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Kiss your paycheck good-bye. I don't care how many corners we think we can cut, we aren't going to make up for the loss and the hardships that we are about to face ahead of us. They should have included paying drivers by the hour and maybe that might resolved a lot of the problems. Maybe? Since they are regulating the driver on his work hours, he should be paid for his work hours.They should have listened to more then 500 drivers about the problems out there considering there are how many million drivers on our nations highways. 500 drivers being interviewed and answering questionnaires isn't going to fix the problems. That's not even a fraction of the drivers, for the opinions to count or even matter.
Officals sitting in offices, activist outside trucking, media and anyone else who has never been in the business of trucking, should not be making decisions unless they are willing to go on a few trips in a tractor trailer to see first hand what our drivers face each day while delivering the goods.
We posed this question a while back (mid 1999) and we'll pose it again. Now that they've come up with this totally brilliant idea for drivers and the proposed HOS regulations ... you think we have a parking problem now? Well you ain't seen nothing yet! Just wait until this is all finalized and becomes a reality.
It has only been suggested, but not yet determined, and there is a possibility that driving hours may be regulated. If this is the case, and we are not saying that it is at this point in time, and laws are introduced to govern how long a driver will be able to operate his or her truck, then there will be a huge shortage of truck parking locations. There is just not enough spaces to go around now for the amount of trucks that require parking. What is going to happen then? Who is going to take the responsibility to ensure that adequate designated rest areas are going to be provided for our drivers? Will it be the government, since it is them who dictates the hours of operation/service, or will it continue to be placed upon the private sector who own service centers and truck stops that can't keep up with the demand now?
Personally I think (not that it matters what I think) they are biting off more then they can chew. Hey! face it if we don't like it, we don't have to do it! That means more of us on the welfare bill, more of us on unemployment, less experienced truckers on the highway. More young inexperienced drivers going into the field of trucking, because there will be a desperation to replace those drivers (our senior drivers and experienced drivers) who have finally had enough. To compensate the shortage of drivers there will be is going to take on a whole new light and meaning. I can't say that I'm comforatble about what the future might hold for us on the nations highways. Oh there is no doubt there will be a shortage of drivers, because I have heard many say and I have witnessed many who plan to or have already gotten out. How will the demands be met?
I read some where, where they were actually considering changing the driving age to 18 depending on experience, knowledge and if the driver is well trained etc. What a opportunity this will be to try to get that one through. YUP that should really do our economy and highways some real good.
More and more trucks being turned into the banks and finance companies. Hey bankruptcy isn't the answer, but if you are going to lose the battle you might as well lose with a record that can be cleaned up after ten years, verses collection agencies and creditors banging on your door harassing you everyday, or being served with papers threatening to take everything you have. Yup, bankruptcy is exactly the direction I would turn to in a situation like this.
Black boxes ... really interesting that they are going to be mandatory at a cost of, I believe I read some where, $500 or some where around there. More amazing is that cost will be put on the drivers and companies. Yeah right! Buy something for $500 and not be allowed to touch it. Hey if they insist on this stuff, then they should pick up the cost. When will they listen to the real problems out here? They don't give two hoots about the truck drivers and their families and this clearly proves that.
They make it sound like it's all the truckers fault. Sure there are a few bad eggs, but let me tell you, there are people in cars who are as guilty of fatigue and reckless driving. Who's controlling how long they are behind the wheel of their vehicles? No one is paying attention to them. Maybe a national log book is what we need for everyone. Every single person that drives a vehicle (see how everyone likes it then?), it don't matter what kind of vehicle it is, they should be required to keep a log book and have check points. Four wheelers, those who pull moving trailers, buses, police, firefighters, doctors, lawyers, judges, teachers. Here's a thought, our Representatives and Congressman/woman should have to keep logs also. I've heard where they have sat in session for hours and hours and hours. How many leave those sessions and head out on our nations highways to return home? Yeah there's something to consider. Tired Representatives and Congressman/woman on our nations highways after endless hours of debate. Surely they are not all chauffeured to and from.
And with no doubt Ms. Barbara Walter should have to keep a log book. Even if she is chauffeured. Make her do the drivers log. Her know it all about trucking just ticks me off to no end. Don't matter when something positive is being said about the industry, this woman always has to bash it in one form or another.
Another question I have concerning this black box is this .... what about
those of us who sometimes use our rigs to make trips to the store when our car is in the shop? What about those of us who are sitting in a truck stop and decide to drop our trailers to go do a little shopping, go see a movie. What about those of us who happen to have a break down and we drop the trailer to travel to a service center to get work done to our tractors? How about when we are in a state or town where family lives and we decide to go visit family and friends, because we have some extra time on our hands and hours to spare? What about those of us who take our children with us on trips because we are going some where adventurous and it will be a educational experience for our children? How will these black boxes affect us in these areas and how will it be logged? The way I see it, we will pretty much be held hostage to our equipment. What a
contradiction ... We hear we need to get out of the trucks, exercise and now we are being forced to stay in them. We do a lot of things in our bobtail when we are off duty. Now I wonder if this will still be possible?
1. Lack of parking places available to drivers
2. Shippers who do not know how to set up appointments or schedule loads.
3. Low freight cost which
forces a driver to run that extra load to make ends meet.
4. Forced dispatching.
5. Time limits in parking areas and rest areas
6. Ignorant people who do not know how to share the roads with tractor trailers
7. Stress and Depression cause fatigue. Heaven knows there's plenty of both in this industry. Relieve some of the stress and depression and the situations our drivers are faced with and fatigue won't be so high. I've yet to read any big write up's about stress and depression being the cause of fatigue. No it's just easier to write what they think they know and not invesitgate it deeper. STRESS & DEPRESSION!
