Advocacy group says Obama should overturn rule that lets truckers drive for 11 hours

[Mike]

Advocacy group says Obama should overturn rule that lets truckers drive for 11 hours without breaks


A rule that lets commercial truckers drive on U.S. roads for 11-hour stretches without a break should be overturned because of the potential for fatigue and accidents, highway-safety and labor groups told a federal court.

The groups, including the International Brotherhood of Teamsters and Public Citizen, said they filed a petition in court today seeking reconsideration of a Bush administration rule that in 2003 increased allowable daily and weekly driving hours for truckers.

The hours-of-service rule, which was extended by President George W. Bush in November, was cited by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a California Democrat, as one of the “ghoulish midnight regulations” that Bush signed before leaving office. The rule should be rewritten by the Obama administration to account for “high levels of driver fatigue” and “chronic health problems that are widespread among professional drivers,” the groups said in a letter to Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.

“We’ll take a look at the lawsuit when it comes in,” Jill Zuckman, a Transportation Department spokeswoman said, declining to comment further.

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[Mike]

This is NEVER going to rest

 

[Cerberus]

I can't put the words in a nice way. How about the new tax increase of .10 they are imposing for miles driven ?

 

[Mike]

If they are going to continue this push to cut our driving hours, they should just go ahead and cut it to 8 hours.

At that point, we should all go on strike for minimum daily pay, and a per mile rate of no less that .55/Mile

Actually, a minimum pay guarantee may be factored into the decision on where I end up going back OTR at.

 

[Cerberus]

They do something like that , then it should go on an hourly rate.

 

[patriciajnsn]

There are many accidents each yr and most are car accidents but who gets the blame THE TRUCK DRIVERS DO.Therefore CHANGE THE RULES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Car motorists should be limited hours they can driver each day as well as carry a logg book. We could have the perfect saftey record but somehow,someway we will still get blamed for the accidents.

 

[Mike]

I really don't have a problem with the push for less driving hours per day.

I am a firm believer that we shouldn't be driving a truck 11 hours a day + pre trip inspections, post trip inspections, fueling, time at the shipper/receiver.

I just don't feel drivers approach this properly. Rather than push for more hours, push for more compensation for the hours you work.

A driver should be able to put in an 8-10 hour day, take the time for eating healthy meals, time to talk with the family, talk to friends, socialize with other drivers, watch a little TV, shower, and EXERCISE.

 

[rebel]

There has to be more to this story behind the scenes.
For one thing being allowed a break and forcing you to take one is different.
If drivers weren't being allowed to rest in an 11 hour period could be dangerous. But if the driver is alert and not tired and he wants to keep truckin, so what?
Also with Teamsters pushing this it makes me wonder.
Now if you want all kinds of breaks and meals and hours enforcement you might as well throw in minimum wages and call it a union. At least you would get a voice of unified representation and other union benefits.
If not, you get all the restrictions and none of the benefits.
Somethin don't smell right about this.

 

[Mike]

This is nothing new though. These people have been fighting this ever since the laws changed to 11 hours. Now that we have a new President, all the people who have been fighting this since 2005 are all going to resurface and intensify the fight.

All the groups that were unsuccessful in everything during the past administration in their attempts to do anything, will all be attacking once again in hopes of a better result.

 

[patriciajnsn]

I agree with you rebel.We should'nt be forced to take a 10 hr brk.Heck there's days i'll drive my full 11 and not even be tired.I can't sleep if i'm not tired.Therefore you start the 10 hr clock when you stop and 5 hrs later you finally get to sleep then have to be up and ready to go in 5 hrs because of your appt time.

 

[patriciajnsn]

It does'nt matter to me what they do.It's kind of funny.How many actually follow the HOS. You can't make any money if you follow the rules like Werner does.You can't get the miles sitting at the cust burning your 14.Driving 11 hrs is plenty enough time I got 700 miles a day with my last company because I had a fast trk but I had to be creative to do so.

 

[Mike]

I have driven 100% legal for over 1 1/2 years now. much of that is overnight linehaul, but on my last road job, I ran legal as well. With Crete, you have no choice because they make sure you do so.

I was able though, to run legal, and make money. There are so many ways that drivers can be paid, if they would just start pushing for it.

First step is not working for a company that pays crap per mile.
Second, don't work for a company that doesn't pay detention time
3rd, look into every possible option, other than driving more miles, to make money.

Many driver don't realize that most companies charge a shipper if a load is canceled. "truck ordered, not used". Crete actually would pass much of that on to the driver if they were aware of it.

Now, back when we had the old rules, drivers raised hell about the change to 11 hours. Now that there is talk about changing it back to similar to how it was, drivers are still complaining.

Letting drivers drive when they want is not an option, it will never happen.

Seriously, there needs to be concentration made on getting paid properly for your time. As long as we push for the ability to simply "drive more", drivers will always be overworked and underpaid.

 

[patriciajnsn]

I know EXACTLY what you're saying bullwinkle.I do know Crete is very stricked on the loggs.Companies should pay detention time but many companies don't start paying till sitting at least 24 hrs.Alot of the customers I delivered to made me sit 4 hrs or maybe more but never enough to receive that detention pay.It's impossible to make every driver happy.Some like these rules and some don't.It does'nt matter to me what they do.I'm not going to stress over it. If Crete would have hired me then yes i'd go STRICKLY BY THE BOOK.But I don't see them calling me.

