silent trucker
TB Veteran
- Credits
- 409
RC says no problemoSpeed limiters are next...
Speaking as an o/o, I think ELD's are an important and long overdue update. The only reason the OOIDA has been stalling this is because so many independents cheat their way to success.And the ATA (made up of mainly large corporations) successfully stomps on the small business owners (owner operators/independent contractors) one more time...eventually the ATA will run every O/O,IC out of business, with the help of our Govt of course!!
Are they wrapped in cellophane?I keep extra dongles in my hat so I don't have to plug my own dongle....never mind...
It's not that simple. Everything is stored in a database, not under your mattress. Running multiple subscriptions would get expensive, as would keeping track of what you have and haven't used. It would be much easier to get caught, since all the DOT has to do is get access to your phone. And running a separate phone for each subscription would also get expensive.Ever the cynic, RC is certain that if some enterprising person hasn't already done so, there will soon be gypos running down the road with two or three ELDs and the playing field will no longer be level.
I'll respectfully disagree with your "cheat their way to success" statement...my opinion has more to do with the single truck/trailer O/O's and the HOS rules which are verified by the ELD's than the initial cost or operating expenses of the devices.Speaking as an o/o, I think ELD's are an important and long overdue update. The only reason the OOIDA has been stalling this is because so many independents cheat their way to success.
There are plenty of cost-effective ways for an independent to implement an ELD system. They've got it setup now so you can plug a dongle into your truck's OBD port and run an ELD as an app on your phone. Cheap entry fee, cheap monthly subscription.
ELD's are a benefit to honest runners, with the onus now on the carrier and shipper to do things LEGALLY.
They have, it's called the OOIDA...unfortunately for them, they don't have the money or the power (leverage) that the ATA has.Maybe those small businesses should organize and form a union!
If you're moving cheap freight, you're part of the problem. That's the way I look at it, and I always have. That's why truckload is undergoing some pretty serious shifting right now.I'll respectfully disagree with your "cheat their way to success" statement...my opinion has more to do with the single truck/trailer O/O's and the HOS rules which are verified by the ELD's than the initial cost or operating expenses of the devices.
We all know that truck load is a cut throat business and under the current HOS rules, single truck/trailer O/O's get hammered by waiting or sitting at a dock for hours/days on end while O/O's that lease on with a company or company drivers with a said company can drop and hook and keep rolling.
With the ELD's being pushed by the ATA (big corporations) and mandated by the Govt, it creates an unlevel playing field by allowing the big companies to squeeze out the competition (O/O) who can't afford to move cheap freight like the big corporations can.
Thanks to the ATA pushing the mandate for ELD's, eventually single truck/trailer O/O's will be forced to make a choice...either lease on with a big corporation or sell their equipment and find another line of work...IMO.
One that is long enough to dangle?What is a dongle? Lol
That is the problem...the big corporations can move the freight a lot cheaper than a single O/O which in turn creates cheap freight regardless of who's pulling their trailers...and with the backing of the ATA pushing things through Congress in the name of "safety", they're basically running the little man out of business.If you're moving cheap freight, you're part of the problem. That's the way I look at it, and I always have. That's why truckload is undergoing some pretty serious shifting right now.
Independents who are running in TL have another option; get out of TL. Buy a reefer or a flat deck and escape TL before it collapses under the weight of all that super cheap freight.
Again, you're competing on the wrong level if ELD's are going to hinder your ability to make a profit. The little guy shouldn't be exempt from the rules for the simple reason that every big carrier running o/o's would expect all their o/o's to become independents specifically to exploit such an exemption.
And, respectfully, I will NEVER endorse the exploitation of such a glaring loophole.