[Timothy J. Begle]

Originally Posted by golfhobo

Much ado about nuthin!

That's not what drivers said after they took the so-called survey and got shut down for 10 hours because they had a TV and a dog in their truck.

[golfhobo]

Originally Posted by Timothy J. Begle

That's not what drivers said after they took the so-called survey and got shut down for 10 hours because they had a TV and a dog in their truck.

Then DON'T take the friggin survey! Probably a bunch of WUSSES like I see/hear every day that want to tell the TRUTH about their "widdle fweelings!"

Their is ALREADY a reg that would allow an LEO/DOT officer to put a driver out of service if he even "SEEMS" tired. But, it's never enforced. If they can't PROVE his logs are bogus, they usually can't put him OOS.

If they want to say that T.V's, dogs, laptops, etc., keep us from RESTING (as there IS no reg requiring that we SLEEP,) they will HAVE to change the REGULATIONS!

And, let's say they DO!!! Then freight can't MOVE. Drivers can't make a living and QUIT! WHO is going to deliver the groceries THEN???? YOU??? OR the LEO'S??? :roll:

Where did you BUY your "Chicken Little" suit, anyways? And HOW do you think it was delivered to the store?

I'm ALL for the LEO's having a friggin CLUE as to when a driver is WAY over his hours! I want SAFE roads. But, there is NO WAY that this country could survive shutting down EVERY driver who has a T.V. or a laptop in his truck.... or isn't as "perky" as you think they should BE!

MAYBE.... and I hate to SEE it.... EOBR's "might" be the answer. But, this little survey card that you are freaking out over isn't even CLOSE!

It's TOO subjective.... and the carriers would have a FIT over it!

[Timothy J. Begle]

Originally Posted by golfhobo

Then DON'T take the friggin survey! Probably a bunch of WUSSES like I see/hear every day that want to tell the TRUTH about their "widdle fweelings!"

Instead of just telling everyone how stupid you think they are, why don't you shut your smart trap and do a little reading.

As it has been posted above, Captain Ken Urquhart of the Minnesota Highway Patrol is presenting the Fatigued Driving Evaluation Checklist in front of a joint session with CVSA & FMCSA this week.

When the CVSA & FMCSA adopts Fatigued Driving Evaluation Checklist it will NOT be a voluntary survey, it will be a standard used by all 50 States, Canada, and Mexico.

There’s a lot more going on that even you can learn by doing a little reading and understanding how this stuff works.

.

[Timothy J. Begle]

.,.,.,.

[repete]

It's a bunch of BS what does your neck size and a full garbage can have to do with being tired? But then again they did and are bailing everyone out$$$$

[Sammonman]

There is nothing that says that if you check a box that it is a bad thing. If you read the list they are checking to see if you have the bed made and not covered in crap. They want to see that you use the sleeper. That could also mean if they see the reading material, or tv and cell phone that it means that you do spend time in the sleeper.

It can be used wrong that’s why it needs to be stopped.

It infringes on your rights and is profiling. The sleeper is your own space and they should need cause to look in and the medical information is a HIPPA violation. If they want the medical they need to ask for your long form. If they want to know if you sleep they need to look at your logs.

[Timothy J. Begle]

UPDATE:

For those of you that missed LandlineNow radio broadcast this week on Sirius XM Satellite Radio’s Road Dog Trucking channel, SIRIUS 147 and XM 171 at 7PM and 11PMEST here’s a little update.

Last week, OOIDA’s finest was at the recent meeting of the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance, or CVSA in Louisville, KY. And they were interviewed by LandlineNow this week on all the happenings.

Here’s a couple key points.
Iowa has asked Captain Ken Urquhart of the Minnesota State Patrol to present his Fatigued Driving Evaluation Checklist to them.

In Minnesota they recently did level 1 inspections on 157 trucks.
115 of those trucks or drivers were placed out of service.
50 of those placed Out of Service was because they failed the Fatigued Driving Evaluation Checklist!

Here’s something to think about.
When this List reaches California this will be a big problem.
California inspects at least 157 trucks a day.
X’s 50 drivers 5 days a week.
That comes out to 250 drivers per week Out of Service all based on the Fatigued Driving Evaluation Checklist


What will that do to a trucking company’s safety score?
Or YOUR safety score or rating?
Insurance rates?
Ability to haul loads?
A driver’s job?


Just something to think about.

[Timothy J. Begle]

For those who are not on the daily email list for: Daily Enews from Land Line Magazine
Here's some info you may find important.

