Trucking Regulations: Time to lift emergency hours-of-service waiver?

[Mike]

Livestock haulers want federal regulators to keep in place the 16-month-long emergency hours-of-service waiver for truck drivers and carriers until at least the end of August despite an economy that has largely reopened for business.

The first-of-its-kind, 50-state exemption was rolled out in March 2020 in response to a national emergency brought on by the COVID-19 outbreak. The waiver gives drivers more time to make deliveries without violating federal work-hour requirements. It has been modified, expanded and extended several times as the types of products that shippers and consumers needed to flow freely through the supply chain evolved from food and fuel to face masks and vaccines.

The latest extension, issued on May 26, is set to expire at the end of August. However, FMCSA Deputy Administrator Meera Joshi noted in the extension that her agency intended to review the status of the order as of July 1 to decide whether to modify or lift it sooner “if conditions warrant.”

That is good news for livestock haulers, whose commodity has been at the top of the list of cargo eligible to be hauled under the waiver since it was added to the exemption in June 2020.

“We’re continuing to move livestock so that we can get meat and other proteins on the store shelves in what’s still considered a global pandemic,” Allison Rivera, executive director of government affairs for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, told FreightWaves.

Time to lift emergency hours-of-service waiver?

Owner-operators see a downside to keeping FMCSA's emergency hours-of-service order in place.

www.freightwaves.com

 

[Mike]

Now I know why trucker toothpicks are the biggest searched for term here, these guys still want to run 24/7, LOL.

Seriously, I couldn't care less whether they continue this waiver or not, but the industry absolutely doesn't need it.

 

[Shreck]

Now I know why trucker toothpicks are the biggest searched for term here, these guys still want to run 24/7, LOL.

Seriously, I couldn't care less whether they continue this waiver or not, but the industry absolutely doesn't need it.

I don’t know how they can justify any waiver of the hours of service to any part of the industry. Truck drivers either need to be regulated or they don’t.

 

[Uncle Birchy]

I don’t know how they can justify any waiver of the hours of service to any part of the industry. Truck drivers either need to be regulated or they don’t.

B I N G O and "Bingo" was his name oh

 

[Electric Chicken]

I don’t know how they can justify any waiver of the hours of service to any part of the industry. Truck drivers either need to be regulated or they don’t.

It's like anything they slacked off on any regulations of any kind they proved it's all for revenue and unnecessary.

Vehicle inspections, speed limit enforcement, etc. Everything.

 

[Uncle Birchy]

It's like anything they slacked off on any regulations of any kind they proved it's all for revenue and unnecessary.

Vehicle inspections, speed limit enforcement, etc. Everything.

If I was Secretary of Transportation I would close every weigh station and force the states to convert them into Giant Rest Areas or I'd withold their Federal Highway Funding to force"Compliance"

 

[389 Hood]

And if you think the roads infrastructure is crumbling now, you ain't seen nuttin' yet!

 

[Uncle Birchy]

And if you think the roads infrastructure is crumbling now, you ain't seen nuttin' yet!

Nope we need to build roads RIGHT the First Time and they'd last 75/100 years like Germanys Audubon..

Instead we build CHEAP and tear em up every decade or so

 

[389 Hood]

Planned obsolescence.

 

[Canadian Eh]

If I was Secretary of Transportation I would close every weigh station and force the states to convert them into Giant Rest Areas or I'd withold their Federal Highway Funding to force"Compliance"

Ah yes, so gravel trucks can haul 25 yards, what an idea

 

[Mike]

Nope we need to build roads RIGHT the First Time and they'd last 75/100 years like Germanys Audubon..

Instead we build CHEAP and tear em up every decade or so

they have the same problems we do, and much of that program was never even completed.

 

[Uncle Birchy]

Ah yes, so gravel trucks can haul 25 yards, what an idea

Anybody Truly hauling "HEAVY" say Grain Elevators for example are "Back Roading" to Begin with..

They don't Cross the I-94 Scales and that was kinda an "Unwritten" Rule when I pulled for them..

Now think about this we are "Sneaking" Up Back Country Roads already in a state of CRUMBLES..

