If driver pay was adjusted for inflation from 1980's, average driver pay would be around $80K per year. How many truck company CEO's are still making 1980's compensation?
Nearly all company drivers take home less than 850 a week on average. The only drivers making that 1k per week are the ones who put in 10+ years with them. I understand being with a company for an extended period should give some rewards but a new driver shouldn't be making two thirds of another doing the same work.
I'm an auto mechanic and years ago when I belonged to a large online forum for Ford flat rate techs. We were spreading the truth to the folks looking to get into being a mechanic, they were asking if the 6 figures that they were hearing about from the nationally advertised training schools was realistic. We of course told them the truth and eventually some idiot from the school I think he identified himself as an instructor joined the forum to tell us to knock it off. This was an independent forum with no affiliation to either Ford or advertising from that particular school so we proceeded to humiliate this "instructor" and ran him off the forum. Keep spreading the truth! It doesn't matter what line of work we are in we need to stand up and keep people informed.
I've been a tech for 10 years and I work at Swift now. My first hourly pay job and I make good money. Flat Rate is a con and you have to bust ass just to make good money. I made good money at Ford but then you have your slow periods etc.
Driving through St Joseph Minnesota today. Pulled up at a light next to a patrol car with a female officer inside texting on her phone. Man this world is beyond me. Same woman obviously would have ticketed anyone else. Guess rules for them and rules for us.
Stop whining about not getting enough hours, and demand more pay per hour. If you were making a livable wage in the first place, you wouldn't have to work over 70 hours per week.
bruce watson This is the exact reason I didn't join trucking after finally getting accepted into a truck school. I heard that if you meet certain hours then you are legally required to stop and "rest" for a certain amount of time. If you weren't sleepy and couldnt rest properly then the company will expect you to drive as soon as the rest break ends. The crazy part is that they don't realize that when you actually do get tired and sleepy, but you just got off your break, the company is expecting you to drive under this condition. They actually believe that people can sleep on command and then ignore the fact that this law is forcing drivers to drive tired. If you do mess up you're fucked and not the company. They don't care if you lose everything.
Then you better sleep. Plus the company can't force you to drive tired. Document via screen shot & or voice recorder any unlawful activities . Under HOS you must not only have hrs, but be fit to drive those hrs.
Then you are one of those stupid drivers who kept driving when tried and sleepy. Just stop park somewhere safe send your dispatcher a message then turn off your phone and rest. Keep down every message, text and record convo if they throw a fit lol. It's the law that companies can not retaliate on anyway or fired you for doing that. A late load is not consider late unless you call your dispatcher what's going on so there can reschedule it
Various groups Lobbying for elds is the major reason it's the law, not safety concerns. Safety is of no real concern, if you understand what's really going on. Brokers grab all the money, then transportation companies then their drivers, it's inherently unjust system that rewards the con artists and unscrupulous once over hard working people. Every day about 15 or more people don't come back home from work, they die at work, Ralph Nader says, this is not about safety, it's about greed, control and greed and maybe something else in addition to greed.
I drive a log truck which is considered local hauling not long distance. But it's not uncommon at all to have a 18-20hr day in the winter/summer time. The time is takes to haul enough wood to make a profit is longer than the amount of hours you're allowed to drive. I run with a lot of old timers that have been doing it for decades and they haven't wrecked a truck because they fell asleep because they nap when they know they need one. The real tragedy to me is that these men can't make a living working less than those hours a day. 80-100hrs a week makes an old man out of you quick. Simple resolve but complicated to execute is to pay drivers better. I don't think a man should have to work 80-90hrs a week to put food on the table for his family. It's very sad. Truckers are one of the hardest working and skilled breeds of people in the working class and they just keep getting beaten down as time goes on. It's definitely not all chicken lights and chrome. It's countless hours, long days, time away from family, and little pay nowadays.
I was in Weatherford TX last night getting fuel. I had already scanned my EFS card, and was in the process of putting the nozzle in my driver side tank. A driver comes around the front of my Freightliner, and approaches my driver side door. When he makes eye contact with me, at this point he still hasn't realized that this is not his Freightliner. I couldn't believe, when he reached up and pulled the handle and opened the door to my truck. Once he saw the inside contents of my truck, he realized that he had the wrong truck. He closes the door back, looks at me, and says "You know you are tired, when you can't find your own truck." He began laughing as he walked away. I thought to myself, I hope he is headed West, instead of East.
Dave; I worked for an outfit in the early 70's that would set a guy up to buy off his truck and pay him just enough to cover his truck payment but not his rent. They starved a real good friend of mine out until he had to turn the truck back in. That caused him to just lose about a year of his life working for NOTHING in the end.
Yeah, they're still doing that type of thing and that's why I never recommend a guy go that route and lease to buy from a carrier. Sometimes they'll lease the same truck over and over to different guys and none of them ever end up owning the truck. It's a racket! Dave
When I drive from ATL to Sacramento I’m expected to drive more than 600 miles per day regardless of what happens from the time I start to the time I finish each day, because the drive must be completed in 4 days and operations can’t understand why it could take more time than that. The ELD forces me to stop for a break and it forces me to be in the sleeper for ten hours, operations is pissed!
james street . Eld keep companies from taking advantage of an trucker's sleep schedule or the hours an trucker should have. I wouldn't want an company doing me like that.
They are paid by the CAN so they run like crazy to deliver as many as possible. In Montreal back in 1998 I used to work for this small carrier who did containers out of the railyards and the ports.I was paid by the hour at the time and you could ALWAYS tell the guys who were paid by the can, they would run from their trucks to get their paper work and then run back to their trucks. Then they would check in at the gatehouse and rip into the yards to the location they were required to go at, and then would get out of their trucks and pace around their trucks impatiently waiting for the crane to come to either unload or load their can. they were pathetic to watch. NO ONE should have to work like that!!!!! I would fell real bad for them BUT at the same time i also thought to myself that they deserved it because they could quit anytime but didn't.. Thankx Dave, You do know how to get me all worked up.
Didn't mean to wind you up Ramman! Dump truck drivers here get paid by the load as well and some of them drive like maniacs trying to get in as many loads as they can. I think being paid that way should be illegal. Dave
If every driver we just go home no fuel at the pump no food on the Shelf shut the country down then we can tell these people and government how the government will be ran
Richard Martin that would be the most effective way to get the message accross. In my opinion, the big carriers are trying to get rid of the owner operators because they want the whole industry for themselves. If they're drivers refuse to drive and support every driver, it would have a huge effect that the stock market will drop fast. Hit them in their pockets and they will listen.
Unfortunately, when you shut down the economy YOU won't have any fuel or food either, and neither will your family and friends. So before you punch a hole in the bottom of the boat to let the water out . . . think again.
Cryptonymicus Food(I can grow my own food, hunt, etc. Fuel is not much of Big deal. I'm sure I can survive without it. It's a message we would send them. You're jumping waaay ahead.
@@cathy9160 The driverless trucks will be quite a few years away, if at all, hell they can't get trains on tracks to not crash that are automated, or cars not to run over people or into other cars, so I wouldn't get to nervous about the trucking industry drying up too soon.
California is a poor example for accidents because they force truckers to drive 55 while everyone else goes 70 which forces truckers to run tired as Hell! 🤬
I drove with ELDS and they didn't bother me at all till the 14 HR RULE came in,it prevents a driver from taking naps when he's tired because his clock is still running I ran nights for years but the 14 HR RULE stopped that I couldn't stretch my day by taking a nap instead of sitting in traffic so I was breaking when I wasn't a bit tired and was tired when it was time to run I myself blame the 14 rules for alot of tired drivers also
Why would you want to stretch your day?how many hour do you want to work?14 hours is enough,make more money dont let your company make an unpaid slave out of you..
