Just venting a little today..

[tramp1155]

I was sitting around the house today and thought a little about this upcoming H.O.S. change headed our way and I just had to send the folks over at the A.T.A. an email.I am sure they will trash it but at least I feel better. Anyway here is the word for word transcript..
To whom-ever reads this.
I have long felt that OOIDA and the Teamsters are the only friends a truck driver has in Washington D.C. Your groups stance on several issues in the past and more impotantly in recent weeks have shown your true colors that of U.S. currency green.I am amazed at how dumb your group thinks the rest of us are by saying an extra hour of driving is safe???
I can tell you in the few years since 2003 I have seen more trucks laid over than before 2003.The real problem here is that 14 hour clock,there is not much lee-way for a driver to rest if needed therefore forcing one to drive tired or suffer financially over lost miles and or loads.
I remember when this whole H.O.S. stuff came about the argument was "times have changed" trucks are more powerful and comfortable.That is true but in 1939 a driver may have only covered 200 miles in a 10 hour period,where now under the right conditions a driver may cover 500 to 700 miles a very substantial increase.I am asking and your group be smart and demand the old rules be put back in place.They worked fine for many many years and would continue to do so for many many more.
American Trucking Association,,hmm I think we need a true American Truckers Association..Maybe in your quest for greed you folks can start up another group and collect membership dues from the people who actually move the freight,,the American Trucker..

Hopefully I have not bored you all to tears here have a great day..
Tramp1155

[River17]

Originally Posted by tramp1155

I was sitting around the house today and thought a little about this upcoming H.O.S. change headed our way and I just had to send the folks over at the A.T.A. an email.I am sure they will trash it but at least I feel better. Anyway here is the word for word transcript..
To whom-ever reads this.
I have long felt that OOIDA and the Teamsters are the only friends a truck driver has in Washington D.C. Your groups stance on several issues in the past and more impotantly in recent weeks have shown your true colors that of U.S. currency green.I am amazed at how dumb your group thinks the rest of us are by saying an extra hour of driving is safe???
I can tell you in the few years since 2003 I have seen more trucks laid over than before 2003.The real problem here is that 14 hour clock,there is not much lee-way for a driver to rest if needed therefore forcing one to drive tired or suffer financially over lost miles and or loads.
I remember when this whole H.O.S. stuff came about the argument was "times have changed" trucks are more powerful and comfortable.That is true but in 1939 a driver may have only covered 200 miles in a 10 hour period,where now under the right conditions a driver may cover 500 to 700 miles a very substantial increase.I am asking and your group be smart and demand the old rules be put back in place.They worked fine for many many years and would continue to do so for many many more.
American Trucking Association,,hmm I think we need a true American Truckers Association..Maybe in your quest for greed you folks can start up another group and collect membership dues from the people who actually move the freight,,the American Trucker..

Hopefully I have not bored you all to tears here have a great day..
Tramp1155

tramp1155

50 views and not even one post.
Here is my take.
I think the new rules are just fine. The only thing I think is crazy is forcing team driver to sleep or drive for ten hours instead of the old 5 on and 5 off.
You need to try to go back and think like an owner-operator again.
The busy bodies that want to sue the government need to find a different pastime.
If you get plenty of sleep you should not have to take a nap during the 14 hour period.
Just take a 1/2 nap against the door and not in the bunk, and you will feel good as new.
ps. I hope that phone rings with your 2 hour call.

[linehaul]

doesnt the old rules let you go back to work after 8 hours off. that works for an OTR driver, but for a local driver its not enough time to travel back and forth to work, eat shower and so on. I dont want to be called back to work after 8 off. i like the new rules

[tramp1155]

My main issue has always been that 14 hour clock.A driver waits at a reciever 2 1/2 hours at 8 am and at 10:30 am drives 60 miles to shipper,while in route eats breakfast takes him 1/2 hour.He arrives at shippers at 12:30 pm.Same driver is at shippers 3 hours all the while worried as his appointment is at 8:00 tommorrow at Wal-Mart.This leaves our hero 6 1/2 hours to drive,his load is 517 miles away safe to say 9 hours driving as he is going east of the Mississippi.He drives 7 hours and takes his 10 off at 10:00pm..At 8:00 ( his appt time at W-M ) the driver leaves headed for wal-mart he has 2 hours to go.He arrives at Wal-Mart at 10:30 am,,only to find out his company has no drop trailers and he has to come back tommorrow. So for 2 days this driver ran 577 miles ( 517 loaded + 60 mty ) at .35 per mile he made $201.95 in two days.. No lay-over as most OTR outfits don't pay you until you have sat 48 hours.. Now had we had the old rules he could have drove strait to Wal-mart and slept there and got up checked in and made $201.95 in 1 day not 2..
Look the 10 hour rest is great for LTL and local but in OTR it sucks big-time.And that 14 hour clock is getting people hurt,when you have X amount of time and it may cost you a days wage when you do something as stupid as taking a nap because your tired.Then something needs to be changed a driver should never be penalized for putting safety first.
These rules were written by people who have no idea how trucking works.You cannot make a regular schedule out of an irregular job.OTR is nothing like LTL.Granted both drive but in LTL those drivers have a p&d guy doing all the crap detail.An OTR guy is p&d,,dock-hand and driver all in one.The sad part is he is usually paid only the miles he drives so the rest is done free in order to get that mileage pay.

[CFer]

Originally Posted by River17

tramp1155
I think the new rules are just fine.

From what I've seen it's mostly management that likes the new rules. 11 hours in the seat is way too much.

[Cerberus]

you had some good points but personally i think it is the way you worded it. if you want to bee taken seriously then make a serious point of making sure they see it. have it written up right, documented with proof of incidents and show your point in a respectful way. and just don't send it out in general. find out who it goes too and send it to them.