I don't see how that's "Helping" Anybody

 

[Canadian Eh]

I don't mind scales, they help keep me and others honest. If i can only haul 11 yards on a tandem, or 15 on a tri drive, so be it. Heck its job security in a way, think about it. If a job needs 300 yards of material, keeps more trucks rolling at 11 or 15 yards per trip, than 25. I'm aware gravel isn't the ideal example, but you get the hint. Maybe its hauling bags of flour to Dempsters bakery. If it needs 4 truck loads a day of flour now, why load over legal and do it in 3. Isn't that cutting your own throat?

 

[Uncle Birchy]

I don't mind scales, they help keep me and others honest. If i can only haul 11 yards on a tandem, or 15 on a tri drive, so be it. Heck its job security in a way, think about it. If a job needs 300 yards of material, keeps more trucks rolling at 11 or 15 yards per trip, than 25. I'm aware gravel isn't the ideal example, but you get the hint. Maybe its hauling bags of flour to Dempsters bakery. If it needs 4 truck loads a day of flour now, why load over legal and do it in 3. Isn't that cutting your own throat?

With today's "Technology" there are Ways of Enforcement..

Without Pulling half the trucks off the freeway backed up into the Main Lanes..

California for Example forget PEE PASS they just Pull Em All In out there..

Ya telling me they couldn't set up Sensors and Sting Operations..

Do we "Really" sti need Scale Houses in the 2020s

 

[Canadian Eh]

With today's "Technology" there are Ways of Enforcement..

Without Pulling half the trucks off the freeway backed up into the Main Lanes..

California for Example forget PEE PASS they just Pull Em All In out there..

Ya telling me they couldn't set up Sensors and Sting Operations..

Do we "Really" sti need Scale Houses in the 2020s

We need something, and a good enforcement agency to go along with it. Those drive over scales didn't seem very accurate, not surprising really, how accurate can they be with trucks going over at 60 mph plus. Then there is the enforcement issue. So a truck is too light on the steers, and too heavy on the back of a trailer, or trailers...now what...have an army of CVSE cars out there with a driver in it, just waiting to chase the driver down, and pull them over on the narrow shoulder, of a busy high speed hwy? Also good for scale staff to have an eyes on, low speed look at the trucks rolling through, to hopefully get some of the junk off the hwy. Sheer amount of poorly maintained trucks on the road is staggering. If I ran the system, likely 20% of the trucks I see would be towed to a shop for extensive repairs to be done. Drivers would also be getting more tickets if I ran it. Most do the flimsiest pre trip inspection, certainly not good enough to deem the truck road worthy or not. Saw a truck today driving down the hwy, hood latches not even done up, is the driver drunk or what? Bald tires, loose suspension components, cracked windshields, mud flaps just barely hanging on, inoperative lights, no safety chains on the pup, brakes sound like they were last serviced years ago, and I could go on for pages.

 

[Uncle Birchy]

We need something, and a good enforcement agency to go along with it. Those drive over scales didn't seem very accurate, not surprising really, how accurate can they be with trucks going over at 60 mph plus. Then there is the enforcement issue. So a truck is too light on the steers, and too heavy on the back of a trailer, or trailers...now what...have an army of CVSE cars out there with a driver in it, just waiting to chase the driver down, and pull them over on the narrow shoulder, of a busy high speed hwy? Also good for scale staff to have an eyes on, low speed look at the trucks rolling through, to hopefully get some of the junk off the hwy. Sheer amount of poorly maintained trucks on the road is staggering. If I ran the system, likely 20% of the trucks I see would be towed to a shop for extensive repairs to be done. Drivers would also be getting more tickets if I ran it. Most do the flimsiest pre trip inspection, certainly not good enough to deem the truck road worthy or not. Saw a truck today driving down the hwy, hood latches not even done up, is the driver drunk or what? Bald tires, loose suspension components, cracked windshields, mud flaps just barely hanging on, inoperative lights, no safety chains on the pup, brakes sound like they were last serviced years ago, and I could go on for pages.

Cops today can lay Sensors on a Road Bed..

Permit License all that junk when ya pass a Scalehouse the Barcode Scan that before ya even bump their scale..

They know who is Bad already and just mere "Targeted" Enforcement would take care of that..

On the Back Roads as I learned at the Grain Elevators once in awhile they like to SET UP just afew miles coming in Or Out..

Farmers usually get a Free Pass ya gonna Book your Uncle in Jail..

Now "Carriers" and even though I worked outta Delong Elevators we also hauled other people's stuff so SUBJECT to "Carrier" rules..