Here is the hard cruel fact...Just as long as you will work for less they are never going to pay me more!....As long as Drivers keep showing up there is no incentive for then to pay them anything...If they could find a way they would charge you to drive the truck....That is capitalism... Bad money always crowds out good money...The greedy and the desperate will always outcompete in the market...Hence the answer to the question of ....Why we need things like Unions and regulation...back in the Good old Days...we had 8 year old kids working in the mines and factories...and when you got injured on the job you got fired...
I remember in the early 90s in New Jersey near NYC, it seemed every single day the traffic reports mentioned backup due to an overturned tractor trailer. Big port area. This was pretty much when they started cracking down on hours.
Container drivers are the worst. No professional courtesy, reckless and they get paid by the container. That industry needs to be cleaned up. I've lived in long beach back in the 70s and 80s they have the worst kept equipment on the road.i don't even view them as truck drivers.
There should be no way that anyone responsible for trucking legislation should not be a current or former CDL holder. Bureaucrats have no idea what a truckers life is like, and I guarantee things would be a lot better if they did.
Everyone cheated on paper logs. I remember running 4 books at one time. The difference is I wanted to run and I had the self discipline to know when to call it quits and rest. I've heard these port drivers make good money and the loads are plentiful so yeah, they are going to run if they are money driven and the company lets them. We cant place all the blame on the companies when the s#!= hits the fan, no one is forcing you to drive the truck. I loved running my tail off when I was young because I was money driven and my company took advantage of that, because I let them and we could get away with it back in the day.
Wally Twixter well you were ignorant for doing it. Can a person make money with one log yeah they can. If people want to put themselves in a position to go into debt that's on them.
Dave you said something in a past video that has stuck with me. I'm paraphrasing here but you basically said the problem is NOT the ELD and NOT HOS ITS DRIVER PAY! If we were getting properly compensated for ALL of our time/labor, drivers wouldn't have to work every day feeling like their back's against the wall. I don't know too many other professions where so many people regularly clock out after an 11 or 14hr shift wishing they could have put in just a few more hrs to get some more work done.
That's right! I tell ya, I can't get over the number of guys complaining that they should be allowed to work more hours. After driving, loading, unloading, fuel stops, scale houses, etc the day is already long enough. With minimum wage increases for regular workers, you could go work 14 hour shifts at a cash register in retail, sleep in your own bed at night, and still make as much as an OTR driver. These guys ought to be calling for fair wages per hour, as well as pay for all the other things we have to do. It's insane, but you see how the subtle and insidious the dogma from the industry has gotten into the minds of drivers.
H.O.S._bandit I did both long haul and local, to be honest, the most money I ever made was hauling paper from recycling stations to the mill in thorold. One run I had, I started at 6:30 am drove from thorold over to Niagara Falls, 13 klms. I would do this run on average 5 times a day, and always was done by 11:30am, or noon. I made $45,000 a year doing that run and having afternoons to myself. Than I switched to running three trips a day from Hamilton to Thorold, I started at 6:15 am and was done by 2:30pm and I was making $70,000 a year doing that until I got a brain aneurysm and was forced to retire. This was about 10 years ago that I retired. When I was over the road, I worked my ass off day and night, and my goal was to crest $50,000 a year as a company driver.
Hello Dave, I read the same article. These carriers were presenting to the drivers a Lease Purchase Deal. Where the driver would buy the truck and make his runs and pay the Carrier they were leased to . All under the thumb of the Carrier. They would have some of these trucks on a 5 year note and just as they neared the 5 year mark. The loads would dry up and give just cause for the Carrier to Repo the trucks only to be resold to another driver. What a Racket!! These carriers should be Drawn and Quartered!! Most of the drivers were immigrants and not wary of the hustle. So they were easy prey for the Carriers.
Yup, and carriers that prey on drivers are, in my books, the lowest of the low. They are the biggest reason I do these videos. I hate to see hard working people getting screwed. Dave
Well said!!! Putting drivers and those on the road with them at risk. Shame on companies trying to put money in their pockets illegally. Driving an 18 wheeler is very dangerous if your not in the right mind set or have enough rest.
I've done paper, and electronic logs. I won't do paper anymore, only company I worked for that used paper would constantly have me cheat on them. It's to easy to cheat with paper logs, and companies take advantage of that. Electronic logs are way better, and in the long run, protects you and me from a crooked company running us ragged.
I'm a Port driver. Not all of us cheat on the logs. I'm one of those driver's that is happy that these companies are having to face the facts now. Currently I have a lawsuit against one of these companies . It's been almost 5 years now and it's just about to get wrapped up. Misclassification suit. ELD doesn't bother me because I've been consistently honest about my H.O.S. But I can definitely see how it affects my other brothers and sisters over the road. They should just have the IRS check total amount made before and after the ELD. That will get their attention. Good video. God bless.
I think the same scenario is still in place. As most of these drivers are Can Haulers who never venture outside of the 150 mile radius of their home terminal. So they do not fall under the ELD Mandate. So it's still very likely going on.
When ELD first came out they were accident/maintenance record based . CSA 2010 was the start . DOT proposed this back in the Bush days , he said no . Some of the mega companies like JB Hunt and Werner proposed this to drive out the little guy . They don't care how long it takes to deliver using hours of service as an excuse to the shippers who complain . Information from a retired DOT employee .
Something else that needs to be kept in mind is the little nuisance of a thing called Agenda 21. The plan to eventually herd all of us into these "smart cities". But first, they have to get everyone on board with their way of thinking. (just like the whole EPA emission mandates). Problem, reaction, solution:......convince the general public that it is THEY who are "killing the environment!!", ...react, by telling the public that they need to accept these emissions mandates to "SAVE THE PLANET!!", which has the Intended effect of causing the smaller trucking companies to go out of business. (which was the initial plan, all along). The same goes for the ELD"s. I'm sure everyone that has watched this video has already heard of the "driverless trucks". But, in order to get people on board with the idea, they first have to "create a problem" (run all their little "special reports" on truck drivers causing accidents), react by telling the public that they need to implement the ELD mandates to "keep us safe!!", which ends up even further putting the squeeze on trucking companies. Then, provide the "solution", in the form of driverless trucks", who "won't get tired" or potentially get injured & sue your company through workman's comp. Bonus is, you won't have to provide health insurance for your driverless truck! Just like the whole "fight for $15" nonsense we seen on the idiotbox. They created the problem of unskilled workers demanding a higher minimum wage, reacted by raising the minimum wage in some states, which caused employers to look at other options (such as automation). BINGO!! Suddenly, you have fast food restaurants which have implemented kiosks, instead of cashier's, that take your order. Hell, in China, there are FULLY automated fast food restaurants. (coming soon, to a smart city near you).
On the Northwood Pulpmill Road in Prince George one has to cross two lanes of oncoming traffic in order to use the run away path. All I'm going to say is I hope the run away never has to be used when it's shift change at the mill which is at the bottom of the hill.
You r right on! I drove OTR for 18 months and became discouraged. And still had to pay the truck driving school. They never discussed the reality of driving. Thank you for your reality checks. I hope new drivers will begin demanding the respect and pay they deserve#
It's not the reality of driving, it's the reality of an OTR job. Get a local job, get paid for your time, and go home to your own bed and bath when the shift is done. Oh, and take your lunch to work, so you don't eat your paycheck in truckstop restaurants.
