheap costs for goods.

      So they run double books…Sales and Scheduling run you a 60-70 hour work week…against regulations…plus they train lots of new drivers, run em through the mill…charge full rate for them and pay them half rate and pocket the difference…puppy farming…raise masses of puppies and get rid of em once you have made maximum bucks off em. So company is running one set of books – for their profit. They fire the driver if he doesn’t complete this schedule as dispatched.

      Then the safety department uses the satellite qualcom to track every thing your truck is doing…and they send you messages every day, samplers to drive safe and not exceed your DOT hours…so that when you have the inevetable wreck that comes from new drivers running impossible schedules and running themselves into the ground…the company is protected…their ass is covered…its all the driver’s fault.

      Total BS….but its institutional hypocracy…built into the regulations. Citizens want cheap prices…which means that DOT looks the other way when the companies run drivers into the ground with double books….and the citizens want safety…which means DOT does obvious show trials.

      Police

      Report Post »  
    • mastice
      Posted on May 18, 2012 at 9:52am

      @servant100

      TMC = too much chrome (sorry couldn’t help it) :) I pity you there – I drove lazy man’s truck – refer, the heck with flatbed.

      In all seriousness, you said it better than I have seen it said so far on this! Forcing ‘every’ truck to have e-logs or satellite tracking just helps the ‘driver-mills‘ and ’training schools’ … the turnover rate will skyrocket, and no one can tell me that once all we have are ‘rookie’ drivers on the road things will be safer for all.

      It’ll be a mess.

      Report Post » mastice  
  • searching for the Truth
    Posted on May 18, 2012 at 9:02am

    It’s just gonna be very very difficult to extract these price increases from a fast food pay check.

    Report Post »  
  • EP46
    Posted on May 18, 2012 at 9:02am

    Well, all the new cars are going to require ‘black boxes’….these things are easier to implement before the ‘human chip implants’ take place.

    Report Post »  
  • Watcher1952
    Posted on May 18, 2012 at 9:01am

    Just another measure to shut down our over the road truckers,,,,,that’s one of the reasons for the Diesel Fuel to be so expensive…..The more trucks they take off the road the more money Buffett will make with his railroad……AMERICA has got to wake up and vote these people out of office…..they want command and control of the AMERICAN people….headed by Barrack Hussein Obama

    Report Post »  
  • snufy
    Posted on May 18, 2012 at 8:56am

    As a driver with Prime, Inc and formerly with Schneider National, I have been using the Qualcom for logging for the past several years. It has it’s advantages and disadvantages, but I kinda like it. It keeps track of hours and location for you, and eliminates the need to to mess around filling out paper logs and sending them in to the company. It‘s also advantageous in that it’s a satellite operated computer. Unless the antenna is in a building or under an obstruction, or next to a building blocking the signal, you are always in touch with the company for directions, assignments, daily inspections and emergencies. Schneider was the first customer for Qualcom, and I was among the first to use it. Many drivers do not like changes, but they just have to get used to it. In the 80′s, I came upon an accident scene in the middle of Nebraska and called my dispatcher, who in turn called the Highway Patrol. The trooper was impressed with the Qualcom, saying that even the Highway Patrol didn’t have that technology.

    Report Post » snufy  
    • Dougral Supports Israel
      Posted on May 18, 2012 at 9:41am

      There’s nothing wrong with that technology if the company owner chooses to use it. The problem I have is the government enacting regulations that provide little public benefit or are designed to serve special interests.

      Report Post »  
    • mom4times
      Posted on May 18, 2012 at 9:43am

      that’s the problem with technology like this though…..it’s working well for you but…..there is always an arterial motive for everything…..I hope that it stays good for you…..although i wouldn’t be surprised if there was a way to shut your truck down if they wanted to

      Report Post » mom4times  
    • snufy
      Posted on May 19, 2012 at 12:54am

      Mom, you have it right. Before you tell them that you quit and am going to bobtail home, pull the plug on the Qualcom, because they know exactly where you are and can call the cops on you, claiming that you are stealing their truck. Also, they can shut your truck speed down to 15 mph. It reports everything about the way you drive, too…What speed, rpm and gear you are in, idle time, when you are stopped and when you are moving…You gotta be a good boy.

      Report Post » snufy  
  • FeliciaJewel
    Posted on May 18, 2012 at 8:56am

    To all of our truckers in America, I do not know how you put up with the gas prices, regulations, and other hassles. I thank you for your service!! Say no to the BOX!!!

    Report Post » FeliciaJewel  
  • Haxhi
    Posted on May 18, 2012 at 8:54am

    I disagree with this measure just another way to collect revenue and control commerce didn’t the pres give himself the the power to control transportation in a crisis recently

    Report Post »  
  • randy
    Posted on May 18, 2012 at 8:41am

    Every F’n Day, it‘s something isn’t it? !!!

    Report Post » randy  
  • progressiveslayer
    Posted on May 18, 2012 at 8:40am

    The big government advocates can never have enough control,that’s all they do is think up new laws and regulations to control everything,to make sure it conforms to their ideas of how us serfs live and work every day.We’re making communists look like they have more freedom than us,bunch of BS.

    Report Post » progressiveslayer  
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