ATA rallies up support for EOBRs

bigblue

Mandating EOBRs would be a big step in the wrong direction. To allow the government to electronically surveil the American people is in violation of the constitution. Just because the technology exsists to do it doesn't mean they should. I believe this will set precedent for the expansion of government surveillance. Alreday there is a proposal to put something similar into all new cars. Sure, law enforcement would love to tag and electronically track all American citizens to see if they break the law. Our founidng fathers must be turning in their graves.

The old mandate has already been struck down in court due to the harrasment issue. On that subject, I have heard stories of a certain big company giving a full set of fresh hours on a driver's EOBR after a day of driving. The judge that ruled against the mandate said that there are other issues that could be pursued against EOBRs including the 4th ammendment. So, the mandate has already had legal trouble, how can they issue the same mandate again? Also, didn't the Supreme Court rule against the placement of GPS on a suspects car without a warrant? The Supreme Court may ultimately outlaw EOBRs. How could any real American be for this sort of thing? It's outrageous.

Posted May 9, 2012 06:20 PM

Skypilot

The ATA needs to get away from the EOBR issue and get to what they really need to do. They need to push the issue about drivers getting paid for WAITING TIME (with no free time), fueling, pre and post trip insp. and paperwork. With that in hand, DRIVER's would opt to run legal and therefore there would be no falsification in paper logs. BUT the ATA is not going to do that because that would cost shippers and consignees $$$ and that would hurt the ATA's backers behind all of this crap!

Posted May 7, 2012 06:44 PM

Terry G

as a new to e-log driver, let me first state that I started on Paper drawing my lines and making my comments and even put the start and end millage of the day on each log. NEVER been late with a load on either side of the trip (pick up or Delivery) and NEVER had a violation, in-fact actually was told by a scale master that I should be a log book instructor. Under paper logs I start my day and made a mental note of what time I have to stop either before the 11th or 14th hour depending on my daily activity. If I didn't stop at all, or if I did. Normally I always stopped at the 12th hour because of fuel, loading/unloading, meal breaks etc etc. Was put on E-logs with the carrier I driver for and for the first time felt pressure to run it out because I now have this box on my dash that counts down from 11:00 to 00:00. I never worried about what time it was before, if I felt tired I'd stop and take up to a 3 hr nap if time allowed sometimes less, if I was hungry I'd eat etc, now I look at the display and it's telling me if I stop I'll only have 6 hrs left oh wait make that 5hr 59min left better keep rolling I guess (yawning)

Posted May 5, 2012 07:40 PM

Steven M

The fact is...The large trucking companies have the most citations and worst safety records compared to the small outfits, why? Is it lack of training on logbooks, no mechanical training or ability to recognize a mechanical problem and make their own simple repairs if needed, or is it being pushed? I can disable an on board recorder and falsify whatever I do after that just as easily as I could falsify a logbook if I chose to, so that arguement doesn't hold water. If an on board recorder goes down, how do you backtrack your last 7 days or each day forward until it's repaired?
You'd use paper logs wouldn't you? Do you leave your truck on the side of the road and have it towed because the EOBR went down?
My Point. I keep reading how EOBR's are being pushed in the name of safety, yet still see no connection, how? They make a driver no safer than a paper log does...it's just a preference is all, nothing more.
It makes it easier for big trucking management to track freignt and drivers, but for the little guy it's a waste of money. There is no way that system or the subscription to use it is going to be cheaper than a paper logbook at $5 a month.
If the Feds want see logs whether it by EOBR's or paper,they have that right at anytime. "Safety" latley has been high and accidents are at one of their lowest points, I suppose that is due to EOBR's? Bunk.
There's only one way to improve safety and it's never changed...plenty of training,rest, being alert, recognizing mechanical problems and repairing them, watching out for hazards and the other guy and driving for conditions.
Keeping safety always at the forefront. EOBR's don't have zip to do with any of that.

Posted May 1, 2012 02:07 PM

KB

I love how the I'm against EOBR'S alway claim they know how to fill out a log book, but they are the ones getting the log book fines for violating the 11/14 and log not current. Then they also claim big brother will be looking over their shoulder, not the case since the info only goes to the company not to the Feds.

Yes I understand that EOBR'S will have to have a button pused for off duty on duty and sleeper berth, but that's a simple thing to do. Mybe a driver has to push a button to send info for the day to the office, simple again.

Will it give a large company a advantage, nope because everyone is supposed to be logging legal. The only ones that will be hurt by having a EOBR are the drivers who cheat on their logs and no one else.

Posted April 30, 2012 04:50 PM