Even with an ELD, your dispatch can ask you to complete a 4h-5h waiting time at pickup/delivery/garage with an additional 5h-6h to complete a full 10 hours reset... and you're good to go for another 14 hours! There are many ways to show a 10 hours reset on the ELD that are not, for the driver. I like your videos.
It's the mega carriers trying to put the little guys out it's business 101=cripple and eliminate the competition it's about money they hide behind safety
In this trucking business if you try to turn this into a 9 to 5 job you're not going to make a lot of money and you're going to be miserable. I've got no problem driving differant hours . Been doing it for 18 years.
I've been doing it for 18 plus years also. Except I usually started my driving day about 0400-0430 and would get into a truck stop by 1500-1530. Drive 650 miles. Maybe you have too much debt and live beyond your means.
Feb. 2018----In Nevada, pulling a long & short trailer is called a Rocky Mountain special. Pulled them a lot of 'em to the eastern border of Nevada where the set was broke up and taken to SLC by 2 drivers. Or to Tonopah to swap with another driver and straight to Las Vegas.
I drove for a Mid-West company and we were all Reefer. I received and delivered team loads by my lonesome. Sadly I was good at making everything " look" lagit and the company knew what I was doing but if there had been an accident they would have declared they did not know what I was doing. If you were a " runner" you received a lot of loads and usually a little extra money, and I mean little. Fifty was most common but sometimes one hundred. I drove over my hours of service very regularly and when I was offered " local " work out here in California where I lived I jumped at the chance. It was normal to deliver in Tracy,Ca then head to Salinas,Ca and wait and pick-up different product. The Spring Mix was a slow one. THEN...last pick was in Spreckles,Ca at say 9 or 10 pm and THEN drive to Barstow,Ca straight thru because a team was waiting on the load. I can understand why the ELD's are here now.....all that cheating going on....and Pre-Pass !! ...helped you cheat....I could go on and on but you know what I'm talking about. Be safe out there.
My brother is a semi truck driver in Alberta, hauling B train wood chips. One company he worked for has had ELD ( Trackstar, I think it was called ) since the 90's not only did it track his mileage, it tracked any stop over 15 seconds as well as speed and averaged speed. I though that was a good idea, as it did give him a duplicate record of his logbook, that he printed out after every shift. It was also his backup of hour worked.
As a 20 year veteran of trucking I wish we would have had ELD's a long long time ago. I don't like the mandatory 30 minute break for many reasons. (Drivers taking their mandatory 30 min break in the fuel lanes etc..etc..) but it would have saved me years off of my life especially during those years I pulled produce. Man did I drive way to much, I am one of the lucky one's. I love just pushing the button and then I go. Instead of having to draw in that stupid comic book and try to remember all those miles and stops. Now I just drive and do my job without the hassle and worry of the DOT trying to jam me up on my HOS. I love the fact that the ELD has taken away their wind right out of their sails when it comes to this issue. PLUS it does get the "Road Weary" driver off of the road . Now if we could just build more trucks stops to handle the ELD's we would be better off.
Definitely need more parking hell alot of truck stops are full by 3 in the afternoon i hate the whole thing the Damn 30 minute break is stupid I feel more tired after taking it
I enjoy getting paid $2 hour working 168 hours a week, this is common for company drivers, lease drivers and owner operators. All ELDs lie there is no such thing as offduty or sleeper, always onduty at job site 24.7. ELDs require drivers to drive when sleepy, ban driving when awake. If govt wants truckers to stay awake it can build 1000s of rest areas for truckers, require shippers to work 24.7 and pay $25 hour detention pay, require $25 hour minimum wage for truckers 24.7, ban 50-million illegal aliens that crash wages, ban all logbooks, ban HOS, ban speed governors that reduce sleep time. Set max price of diesel at 25 cents a gallon, it cost 15 cents a gallon when i started driving, nationalize the oil industry and stop exports of most alaskan oil to china japan and mexico to drive up prices in usa.
5:00 I’ve driven through BC a lot and those run away lanes look so sketchy, there’s no description just jumping out of the truck really does sound like a good idea.
FYI.. When connecting ELD I forgot to remove from under the seat. I accidentally let air out and sat down in seat when finished installing ELD. I immediately heard a crack and I knew what it was. ELD works great now with no GPS and I can edit everything.
Stay away from trucks pulling containers. The chassis under the container belongs to some unknown third party and who knows if it's maintained or not. The tractor could well be a rolling disaster waiting for its next accident. These guys drive a tight schedule and you'd better not get in their way. Also, their insurance might not be worth a cup of coffee. Stay away.
There's another big problem. We'll say that there are two classes of tractors, an 18,000-pound heavy duty, and a 15,000-pound standard duty model. If a container might be overweight they'll use the standard duty tractor so they can clear the scales when in reality this is the very time they should be using the heavy duty model.
You have 14 hours to drive the 11 hours. I never had a problem getting a quick 45 minutes nap. I drive 5 to six hours take my 30 knock out the other 5 or six
I wanna thank you so much Dave. You helped me a lot to understand this industry better, since Im dispatching drivers without hands on experience ( I'm not in the USA phisically) for the past 3 years. And they even say Im good at it :) Regards, Sam
To all truckers let the Republican party know that you will be withholding your vote from any and all Republican candidates until the E Logs mandate is repealed. We had a Republican congress and president the elogs mandate could have been easily repealed. The days of the Republican party getting our vote for nothing are over. The Republican party cant afford to lose the trucker vote.
I remember about 1 year ago working at cr I ran out of my hours on the eld so I called dispatch and told them there response was that they will fix my hours so I can run in a few hours just to make it to the shipper 30 miles away..
I started Elogs 2 years ago the dispatcher would have me deliver a local load, then have me comeback to yard switch Mt trailers. All that time would be put on personal time. Then I would start my day with pretrip. We dint do that anymore because someone go into and accident just before he ran out of hours
Guys this isn't the time drivers hours we're automatically logged. They had a device back in the day that worked like a record player and recorded on a disc of paper. Retired OTR now but Washington has been coming for this industry for a long time. They have won. You are now punching a time clock. It's the same ole mess, the same ole talk. You folks work smart through this one. Be safe and work smart!
Seriously looking into changing careers and always wanted to drive trucks but starting out being at work 24/7 350 days a year while under contract is just not looking too appetizing for that pay with my food costs alone. Trying to find a way to ease into it while getting the right training.
Agreed,it was the same in the u.k,when we had log books,there were those who fiddled,or were under pressure to fiddle their hours,now that we have digitachs,most of the ones that were running bent,have gone out of the game
As 3 of my neighbor companies are saying with 25 trucks or less, - A LOT OF TIME WASTED and not getting home. Will more money make everybody feel better? It often does for a while, then what?
I get paid by the hour and work for an environmental company in NC. My company still has us running illegal and hides behind our emergency response status. Most of our trucks are day cabs and my co. is not wanting to pay for hotels at times. Quite often we are still running illegal being over our HOS drive time
Smart-Trucking.com good point. Even taking away the eld/paper log most accidents are the 4 wheelers fault. So in using their logic the 4 wheelers should be using the eld. Maybe give it a few more years every car will require something similar
There was a study in 2014. It was an FMCSA dog & pony show. The study was supposed to compare carriers of like size, with ELD's, w/o ELD's. However basic scientific rules were not followed, so the results were not accurate. There compared apples to oranges, if you get my drift. Plus the FMCSA used a 3rd party, who just so happened to be an ELD vendor to help with the study. Can you say conflict of interest? Volpe actually performed the study paid by FMCSA. Yes, Volpe. The same assholes that created and administer the flawed, CSA program for FMCSA.
