I am being forced into running electronic logs

[patriciajnsn]

The raise request has already been made, and it will be reminded.

I have liked working for these people, and want to continue for the rest of the time I am driving OTR, but something is going to have to give with the money now. E-logs and 65mph has put a serious damper on my income and has increased my stress level.

The load I am on today is another example of how having to drive like a robot screws things up. I am scheduled to deliver at 9:00am in the morning, and got here at 3:30pm today. Take the restrictions off of me and I would have easily been up here around noon (or earlier) and these people would have unloaded me. Instead, I woke up at the rest area on 287 in Texas, walked around the entire thing, walked on my NordicTrack machine that I have in my truck, did some stretching, and worked out with my dumbells. After all that, I sit on my ass for almost two hours before I could leave.

All this idle time in the truck is driving me crazy.

I don't blame you one bit.Did you mention all of what you have told us to your company???????????????I think if and when they make everyone go paperless,many companies may be forced to shut down.My company may be one. But look on the bright side,now you can spend more time with us,LOL.Sorry bad example,LOL.

 

[MustangLX]

The driver is forced to take a 10 hr brk once the 14 hr clock is over.

Patricia, you are supposed to be doing that anyway. Just because you aren't doing paperless doesn't mean you can't get busted.

 

[2xR]

They should have opened this process by telling you about that big, fat, union scale, compensation package they were giving you. The slop is always easier to digest when it's accompanied with ample quantities of gravy.

If they wanna' act like a big time trucking company, they gotta' produce a big time trucking company pay check.

Mike, you have far more patience than me. I might not bail immediately, but, I'd already have the bulk of my stuff out of the truck and everybody who hires tanker yankers would know I was shopping the job market. Hell, man, if you go along with this, without the proper compensation, then they know they have won the war, and, god knows what they'll screw up next.

Dayum!!! I'm pissed and I don't even have a dog in this fight.

 

[Racer X 69]

All this idle time in the truck is driving me crazy.

There is the next thing that will be an issue. Idle time. My company has decided to equip the fleet with APU's to eliminate idle time and save money spent on fuel. Right now I am on my first trip since they did the install on my rig.

You know, when I started driving OTR I wasn't sure if I would ever get used to trying to sleep in a truck while it idled. It wasn't long and I was so used to it that when I get home I can't sleep.

Now I am trying to get used to sleeping while this little two cylinder diesel generator hums away under the right side step at 2,683 rpm. The harmonics are completely different from a well balanced six cylinder diesel engine plodding away at 800 rpm.

 

[Mike]

They should have opened this process by telling you about that big, fat, union scale, compensation package they were giving you. The slop is always easier to digest when it's accompanied with ample quantities of gravy.

If they wanna' act like a big time trucking company, they gotta' produce a big time trucking company pay check.

Mike, you have far more patience than me. I might not bail immediately, but, I'd already have the bulk of my stuff out of the truck and everybody who hires tanker yankers would know I was shopping the job market. Hell, man, if you go along with this, without the proper compensation, then they know they have won the war, and, god knows what they'll screw up next.

Dayum!!! I'm pissed and I don't even have a dog in this fight.

My eyes are wide open right now, I won't let this mess put me into a financial bind. Too many jobs out there.

 

[Rigjockey]

Being paid by the household movers guide, or whatever it is called. We have begged for practical mileage pay but never gotten it.

WOW,I can't believe they still use that.Even practical miles the driver usually gets ripped off about 30 to 50 miles but not like 90 mi on household.

 

[Mike]

Another day, another disaster.

Called the receiver yesterday to see if I could unload early. They said they had no other deliveries scheduled and they would be happy to work me in early. So, instead of coming in at 9:00am, I pull out of the truck stop at 5:45am so I can be here a 6:00am.

2 hours later, I am still sitting here in the parking lot just watching my 14 hour clock eat away..........

 

[bigyellowpete]

Nice.

Not so much.

 

[Mike]

I believe it may be time to start blogging on a regular basis about this...

 

[2xR]

I think, even at this late stage of the game, many shippers and receivers are clueless about the fact that when we pull the trigger on the fourteen hour clock, that's all we have to work with. They are either clueless, or, just don't shive a git.

Salt in Mike's wounds... using loose leaf logs a driver can "adjust" to these situations. E-Log drivers are just screwed.

 

[patriciajnsn]

Well DUH,I know that but that paperless will put u on line 4 when your sleeping and/or just sitting there.You cannot leave untill your 10 hrs is exactly over otherwise you have to take a 2 hr brk because you're in violation even if you leave 5 minutes early.Mustang you go on elogs then come back and tell us how u like it.

Patricia, you are supposed to be doing that anyway. Just because you aren't doing paperless doesn't mean you can't get busted.

 

[patriciajnsn]

Another day, another disaster.

Called the receiver yesterday to see if I could unload early. They said they had no other deliveries scheduled and they would be happy to work me in early. So, instead of coming in at 9:00am, I pull out of the truck stop at 5:45am so I can be here a 6:00am.

2 hours later, I am still sitting here in the parking lot just watching my 14 hour clock eat away..........

Maybe it's too early to tell but are you making as much on elogs and paper logs??????????????/

 

[MustangLX]

Well DUH,I know that but that paperless will put u on line 4 when your sleeping and/or just sitting there.You cannot leave untill your 10 hrs is exactly over otherwise you have to take a 2 hr brk because you're in violation even if you leave 5 minutes early.Mustang you go on elogs then come back and tell us how u like it.