We were the ones the LIKED to PINCH and a Company with $$$ too

 

[Electric Chicken]

We need something, and a good enforcement agency to go along with it. Those drive over scales didn't seem very accurate, not surprising really, how accurate can they be with trucks going over at 60 mph plus. Then there is the enforcement issue. So a truck is too light on the steers, and too heavy on the back of a trailer, or trailers...now what...have an army of CVSE cars out there with a driver in it, just waiting to chase the driver down, and pull them over on the narrow shoulder, of a busy high speed hwy? Also good for scale staff to have an eyes on, low speed look at the trucks rolling through, to hopefully get some of the junk off the hwy. Sheer amount of poorly maintained trucks on the road is staggering. If I ran the system, likely 20% of the trucks I see would be towed to a shop for extensive repairs to be done. Drivers would also be getting more tickets if I ran it. Most do the flimsiest pre trip inspection, certainly not good enough to deem the truck road worthy or not. Saw a truck today driving down the hwy, hood latches not even done up, is the driver drunk or what? Bald tires, loose suspension components, cracked windshields, mud flaps just barely hanging on, inoperative lights, no safety chains on the pup, brakes sound like they were last serviced years ago, and I could go on for pages.

Most scales here are a three stage. At 60-70mph out on the main road they get a rough estimate of each axle. When you pull in the off ramp gets a more accurate individual axle reading at 40mph and then if they aren't satisfied with that they flag you in to stop on the platform.

They don't ticket you based on the reading at 70mph out on the big road.

If you're light and have a good standing you don't even go in the lane for the platform, let alone stop on it.

 

[389 Hood]

Here in Florida, most of our scales are weigh in motion. You hit the scale ramp and if you MAINTAIN 45 mph, you are guess weighed and you either get a green to the left to exit the scale or a red to the right for the platform.
The problem is, the sensors are set to weigh at 45mph. When these steering wheel holders go dragging through at 25mph they cause everyone else to slow to that speed, also trying to keep the 100 foot distance between trucks and everyone ends up on the platform, loaded or empty. I have PrePass and run with a 98% carrier rating. Rarely do I not just bypass a scale. If I had to pay the $17.65 a month out of my own pocket it would be worth it.

I can hit those sensors at 45mph at 79,500 and get green lighted unless I'm over on an axle weight. Sure the customer orders 8000 gallons of Jet-A, but I load 7800, so I don't have to be bothered. In the winter when the fuel gets really heavy, I only load 7600. If there are no scales on my route, I load the full 8000, which puts me at about 81,300 with full running tanks.

I keep my equipment clean and in proper condition, because it's MY ass sitting in that seat and it may be your wife passing me or as usual, just riding beside the truck. So, I don't want to hurt someone else or myself because I failed to keep my equipment up. A light out, or a mud flap missing is just one silly reason to be pulled over. No excuse for baldy ass tires either. I sure don't want to sit for 3 hours waiting for a tire truck.

We have a space outside of the terminal where guys park to do their 30 and the DOT will set up or just roll up with 5 trucks and start doing Level 1's and 2's. All of a sudden, no one is doing their 30. Which to me is dumb anyway. Stopping me for 30 minutes with nothing to do makes me tired. I simply run the exemption. I don't go over 150 air miles away anyway. No local driver should have to saddled with an ELD. Or any log for that matter.

 

[Canadian Eh]

If all drivers were great drivers, and ran legal loads, kept the trucks in mint condition, then scales, inspections, etc wouldn't be needed at all. Sadly that is not how people are in my experience. While 4 out of 5 drivers, and trucks may be good, that last 1 in 5 is the problem. Just yesterday, I saw so many infractions, down right dangerous things, and idiots on the road. For the minute or two it adds to cross a scale, it doesn't bother me doing so at all.

 

[389 Hood]

It's not the crossing of the scale that gets me, or the time. It's the stupid idiots that I have to contend with when they attempt to re-enter the Interstate. Right foot, ass-hole. Push down until it hits the floor. That POS that you are driving isn't going to get .010mpg more by taking 3 miles to get back up to 65mph.

If you spec'ed your truck right, or bought it spec'ed properly instead of a mega fleet fuel miser, you'd be able to run the speed limit and still get the mpg that you want.

I bitched at some 'large car' camped out in the middle lane the other day that was running 68 with nothing in front or beside him. He had the radio on when I bitched and moved over then came back in and sat on my ass at 80 till I Jaked his dumb ass.