I use to work for 2 different companies that made the drivers run illegal on log books which both companies are now out of business. I like the ELDs now no company can make you run illegal. I do not like the cameras that they are putting in that see the driver. If you can't trust me to be safe then i do i know that the company is hiding something from me.
Yeah, I understand why companies want to run those cameras that film the driver, but like you said, if the company doesn't trust the driver, maybe they shouldn't have hired him in the first place. I wouldn't drive for a company that had those. Dave
Geoff Chausse they ought to go to a 24-hour reset and if you do get caught running illegal then they shut you down for three or four months will you can't even drive a take your CDL away.
In Europe we have digital tachograph cars we can only drive 9 hours per shift maximum and 10 hours ten days per week, also shift can’t exceed 13 hours 3 times a week or 15 hours twice a week, we use 2 drivers on long runs from Manchester England to Scotland,
I love lED now my dispatch can’t just throw a load at me and tell me to delivery next day , I m still making the amount same money as if I was running paper logs , in my opinion LEDs are great ,
"When in doubt, bail out" used to be the conventional wisdom years ago. I used to pull a set of wiggle wagons from Calgary to Cochrane which contains a pretty steep downhill to deal with. I was working for a tractor service and they asked me to get a pintle hitch installed on my tractor because there was not a company driver they thought should be doing that run. No, of course they never said that but it was pretty obvious to me.I worked for another company where a "driver" would work ten hours in the city then punch out and start another time ticket to do a run to Saskatoon from Calgary. Stay safe everyone. If you're too tired to drive STOP for the love of God, because in the end you, the driver, is responsible.
3:00 To be fair, the NTSB cannot "mandate" anything, they can only "recommend" to other government agencies based on the results of an accident investigation. The NHTSA, on the other hand, CAN "mandate". They're the ones who issue the safety recalls, etc.
I didn't work for a port company yet if $ was to be made, being up all day, driving all night was the norm cooking the book to get us there. But the more people are driving distracted the worse it is taking the chance more so doing your job. If you're where you're suppose to be, there's no problem but if your not where that paper log says, your arse is toast. ELD forces us to comply....4 yrs now & I love it. 75k a yr as company driver in a 68 mph trk.
Your knowledge is greatly appreciated. Me and 70 other drivers hauling for a broker in Los Angeles ( canyon trucking) worked day and night from December 2016 to January 2017 hauling asphalt. The two months we worked found out on the last day of January 2017 that his filling for bankruptcy and that he can’t pay us, he in total stole $681k from all the drivers. Me and 8 others tried everything so far but can’t get any money. Others have given up already trying to get their hard earned dollars. Any way you can help us! Thank you in advance! We did have an attorney before, but of no good use. Maybe Point us to the right direction.
I have driven with an ELD for the last 5 years. I prefer eld's because it can't be falsified. I'm not going to risk my license to make the company another few hundred dollars today. Why sell your tools to make short term money?
funny story!! about 10 years ago a simular runaway event occured on fancy gap Va. .. runn-a-way ramp saved the drivers face but the hook up with a tree broke his truck . . Its dangerous out there so ya really should get paid for the risk.
At first (this was in 2006) my company introduced us to Peoplenet, we were all wary of electronic logs, we thought it would cause us to run out of hours before we got back to the terminal. We operate mostly daycabs and run largely in-state. Our terminal manager and dispatchers are really good (former company drivers themselves), they understand how it is when dispatchers run drivers tired. We got used to the electronic logs. In some ways, it has become easier to drive and not have to log in 15 minute intervals and saves precious minutes if we are coming in with minutes to spare. I don't like that politicians who have no idea what we do are mandating that everyone uses them. Leave us alone. If we think it will benefit us, we'll use them. Don't force things on us.
I'm beginning to think there's not a shortage of drivers. Just a shortage of drivers willing to work their ass off for peanuts.
That's it exactly! Dave
After so many years ..we still at 1000 dollars a week ..
Exactly! Dave
Less trhan that in some places..
The0to1smell .. damn, I bet half that amount is the average . Just taken a cup in the local Pilot and it sucks what im hearing about pay.
If driver pay was adjusted for inflation from 1980's, average driver pay would be around $80K per year. How many truck company CEO's are still making 1980's compensation?
Nearly all company drivers take home less than 850 a week on average. The only drivers making that 1k per week are the ones who put in 10+ years with them.
I understand being with a company for an extended period should give some rewards but a new driver shouldn't be making two thirds of another doing the same work.
I'm an auto mechanic and years ago when I belonged to a large online forum for Ford flat rate techs. We were spreading the truth to the folks looking to get into being a mechanic, they were asking if the 6 figures that they were hearing about from the nationally advertised training schools was realistic. We of course told them the truth and eventually some idiot from the school I think he identified himself as an instructor joined the forum to tell us to knock it off.
This was an independent forum with no affiliation to either Ford or advertising from that particular school so we proceeded to humiliate this "instructor" and ran him off the forum. Keep spreading the truth! It doesn't matter what line of work we are in we need to stand up and keep people informed.
Agreed! Dave
I've been a tech for 10 years and I work at Swift now. My first hourly pay job and I make good money. Flat Rate is a con and you have to bust ass just to make good money. I made good money at Ford but then you have your slow periods etc.
Driving through St Joseph Minnesota today. Pulled up at a light next to a patrol car with a female officer inside texting on her phone. Man this world is beyond me. Same woman obviously would have ticketed anyone else. Guess rules for them and rules for us.
Yup! Dave
Stop whining about not getting enough hours, and demand more pay per hour. If you were making a livable wage in the first place, you wouldn't have to work over 70 hours per week.
With ELD's whether or not you sleep during your break, companies say well, you took your break and we don't care if you're tired. You have to go.
bruce watson This is the exact reason I didn't join trucking after finally getting accepted into a truck school. I heard that if you meet certain hours then you are legally required to stop and "rest" for a certain amount of time. If you weren't sleepy and couldnt rest properly then the company will expect you to drive as soon as the rest break ends. The crazy part is that they don't realize that when you actually do get tired and sleepy, but you just got off your break, the company is expecting you to drive under this condition. They actually believe that people can sleep on command and then ignore the fact that this law is forcing drivers to drive tired. If you do mess up you're fucked and not the company. They don't care if you lose everything.
Then you better sleep. Plus the company can't force you to drive tired. Document via screen shot & or voice recorder any unlawful activities . Under HOS you must not only have hrs, but be fit to drive those hrs.
bruce watson yup
Then you are one of those stupid drivers who kept driving when tried and sleepy. Just stop park somewhere safe send your dispatcher a message then turn off your phone and rest. Keep down every message, text and record convo if they throw a fit lol. It's the law that companies can not retaliate on anyway or fired you for doing that. A late load is not consider late unless you call your dispatcher what's going on so there can reschedule it
Various groups Lobbying for elds is the major reason it's the law, not safety concerns. Safety is of no real concern, if you understand what's really going on. Brokers grab all the money, then transportation companies then their drivers, it's inherently unjust system that rewards the con artists and unscrupulous once over hard working people. Every day about 15 or more people don't come back home from work, they die at work, Ralph Nader says, this is not about safety, it's about greed, control and greed and maybe something else in addition to greed.