 

[Mike]

The thing is, there needs to be a strict set of minimum guidelines that truckers are going to demand before accepting a job.

If as much time was spent on discussing proper compensation for drivers as was spent on driving hours, a gradual change would occur. It's actually already occurring.

The internet is a wonderful thing, and drivers are beginning to enter this industry more educated about what they are getting into.

New drivers are stuck in many cases because they have no experience. Much of that isn't going to change, and in many cases, it shouldn't. A driver with 10 years experience should be making more money than a new driver that comes into the company. They should all have the same benefits though.

Detention time - should be demanded.
better pay per mile - should be demanded.

What gets me, is how many people will continue to go to companies that don't offer these things. I'm not saying right now (because jobs are currently scarce), but if you go back a year, this is what was happening.

Companies that treat drivers horribly continue to grow as a result, all due to a lack of research before going to these companies.

What is the main thing a driver will ask another driver on the CB about their company? "How many miles you getting"

What are the things that drivers don't get from companies before jumping ship? the policies, in writing, for things like detention time, layover pay, specifics about medical benefits, number of trailers available per truck, how paperwork is submitted, how soon you are paid after submitting paperwork, policies on idling, percentage of drivers getting bonuses, average miles for drivers at the top of the pay scale as opposed to at the bottom of the payscale.

Drivers are simply given the number to a recruiter, and in hopes that you are going to a better job, the driver jumps ship (adding yet another job to their employment record), without knowing what they are getting into.

Things are slowly changing as new drivers enter this industry with a better understanding of it. As this continues, companies are going to be forced to be more upfront with this type of information, and make better efforts to provide a better working environment. If current drivers push this issue, the process will speed up.

Over the past few weeks, I have talked to multiple companies about driving jobs, just as I did last time I went out OTR. Can I get all of the information I mentioned? No. I will work to get as much of it as possible though, and if they resist giving much information at all, then they aren't worth working for in my book.

 

[Mike]

damn that was a long rant

 

[rebel]

Yes but useful.
Like anything involving money, you can't have too much info.

 

[lunachic]

If they are going to continue this push to cut our driving hours, they should just go ahead and cut it to 8 hours.

At that point, we should all go on strike for minimum daily pay, and a per mile rate of no less that .55/Mile

Actually, a minimum pay guarantee may be factored into the decision on where I end up going back OTR at.

And how might I ask would Indep. O/O fit into your little rate thing.
obw.....the rates for company drivers seem to be going lower.

 

[Mike]

And how might I ask would Indep. O/O fit into your little rate thing.
obw.....the rates for company drivers seem to be going lower.

Here we are talking about business owners, there should be no reason to have to tell these folks what they should be demanding

But it all falls into the same basic mold. You should have a minimum rate for loads that you will accept, or don't haul them.

You should demand detention time for sitting beyond your scheduled appointments, or don't haul their freight.

You can't request a minimum pay because you would be requesting it from yourself , again, you are a business owner.

 

[patriciajnsn]

Drivers should demand better detention time and more pay per mile and I bet some do.So is what the recruiter basically tells those drivers,either take what we offer you or don't come drive for us.It's no skin off their nose.They'll just hire the next sucker.I have applied to many companies since I got laid off and most were small outfits close to home.The giants don't bend the rules for any drivers exp or not.You're right, alot of the new drivers don't do their homework then soon finds out just how bad that company is.Then you get new drivers wanting to know aobut a certain company ,they get much negative feedback and they still go to that company.As I see it,the more experienced the driver is the more valuable he is.But companies don't see it that way.I bet back in the day drivers were getting paid good.Now the exp are'nt getting paid much more then the new drivers are at some companies. Companies will find every loop hole possible to rip the driver off.Alot of what you mentioned bullwinkle should be on their website unfortunately most is not and the recruiters won't voluntarily give out any info.Therefore like you said the driver jumps ship and does'nt find the next company to be any better.I'm going to remember all of what you said and you bet your sweet azz i'll be asking the recruiter.Im a rookie compared to most on here and since I started driving I slowly see the trucking industry sinking for the veteran drivers.

 

[SilverSurfer]

I'm seeing all the talk about the 11 hours of drive time allowed. I don't have to much of a problem with this time limit...but companies are requiring truckers to use all 11 hours without regard to safety - or paying the driver a fair days pay for the hours he/she is putting in. That's 88 hours in 8 days. And if ya work your logs right with the reset reg...you could exceed that number.

Let's think about this...putting in 88 hours in 8 days. Does anyone see the problem with this in relation to safety and pay. That's two weeks compared to the rest of the American work force, crammed into one week. I finally located another job, and I'm making in 40 hours the equivalent of a company driver at .33/mile averaging 2500 miles a week. Granted I have a trade, other than trucking, which I'm very skilled and experienced in...but trucker's are being raped and I, for one, do not agree with what's happening to them (the reason I parked in '02.) If any changes are made to what's in place...it should be related to proper pay for the hours being put in. And this will only happen when truckers come together to get it done. No one's doing it for us...we've got to do it ourselves.

-ss-