I'm not on paperless logs, but I do take my ten hour breaks like I'm supposed to. I have too much to lose if I get in a crash.
I try to work my fuel and showers into the 10, leaving me the other 8-9 to sleep and do whatever.
During the 14, I stop and eat when I like and still have time to get my job done.
I usually cover 600 miles during that time, which is fine by me.

I pushed the envelope for too long and I figure the odds will catch up to me eventually.
I had many years of outlaw trucking and working at jobs like you have where they didn't care how many miles I ran or how I did it.
I don't regret any of it, but I figure it's time for me to settle down.
A driver shouldn't have too kill him/her self to make a decent living.

 

[patriciajnsn]

I'm not on paperless logs, but I do take my ten hour breaks like I'm supposed to. I have too much to lose if I get in a crash.
I try to work my fuel and showers into the 10, leaving me the other 8-9 to sleep and do whatever.
During the 14, I stop and eat when I like and still have time to get my job done.
I usually cover 600 miles during that time, which is fine by me.

I pushed the envelope for too long and I figure the odds will catch up to me eventually.
I had many years of outlaw trucking and working at jobs like you have where they didn't care how many miles I ran or how I did it.
I don't regret any of it, but I figure it's time for me to settle down.
A driver shouldn't have too kill him/her self to make a decent living.

I take my 10 too.My sleep is too important.My logs are perfect.I'll never run hard,i'm not that energetic.Besides I don't wanna have to change an entire log just to get past the scale house.I just don't like the paperless it's run by the computer and like I said.You can be sleeping and that thing says your on line 4.Who wants to fight with the log dept time after time over this.

 

[Mike]

Maybe it's too early to tell but are you making as much on elogs and paper logs??????????????/

So far I am taking a pay cut, rather than sacrificing all my hometime. Last week, I ran one load that totaled just under 3000 miles. It took me 6 days to make that run. Should have been able to do it in 4 days, leaving me a day or two to make a short 600 mile round trip to Houston or somewhere else close before going home for the weekend.

 

[Mike]

I take my 10 too.My sleep is too important.

If I was running like a typical OTR driver, I would likely want to take my full 10 hour breaks as well. The way we run though, it is all about getting out to get the load delivered, then getting back home. I will gladly sacrifice a full 10 hour break or two in order to be home sooner and get some real rest at the house.

I was much more rested doing it my way than I am now doing it "by the book". Today in fact, after a full 15 hours or so of sitting overnight, it was all I could do to stay awake dragging along at 65mph and constantly being passed by other trucks and cars.

 

[truckerdude]

I dont know. I think that we have a chance if we all keep fighting it. Remember, a happy driver is a good driver.

 

[patriciajnsn]

So how long is it going to be before you tell your company to stick the elogs where the sun don't shine and find another job????????? Supposedly by 2012 were all going to have elogs.So how fast did your trk go before they cut it to 65 and why'd they decide to do that as well.

If I was running like a typical OTR driver, I would likely want to take my full 10 hour breaks as well. The way we run though, it is all about getting out to get the load delivered, then getting back home. I will gladly sacrifice a full 10 hour break or two in order to be home sooner and get some real rest at the house.

I was much more rested doing it my way than I am now doing it "by the book". Today in fact, after a full 15 hours or so of sitting overnight, it was all I could do to stay awake dragging along at 65mph and constantly being passed by other trucks and cars.

 

[MustangLX]

So far I am taking a pay cut, rather than sacrificing all my hometime. Last week, I ran one load that totaled just under 3000 miles. It took me 6 days to make that run. Should have been able to do it in 4 days, leaving me a day or two to make a short 600 mile round trip to Houston or somewhere else close before going home for the weekend.

I don't know how much sympathy you will get running 3000 miles and being home for the weekend.
That's actually pretty good, regardless of how you had to do it. But taking the glass half empty approach, you complain about not getting 3600 miles.
It's all relative I suppose. All in all, you still have it pretty good. There are plenty of folks reading this that stay out several weeks at a time and never see 2000 miles.

I am home three days per week, but only make 2297 miles. It never changes. But that is the trade off I made when I agreed to the run.

I'm not preaching here. When I was more able bodied and less concerned about legalities, I routinely ran considerably more than the 3600 you alluded to. (Round trip from GA to CA in 6 days).
I understand the feeling of being restricted when you know in your heart you are safely capable of doing much more.
But sometimes you have to accept the reality of the situation. Wishing to have what once was will not change the present.
It sounds like you still have a good job. Look at the glass as half full. 3000 miles a week is above average.
Maybe put up a poll here and you will get a feel of what others get by on.
And just maybe one day you will will appreciate the opportunity to get plenty of sleep, even if you don't feel like you need it. One day you will.

 

[Mike]

I don't know how much sympathy you will get running 3000 miles and being home for the weekend.
That's actually pretty good, regardless of how you had to do it. But taking the glass half empty approach, you complain about not getting 3600 miles.

The 3000 miles was just one week, not every week. I haven't gotten close to that since the first week, and I got that only because it was one load that totaled 3000 miles.

Why should I be happy because I am getting more miles than some of the other drivers here? I am used to the money I have been making,and a change for the worse isn't going to make me happy. 600+ miles less per week = approx. $300/Week less on my paycheck. Not sure about anybody else, but a drop like that is not something to be happy about.

If I am going to be away from home for most of the week, I expect to be paid well for it.

As far as rest is concerned, I get less rest now than I did before.