I drive a log truck which is considered local hauling not long distance. But it's not uncommon at all to have a 18-20hr day in the winter/summer time. The time is takes to haul enough wood to make a profit is longer than the amount of hours you're allowed to drive. I run with a lot of old timers that have been doing it for decades and they haven't wrecked a truck because they fell asleep because they nap when they know they need one. The real tragedy to me is that these men can't make a living working less than those hours a day. 80-100hrs a week makes an old man out of you quick. Simple resolve but complicated to execute is to pay drivers better. I don't think a man should have to work 80-90hrs a week to put food on the table for his family. It's very sad. Truckers are one of the hardest working and skilled breeds of people in the working class and they just keep getting beaten down as time goes on. It's definitely not all chicken lights and chrome. It's countless hours, long days, time away from family, and little pay nowadays.
I was in Weatherford TX last night getting fuel. I had already scanned my EFS card, and was in the process of putting the nozzle in my driver side tank. A driver comes around the front of my Freightliner, and approaches my driver side door. When he makes eye contact with me, at this point he still hasn't realized that this is not his Freightliner. I couldn't believe, when he reached up and pulled the handle and opened the door to my truck. Once he saw the inside contents of my truck, he realized that he had the wrong truck. He closes the door back, looks at me, and says "You know you are tired, when you can't find your own truck." He began laughing as he walked away. I thought to myself, I hope he is headed West, instead of East.
Wow, poor bastard! I hope when he found his truck he dove straight in the bunk! Dave
D35611 k
I enjoyed your story about the Truck run away in BC
Thanks for all that you do Dave !
Thank you Charles! Dave
Dave; I worked for an outfit in the early 70's that would set a guy up to buy off his truck and pay him just enough to cover his truck payment but not his rent. They starved a real good friend of mine out until he had to turn the truck back in. That caused him to just lose about a year of his life working for NOTHING in the end.
Yeah, they're still doing that type of thing and that's why I never recommend a guy go that route and lease to buy from a carrier. Sometimes they'll lease the same truck over and over to different guys and none of them ever end up owning the truck. It's a racket! Dave
ELDs are ok but set up improperly. They force awake drivers to stop and rest and tired drivers to drive on.
Chris herman how? You can stop anytime you’re tired.
I like the canadian regs. Theyre more flexible
Josh krause. Not if you want to deliver on time
Then if there is a problem with a certain carrier having wrecks put THEM on ELD's not the entire industry.
james street that was the original intent but groups like MADD and such jumped on the bandwagon and you know the rest .
Scott Mueller MADD had nothing to do with ELD's.
When I drive from ATL to Sacramento I’m expected to drive more than 600 miles per day regardless of what happens from the time I start to the time I finish each day, because the drive must be completed in 4 days and operations can’t understand why it could take more time than that.
The ELD forces me to stop for a break and it forces me to be in the sleeper for ten hours, operations is pissed!
Nick, Tough cookie for operations, they didn’t object when Obama executed MAP 21…sooooo…this what they get. Pompas trash in the operations dept…...
james street .
Eld keep companies from taking advantage of an trucker's sleep schedule or the hours an trucker should have.
I wouldn't want an company doing me like that.
They are paid by the CAN so they run like crazy to deliver as many as possible. In Montreal back in 1998 I used to work for this small carrier who did containers out of the railyards and the ports.I was paid by the hour at the time and you could ALWAYS tell the guys who were paid by the can, they would run from their trucks to get their paper work and then run back to their trucks. Then they would check in at the gatehouse and rip into the yards to the location they were required to go at, and then would get out of their trucks and pace around their trucks impatiently waiting for the crane to come to either unload or load their can. they were pathetic to watch. NO ONE should have to work like that!!!!! I would fell real bad for them BUT at the same time i also thought to myself that they deserved it because they could quit anytime but didn't.. Thankx Dave, You do know how to get me all worked up.
Didn't mean to wind you up Ramman! Dump truck drivers here get paid by the load as well and some of them drive like maniacs trying to get in as many loads as they can. I think being paid that way should be illegal. Dave
If every driver we just go home no fuel at the pump no food on the Shelf shut the country down then we can tell these people and government how the government will be ran
Richard Martin not going to help they are going to driverless trucks.they are asking drivers now to train for other jobs..its getting scary.
Richard Martin that would be the most effective way to get the message accross. In my opinion, the big carriers are trying to get rid of the owner operators because they want the whole industry for themselves. If they're drivers refuse to drive and support every driver, it would have a huge effect that the stock market will drop fast. Hit them in their pockets and they will listen.
Unfortunately, when you shut down the economy YOU won't have any fuel or food either, and neither will your family and friends. So before you punch a hole in the bottom of the boat to let the water out . . . think again.
Cryptonymicus Food(I can grow my own food, hunt, etc. Fuel is not much of Big deal. I'm sure I can survive without it. It's a message we would send them. You're jumping waaay ahead.
@@cathy9160 The driverless trucks will be quite a few years away, if at all, hell they can't get trains on tracks to not crash that are automated, or cars not to run over people or into other cars, so I wouldn't get to nervous about the trucking industry drying up too soon.
California is a poor example for accidents because they force truckers to drive 55 while everyone else goes 70 which forces truckers to run tired as Hell! 🤬
sharecroppers on wheels is want trucking has become
Ray Paul thats good! Never thought of it that way
big carriers = big problems
Not all big carriers are the problem
Damn right bro
I drove with ELDS and they didn't bother me at all till the 14 HR RULE came in,it prevents a driver from taking naps when he's tired because his clock is still running I ran nights for years but the 14 HR RULE stopped that I couldn't stretch my day by taking a nap instead of sitting in traffic so I was breaking when I wasn't a bit tired and was tired when it was time to run I myself blame the 14 rules for alot of tired drivers also
Why would you want to stretch your day?how many hour do you want to work?14 hours is enough,make more money dont let your company make an unpaid slave out of you..
Many times I couldn't figure out how I got there..I was sleeping behind the wheel.
my subconscious got me there.
As I've said before Dave, if they are going to regulate us by the hour, then pay us by the hour. Do you think we can get OOIDA to push for that?
Don't know what their position on that would be. Dave
Here is the hard cruel fact...Just as long as you will work for less they are never going to pay me more!....As long as Drivers keep showing up there is no incentive for then to pay them anything...If they could find a way they would charge you to drive the truck....That is capitalism... Bad money always crowds out good money...The greedy and the desperate will always outcompete in the market...Hence the answer to the question of ....Why we need things like Unions and regulation...back in the Good old Days...we had 8 year old kids working in the mines and factories...and when you got injured on the job you got fired...
I remember in the early 90s in New Jersey near NYC, it seemed every single day the traffic reports mentioned backup due to an overturned tractor trailer. Big port area. This was pretty much when they started cracking down on hours.
Container drivers are the worst. No professional courtesy, reckless and they get paid by the container. That industry needs to be cleaned up. I've lived in long beach back in the 70s and 80s they have the worst kept equipment on the road.i don't even view them as truck drivers.
CONGRATS ON 100k! I’ve been pushing for you!
There should be no way that anyone responsible for trucking legislation should not be a current or former CDL holder. Bureaucrats have no idea what a truckers life is like, and I guarantee things would be a lot better if they did.
Agreed! Whole heartedly! Dave
Everyone cheated on paper logs. I remember running 4 books at one time. The difference is I wanted to run and I had the self discipline to know when to call it quits and rest. I've heard these port drivers make good money and the loads are plentiful so yeah, they are going to run if they are money driven and the company lets them. We cant place all the blame on the companies when the s#!= hits the fan, no one is forcing you to drive the truck. I loved running my tail off when I was young because I was money driven and my company took advantage of that, because I let them and we could get away with it back in the day.