8. Stress and Depression also cause Insomnia which makes it difficult to sleep because when we lay our heads down all we do is worry and think. Stress and Depressions play major roles in trucking.
No I am not a doctor, but I am not stupid either. I have witnessed first hand what stress and depression can and will do to a driver. It beats him/her down until they can't go anymore. Spending endless dollars to see doctors who don't have answers and when they do usually the answer is "SLOW DOWN" & "TAKE IT EASY" .... yeah right doc! You gonna pay my bills for us to TAKE IT EASY?
Doc wants to treat us with medications and drugs. Doctors should be educated about what is allowed and what is not allowed in this business also. Our doctor does not do DOT physicals so in my opinion he does not know what a truck driver is allowed to take and not allow to take. He's a home town - small town doctor and he's very good at taking care of my family. But he has given prescriptions that I've had Paul call and check on before taking and heading out on the road. How many drivers are aware that they can not even carry common cold medications in their trucks? Yeah, you can be charged with drug abuse if you are caught with any medication that states on the label "Contains Alcohol."
Some things I know about fatigue and what can cause fatigue does not just revolve around a lack of sleep. "STOP BLAMING" it all on no sleep. It's not always the case!
Fatigue is probably one of the most common factors each and every person out there deals with on a regular basis. AH HA! something we all have in common and we don't all drive tractor trailer, but a good many of us drive a vehicle.
Fatigue can stem from many different things .... and I can list several of them based on first hand experience. "HOPELESSNESS, HIDDEN HEALTH AND EATING PROBLEMS, WORTHLESSNESS, NO IMPORTANCE, LONELINESS, OVER WORKED (handling "TONS" of freight. can't afford time off), ABUSE, FAMILY & PERSONAL PROBLEMS, DEATH IN FAMILY, CRYING, FEAR, DIVORCE, A COMMON COLD, DISPATCHER/BOSS DOWN YOUR BACK CONSTANTLY!" I could list more, but you get the idea of where I am going with this. One can lay down and fall asleep, but just because they are asleep does not mean they are sleeping sound or getting a good nights rest. I can go to bed and sleep all night long. Then I wake in the morning still feeling totally wiped out. The worries I have during the day, I take to bed with me and this makes a good nights sleep impossible. Fatigue is not caused just because one did not or does not sleep!
The list goes on and on. It was nothing we drivers and families did not try to explain and share through many letters and phone calls, to the media, the government and anyone else we thought would listen and care about it all. Obviously it went in one ear and out the other.
I am not opposed to safety and never will be, but there is a right way and a wrong way to resolving problems. It will not be resolved with more harassment. Won't be resolved with more verbal abuse then we already have out there. It won't be resolved by putting more drivers on the road to compensate for the freight that won't or can not be delivered. Safety starts with listening to the right people about the real problems. Not people who think they know what the problems or the solution are.
Someone made a comment to me a little while back that they don't see how the wages will or can be affected by the HOS rules. Well I'll argue that. Sure it's going to change because you won't be able to work as many days as you once use to. You won't be able to haul that extra load to compensate for a bad day, even if you might have enough time to do so. Yeah we won't be able to be pushed around or forced to do more then we are allowed, but how can this not affect the money we make? By the mile, by percentage or other wise it has to have a affect because you will be required to have days off and that is less loads you will be able to haul.
Unemployment isn't all that great either because you take it in the neck come tax time. Maybe I misunderstood something here. If I did please let me know. Correct me if I am wrong here, but with these new HOS regulations does that not mean we will be able to drive longer causing possibly more fatigue? I could be wrong and if I am I'm sure someone will let me know *smile* ...
How about the family units? Many of us were and are fortunate enough to be able to stay home and raise our children. We are stay at home moms and/or dads. What happens to us now? Well if this doesn't work chances are many of us will have to find a job and leave our children with sitters or family members just so we can make ends meet. Yes, this sure was a great idea wasn't it? Separate the families, more money taken from these families. It's not like we had any extra to give, but damn if our wonderful government and all the activist out there didn't figure out a way to separate us and get our last dime.
Don't stand there yammering in your news reports how families need to spend more time together, how families need to make more time for their children. These "HOS" regulations will certainly separate families. If my husband happens to be two or three hours from home and is required to shut that truck down because some black box says he should, you can betcha I'll be driving out to get him and bring him home. He's not spending 12 hours in a truck three hours from home, when he could be here with us. I will drive out and get him. Bottom line. So your black box is going to show he's down, but he's going to be with his family. I'm not letting the government or any activist come between my family and me. No way ... no how! I have my own brilliant plans and ideas. Balancing family and work ... where's the balance here in these new HOS regulations? As far as I can see he won't have time for family.
When he/she has to take off those consecutive days off, will he or she be home when they have to do this? Chances are they will be hours from home and have to be deprived of their bed at home, home cooking, hugs, kids sporting events or school events. Maybe our Representatives, Rodney Slater and the activist out there like sleeping alone and don't care if they are home taking part in or participating with their families, but my husband, my children and I enjoy doing things together and being a part of what each other do.
It is very important that we all get involved and voice our thoughts and concerns on this issue. When you write your friends and family concerning HOS, make a copy and send it to Washington. This will require a team effort on everyones part, for drivers and their families to be heard. Success is won in numbers ....
USDOT Docket Facility,
Attn: Docket FMCSA-97-2350
400 Seventh St
SW
Washington, DC 20590
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