Wally Twixter ,I agree with you, I also ran pretty hard, made great money, but like you, I had enough sense to stop when I was tired.
Wally Twixter well you were ignorant for doing it. Can a person make money with one log yeah they can. If people want to put themselves in a position to go into debt that's on them.
jeff ouellette I agree, youth = ignorance those days are long gone.
I've never had more than 1 logbook. Sorry that you had to do that.
Dave is a cool dude. I always enjoy the programs, another thumbs up!! 🚛🚛🚛🚛🚛
I've always been safer lying everyday on my logs instead of over sleeping, being forced to stop when I'm wide awake, and running on a time limit.
Dave you said something in a past video that has stuck with me. I'm paraphrasing here but you basically said the problem is NOT the ELD and NOT HOS ITS DRIVER PAY! If we were getting properly compensated for ALL of our time/labor, drivers wouldn't have to work every day feeling like their back's against the wall. I don't know too many other professions where so many people regularly clock out after an 11 or 14hr shift wishing they could have put in just a few more hrs to get some more work done.
You've got it! If you're not making money after putting in 14 hrs a day, something is seriously wrong! Dave
Dude thats sad, im running local 12 hour shifts with maybe about 9 hours of work, take a 3 hour lunch everyday and we're getting paid well
That's right! I tell ya, I can't get over the number of guys complaining that they should be allowed to work more hours. After driving, loading, unloading, fuel stops, scale houses, etc the day is already long enough. With minimum wage increases for regular workers, you could go work 14 hour shifts at a cash register in retail, sleep in your own bed at night, and still make as much as an OTR driver. These guys ought to be calling for fair wages per hour, as well as pay for all the other things we have to do. It's insane, but you see how the subtle and insidious the dogma from the industry has gotten into the minds of drivers.
H.O.S._bandit I did both long haul and local, to be honest, the most money I ever made was hauling paper from recycling stations to the mill in thorold. One run I had, I started at 6:30 am drove from thorold over to Niagara Falls, 13 klms. I would do this run on average 5 times a day, and always was done by 11:30am, or noon. I made $45,000 a year doing that run and having afternoons to myself. Than I switched to running three trips a day from Hamilton to Thorold, I started at 6:15 am and was done by 2:30pm and I was making $70,000 a year doing that until I got a brain aneurysm and was forced to retire. This was about 10 years ago that I retired. When I was over the road, I worked my ass off day and night, and my goal was to crest $50,000 a year as a company driver.
Hello Dave, I read the same article. These carriers were presenting to the drivers a Lease Purchase Deal. Where the driver would buy the truck and make his runs and pay the Carrier they were leased to . All under the thumb of the Carrier. They would have some of these trucks on a 5 year note and just as they neared the 5 year mark. The loads would dry up and give just cause for the Carrier to Repo the trucks only to be resold to another driver. What a Racket!! These carriers should be Drawn and Quartered!! Most of the drivers were immigrants and not wary of the hustle. So they were easy prey for the Carriers.
easytopleez33
Totally agree.
Yup, and carriers that prey on drivers are, in my books, the lowest of the low. They are the biggest reason I do these videos. I hate to see hard working people getting screwed. Dave
Well said!!! Putting drivers and those on the road with them at risk. Shame on companies trying to put money in their pockets illegally. Driving an 18 wheeler is very dangerous if your not in the right mind set or have enough rest.
I've done paper, and electronic logs. I won't do paper anymore, only company I worked for that used paper would constantly have me cheat on them. It's to easy to cheat with paper logs, and companies take advantage of that.
Electronic logs are way better, and in the long run, protects you and me from a crooked company running us ragged.
Like the advice and opinions on driver issues....but I LOVE hearing the STORIES....it's what life is about...THANKS
I'm a Port driver.
Not all of us cheat on the logs.
I'm one of those driver's that is happy that these companies are having to face the facts now.
Currently I have a lawsuit against one of these companies .
It's been almost 5 years now and it's just about to get wrapped up.
Misclassification suit.
ELD doesn't bother me because I've been consistently honest about my H.O.S.
But I can definitely see how it affects my other brothers and sisters over the road.
They should just have the IRS check total amount made before and after the ELD.
That will get their attention.
Good video.
God bless.
Thanks for writing in Oscar! Dave
At 4:02 I think they call those Rocky mountain doubles....dangerous stuff
I think the same scenario is still in place. As most of these drivers are Can Haulers who never venture outside of the 150 mile radius of their home terminal. So they do not fall under the ELD Mandate. So it's still very likely going on.
Another great video. Thanks Dave!
Thumbs up. Thanks for the information. Love hearing about the old days.
When ELD first came out they were accident/maintenance record based . CSA 2010 was the start . DOT proposed this back in the Bush days , he said no . Some of the mega companies like JB Hunt and Werner proposed this to drive out the little guy . They don't care how long it takes to deliver using hours of service as an excuse to the shippers who complain . Information from a retired DOT employee .
Scott Mueller that's the part 90% of people forget.
Good info, thanks Scott! Dave
Something else that needs to be kept in mind is the little nuisance of a thing called Agenda 21. The plan to eventually herd all of us into these "smart cities". But first, they have to get everyone on board with their way of thinking. (just like the whole EPA emission mandates). Problem, reaction, solution:......convince the general public that it is THEY who are "killing the environment!!", ...react, by telling the public that they need to accept these emissions mandates to "SAVE THE PLANET!!", which has the Intended effect of causing the smaller trucking companies to go out of business. (which was the initial plan, all along). The same goes for the ELD"s. I'm sure everyone that has watched this video has already heard of the "driverless trucks". But, in order to get people on board with the idea, they first have to "create a problem" (run all their little "special reports" on truck drivers causing accidents), react by telling the public that they need to implement the ELD mandates to "keep us safe!!", which ends up even further putting the squeeze on trucking companies. Then, provide the "solution", in the form of driverless trucks", who "won't get tired" or potentially get injured & sue your company through workman's comp. Bonus is, you won't have to provide health insurance for your driverless truck! Just like the whole "fight for $15" nonsense we seen on the idiotbox. They created the problem of unskilled workers demanding a higher minimum wage, reacted by raising the minimum wage in some states, which caused employers to look at other options (such as automation). BINGO!! Suddenly, you have fast food restaurants which have implemented kiosks, instead of cashier's, that take your order. Hell, in China, there are FULLY automated fast food restaurants. (coming soon, to a smart city near you).
75-80% of accidents are caused by cars!
On the Northwood Pulpmill Road in Prince George one has to cross two lanes of oncoming traffic in order to use the run away path. All I'm going to say is I hope the run away never has to be used when it's shift change at the mill which is at the bottom of the hill.
No kidding! That would be a tough choice to make! I guess I'd take whatever was on the passenger side and hope it didn't hurt too much! Dave
Port drivers run pretty much local(under the 100 mile rule)they are still exempt from e logs
You r right on! I drove OTR for 18 months and became discouraged. And still had to pay the truck driving school. They never discussed the reality of driving. Thank you for your reality checks. I hope new drivers will begin demanding the respect and pay they deserve#
It's not the reality of driving, it's the reality of an OTR job. Get a local job, get paid for your time, and go home to your own bed and bath when the shift is done.
Oh, and take your lunch to work, so you don't eat your paycheck in truckstop restaurants.
Even with an ELD, your dispatch can ask you to complete a 4h-5h waiting time at pickup/delivery/garage with an additional 5h-6h to complete a full 10 hours reset... and you're good to go for another 14 hours! There are many ways to show a 10 hours reset on the ELD that are not, for the driver. I like your videos.
Thanks Miriam! Dave
ELD will not stop log falsification it will merely standardize it. The problem is uncompensated loading/unloading time.
It's the mega carriers trying to put the little guys out it's business 101=cripple and eliminate the competition it's about money they hide behind safety
In this trucking business if you try to turn this into a 9 to 5 job you're not going to make a lot of money and you're going to be miserable. I've got no problem driving differant hours . Been doing it for 18 years.
Robert Bowersock agreed
My point is that after running a piece of heavy equipment safely for 8 hrs. it should pay a lot of money. A lot more than it does now. Dave
things will never change
I've been doing it for 18 plus years also. Except I usually started my driving day about 0400-0430 and would get into a truck stop by 1500-1530. Drive 650 miles. Maybe you have too much debt and live beyond your means.
Feb. 2018----In Nevada, pulling a long & short trailer is called a Rocky Mountain special. Pulled them a lot of 'em to the eastern border of Nevada where the set was broke up and taken to SLC by 2 drivers. Or to Tonopah to swap with another driver and straight to Las Vegas.
I drove for a Mid-West company and we were all Reefer. I received and delivered team loads by my lonesome. Sadly I was good at making everything " look" lagit and the company knew what I was doing but if there had been an accident they would have declared they did not know what I was doing. If you were a " runner" you received a lot of loads and usually a little extra money, and I mean little. Fifty was most common but sometimes one hundred. I drove over my hours of service very regularly and when I was offered " local " work out here in California where I lived I jumped at the chance. It was normal to deliver in Tracy,Ca then head to Salinas,Ca and wait and pick-up different product. The Spring Mix was a slow one. THEN...last pick was in Spreckles,Ca at say 9 or 10 pm and THEN drive to Barstow,Ca straight thru because a team was waiting on the load. I can understand why the ELD's are here now.....all that cheating going on....and Pre-Pass !! ...helped you cheat....I could go on and on but you know what I'm talking about. Be safe out there.
My brother is a semi truck driver in Alberta, hauling B train wood chips. One company he worked for has had ELD ( Trackstar, I think it was called ) since the 90's not only did it track his mileage, it tracked any stop over 15 seconds as well as speed and averaged speed. I though that was a good idea, as it did give him a duplicate record of his logbook, that he printed out after every shift. It was also his backup of hour worked.
As a 20 year veteran of trucking I wish we would have had ELD's a long long time ago. I don't like the mandatory 30 minute break for many reasons. (Drivers taking their mandatory 30 min break in the fuel lanes etc..etc..) but it would have saved me years off of my life especially during those years I pulled produce. Man did I drive way to much, I am one of the lucky one's. I love just pushing the button and then I go. Instead of having to draw in that stupid comic book and try to remember all those miles and stops. Now I just drive and do my job without the hassle and worry of the DOT trying to jam me up on my HOS. I love the fact that the ELD has taken away their wind right out of their sails when it comes to this issue. PLUS it does get the "Road Weary" driver off of the road . Now if we could just build more trucks stops to handle the ELD's we would be better off.
Agreed! And I have to say that the last few years when I ran an ELD I liked it, and by then my produce days were over anyway. Dave
Definitely need more parking hell alot of truck stops are full by 3 in the afternoon i hate the whole thing the Damn 30 minute break is stupid I feel more tired after taking it
I enjoy getting paid $2 hour working 168 hours a week, this is common for company drivers, lease drivers and owner operators. All ELDs lie there is no such thing as offduty or sleeper, always onduty at job site 24.7. ELDs require drivers to drive when sleepy, ban driving when awake. If govt wants truckers to stay awake it can build 1000s of rest areas for truckers, require shippers to work 24.7 and pay $25 hour detention pay, require $25 hour minimum wage for truckers 24.7, ban 50-million illegal aliens that crash wages, ban all logbooks, ban HOS, ban speed governors that reduce sleep time. Set max price of diesel at 25 cents a gallon, it cost 15 cents a gallon when i started driving, nationalize the oil industry and stop exports of most alaskan oil to china japan and mexico to drive up prices in usa.
5:00 I’ve driven through BC a lot and those run away lanes look so sketchy, there’s no description just jumping out of the truck really does sound like a good idea.
FYI.. When connecting ELD I forgot to remove from under the seat. I accidentally let air out and sat down in seat when finished installing ELD. I immediately heard a crack and I knew what it was. ELD works great now with no GPS and I can edit everything.
Stay away from trucks pulling containers. The chassis under the container belongs to some unknown third party and who knows if it's maintained or not. The tractor could well be a rolling disaster waiting for its next accident. These guys drive a tight schedule and you'd better not get in their way. Also, their insurance might not be worth a cup of coffee. Stay away.
All good advice! Dave
There's another big problem. We'll say that there are two classes of tractors, an 18,000-pound heavy duty, and a 15,000-pound standard duty model. If a container might be overweight they'll use the standard duty tractor so they can clear the scales when in reality this is the very time they should be using the heavy duty model.
It's my belief that container drivers get paid by the load so they are under incentive to get as many loads as possible in any given day.
their trailer wheels wobble the most
You have 14 hours to drive the 11 hours. I never had a problem getting a quick 45 minutes nap. I drive 5 to six hours take my 30 knock out the other 5 or six
UR ABSOLUTELY AWESOME.. THANKYOU FOR SHARING BUDDY !!!
That 580,000 violations over 4 years works out at just under 400 violations per day. That's insane.
I wanna thank you so much Dave. You helped me a lot to understand this industry better, since Im dispatching drivers without hands on experience ( I'm not in the USA phisically) for the past 3 years. And they even say Im good at it :) Regards, Sam
To all truckers let the Republican party know that you will be withholding your vote from any and all Republican candidates until the E Logs mandate is repealed. We had a Republican congress and president the elogs mandate could have been easily repealed. The days of the Republican party getting our vote for nothing are over. The Republican party cant afford to lose the trucker vote.
Dave, such great content. Keep up the great videos.
I remember about 1 year ago working at cr I ran out of my hours on the eld so I called dispatch and told them there response was that they will fix my hours so I can run in a few hours just to make it to the shipper 30 miles away..
Eric Castillo I bet they wouldn't to get you home though
Pay drivers by the hour. Problem solved.
Agreed! Dave
I started Elogs 2 years ago the dispatcher would have me deliver a local load, then have me comeback to yard switch Mt trailers. All that time would be put on personal time. Then I would start my day with pretrip. We dint do that anymore because someone go into and accident just before he ran out of hours
Guys this isn't the time drivers hours we're automatically logged. They had a device back in the day that worked like a record player and recorded on a disc of paper. Retired OTR now but Washington has been coming for this industry for a long time. They have won. You are now punching a time clock. It's the same ole mess, the same ole talk. You folks work smart through this one. Be safe and work smart!
Another great video.I edit my eld as much as I can.
Seriously looking into changing careers and always wanted to drive trucks but starting out being at work 24/7 350 days a year while under contract is just not looking too appetizing for that pay with my food costs alone. Trying to find a way to ease into it while getting the right training.
Agreed,it was the same in the u.k,when we had log books,there were those who fiddled,or were under pressure to fiddle their hours,now that we have digitachs,most of the ones that were running bent,have gone out of the game
As 3 of my neighbor companies are saying with 25 trucks or less, -
A LOT OF TIME WASTED and not getting home. Will more money make everybody feel better? It often does for a while, then what?
Thank god everything work out for him
Thanks for the insight. good show!
Thank you! Dave
I get paid by the hour and work for an environmental company in NC. My company still has us running illegal and hides behind our emergency response status. Most of our trucks are day cabs and my co. is not wanting to pay for hotels at times. Quite often we are still running illegal being over our HOS drive time
as a truck driver in the UK I am surprised about that, considering the distances you guys cover, how many hours can you work per day ?
I don't mind the ELD mandate but they need to dereg the 14hr rule
I love the eld. 14 hours are plenty of work.
That's what I thought. Dave
Right,, and true. Proving once again, that there is no problem that the government cannot make worse. I'm glad I'm out of the business now.
Was there ever a study done on how many accidents happened with drivers who ran with a ELD versus paper logs?
Yeah, I've read a couple, all of them claim the eld guys have fewer accidents, but as you know, statistics can be manipulated. Dave
Smart-Trucking.com good point. Even taking away the eld/paper log most accidents are the 4 wheelers fault. So in using their logic the 4 wheelers should be using the eld. Maybe give it a few more years every car will require something similar
tyler bonser I would really like to see swift, Schneider and prime result from that study
There was a study in 2014. It was an FMCSA dog & pony show. The study was supposed to compare carriers of like size, with ELD's, w/o ELD's. However basic scientific rules were not followed, so the results were not accurate. There compared apples to oranges, if you get my drift. Plus the FMCSA used a 3rd party, who just so happened to be an ELD vendor to help with the study. Can you say conflict of interest? Volpe actually performed the study paid by FMCSA. Yes, Volpe. The same assholes that created and administer the flawed, CSA program for FMCSA.
Most company drivers will be okay with ELD's, but for an O/O with a good record, they will only be forced to pay for something he/she doesn't need.
I use to work for 2 different companies that made the drivers run illegal on log books which both companies are now out of business. I like the ELDs now no company can make you run illegal. I do not like the cameras that they are putting in that see the driver. If you can't trust me to be safe then i do i know that the company is hiding something from me.
Yeah, I understand why companies want to run those cameras that film the driver, but like you said, if the company doesn't trust the driver, maybe they shouldn't have hired him in the first place. I wouldn't drive for a company that had those. Dave
U pass your health card and fit test driver ?
I think i need to do my own video on the reality of this BS. I would be open to debate any of you ELD lovers
Geoff Chausse bring it
Geoff Chausse they ought to go to a 24-hour reset and if you do get caught running illegal then they shut you down for three or four months will you can't even drive a take your CDL away.
Geoff Chausse same thing I'm thinking driver. it amazes me that people believe this
Thank you for the information helps so much
I'm very pro eld.
Should we be surprised?
I've had two bosses that have been forcing me to cheat my paper logs. Québec.
Trucker Daddy some companies are making drivers run illegally on ELD.
Kevin Folds then those you tell them to lump it. I've been on ELOG 3.5 years. Love it. Would never go back to paper
Quiet down and stop snitching! Lol
dougk5 and how much you make with eld?
Hey sissy girls if you like elds, you like them because you are not smart enough to buy your own equipment.
In Europe we have digital tachograph cars we can only drive 9 hours per shift maximum and 10 hours ten days per week, also shift can’t exceed 13 hours 3 times a week or 15 hours twice a week, we use 2 drivers on long runs from Manchester England to Scotland,
mrpetehampson 10 hours 10 days per week?
Hey smart trucking, being in Canada did you ever think about ice road trucking. That has to be a hole nother trip
I love lED now my dispatch can’t just throw a load at me and tell me to delivery next day , I m still making the amount same money as if I was running paper logs , in my opinion LEDs are great ,
Sadly, its why I never went past riding with a driver. 1978 was when I was in a Ford 9000, 350-13sp. 43 hours straight.
Working for free inside the ports! 4, 6, 8, hourlong waiting in lines just to get one single container.
Crazy! Dave
Safety safety safety my thought and also to cover the drivers
"When in doubt, bail out" used to be the conventional wisdom years ago. I used to pull a set of wiggle wagons from Calgary to Cochrane which contains a pretty steep downhill to deal with. I was working for a tractor service and they asked me to get a pintle hitch installed on my tractor because there was not a company driver they thought should be doing that run. No, of course they never said that but it was pretty obvious to me.I worked for another company where a "driver" would work ten hours in the city then punch out and start another time ticket to do a run to Saskatoon from Calgary.
Stay safe everyone. If you're too tired to drive STOP for the love of God, because in the end you, the driver, is responsible.
3:00 To be fair, the NTSB cannot "mandate" anything, they can only "recommend" to other government agencies based on the results of an accident investigation. The NHTSA, on the other hand, CAN "mandate". They're the ones who issue the safety recalls, etc.
Oilfield was the same way work 20 sleep 4 for weeks on end
those companies, have nothing to do with me, why am I being punished for what someone else has done????
Exactly! Dave
I didn't work for a port company yet if $ was to be made, being up all day, driving all night was the norm cooking the book to get us there. But the more people are driving distracted the worse it is taking the chance more so doing your job. If you're where you're suppose to be, there's no problem but if your not where that paper log says, your arse is toast. ELD forces us to comply....4 yrs now & I love it. 75k a yr as company driver in a 68 mph trk.
Your knowledge is greatly appreciated. Me and 70 other drivers hauling for a broker in Los Angeles ( canyon trucking) worked day and night from December 2016 to January 2017 hauling asphalt. The two months we worked found out on the last day of January 2017 that his filling for bankruptcy and that he can’t pay us, he in total stole $681k from all the drivers. Me and 8 others tried everything so far but can’t get any money. Others have given up already trying to get their hard earned dollars. Any way you can help us! Thank you in advance! We did have an attorney before, but of no good use. Maybe Point us to the right direction.
These drivers need to learn to say noooo! No job is worth your life!!
I'm not naming names, but some carriers found a way to manipulate the ELD's to keep their drivers running because a stopped truck doesn't make money.
I drove mostly local when I was young and logs weren’t required in some cases.
Guy told me yesterday, your truck is 99 or older. You do not, do not have to put a E.L.D in your truck you can use paper log. Is this true ?
As of right now, that's what I'm hearing. Not that they can't change their minds later because some 99's still had ECM's. Dave
I have driven with an ELD for the last 5 years. I prefer eld's because it can't be falsified. I'm not going to risk my license to make the company another few hundred dollars today. Why sell your tools to make short term money?
Good point of view! Thank you! Dave
Wrong it can be falsified by the company you work for
is it right that truck drivers in the usa do
not use tachogaphs ?
Most don't. Most are electronically monitored now. Dave
funny story!! about 10 years ago a simular runaway event occured on fancy gap Va. .. runn-a-way ramp saved the drivers face but the hook up with a tree broke his truck . . Its dangerous out there so ya really should get paid for the risk.
At first (this was in 2006) my company introduced us to Peoplenet, we were all wary of electronic logs, we thought it would cause us to run out of hours before we got back to the terminal. We operate mostly daycabs and run largely in-state. Our terminal manager and dispatchers are really good (former company drivers themselves), they understand how it is when dispatchers run drivers tired. We got used to the electronic logs. In some ways, it has become easier to drive and not have to log in 15 minute intervals and saves precious minutes if we are coming in with minutes to spare. I don't like that politicians who have no idea what we do are mandating that everyone uses them. Leave us alone. If we think it will benefit us, we'll use them. Don't force things on us.
When I was with Schneider they didn't force people to lease trucks. It was an option I wouldn't take. I also wouldn't brake rules.