[size=4]OOIDA at CVSA: defending truckers’ rights[/size=4]
The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association recently sent five representatives to the spring workshop of the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance to represent the interests of truck drivers subjected to roadside inspections.

OOIDA Director of Regulatory Affairs Rick Craig; OOIDA Foundation Operations Director Tom Weakley; Joe Rajkovacz, OOIDA regulatory affairs specialist; General Vice President Woody Chambers; and OOIDA Director of Security Operations Doug Morris all attended the CVSA workshop in Louisville, KY, in mid-April.

The OOIDA representatives recently sat down with Terry Scruton for interviews aired on Land Line Now.

CVSA policy doesn’t have the force of law, but the gatherings attempt to find common ground for law enforcement agencies, truckers and trucking groups in navigating federal and local safety rules. CVSA also takes positions on new potential safety measures.

The workshop was attended by many law enforcement representatives, state DOTs and product vendors, OOIDA leaders said.

CVSA participants discussed everything from speed limiters to driver distractions and even inspection decals (hint: expect many states to run low on decals after level one inspections this year.)

Here’s a rundown of several issues that OOIDA representatives discussed with CVSA members, and a summary of the Association’s position on each issue.

Truck size and weights
While some shippers, carriers and their organizations have argued for increasing the truck weight limit to 97,000 pounds and six axles, such a recommendation died at CVSA in committee.

“From what we understand, they don’t think it’s going to go anyplace,” Rajkovacz said.

Participants also discussed the recommendation at length, and OOIDA representatives brought up the vast differences in the way kingpin laws are enforced depending on the state drivers are in.

“Many states don’t even measure the same place – there is no uniformity,” Craig said.

OOIDA position: Sold under the guise of environmentalism and efficiency, major motor carriers and shippers see dollar signs in longer and heavier trucks. The nation’s bridges and highway infrastructure would suffer, and adding 20 percent weight would likely have consequences detrimental to safety.

Driver fatigue
[red]Minnesota and Indiana have become famous for their checklist aimed at identifying fatigued drivers.

A proposal came forward to recommend that truck drivers be put out of service for 10 consecutive hours “across the board” for fatigue. Currently, drivers can be put out of service “until such time that the illness no longer impairs you,” Craig said.

The recommendation was approved at committee level, but ultimately was withdrawn. Craig said it will be discussed by the CVSA driver committee for the fourth time at a future meeting.

OOIDA position: Minnesota and Indiana’s driver fatigue determinations are totally subjective, Craig said, and will be challenged in court.[/red]

Out-of-service criteria
CVSA’s vehicle committee discussed several items involving equipment that could cause a driver to be placed out of service, Chambers said.

The committee approved a recommendation to close the exemption for tire replacement on duals. Currently, a flat tire on duals can be matched to a good tire, or a bald tire can be matched to a tire with good tread. The recommendation would call for both tires to be replaced. The second measure approved involved air gauges. If two air gauges, primary or secondary, are inoperative, the vehicle would be put out of service, Chambers said.

OOIDA position: OOIDA has always believed out-of-service issues – because they are so punitive in nature – should be published in the Federal Register and opened for public comment as federal rules are.

Devices not in use
Chambers said the vehicle committee recommended that devices not in use – such as chains, hooks, fifth wheel on bobtail – “if they’re in violation, you wouldn’t be put out of service but you would not receive a decal.”

The committee also clarified its recommendation for tire depth measurements.

“They have to be three separate areas of the tire at least 8 inches apart,” Chambers told Land Line Now. “Inspectors can’t take the measurement on a flat spot.”

Also, Wyoming law enforcement representatives told CVSA participants that state would begin enforcing a snow chain carry law, as many western U.S. states have implemented.

OOIDA position: Devices not in use shouldn’t count as defective. “There’s no defect because it’s not even being used,” Craig said.

Driver distraction
In 2008, OOIDA Member Gerald Cook was issued a citation and was told he owed a fine of $450 merely for having a laptop mounted in his truck cab at an Arizona port of entry.

After FMCSA officials stated that laptops wouldn’t fall under a federal regulation prohibiting TVs mounted within the driver’s view, the case against Cook was dropped.

The case was discussed at a September meeting of CVSA participants, and brought up again in last week’s CVSA workshop.

It appears that CVSA will pursue educating drivers about distractions for the time being.

Craig and Rajkovacz said law enforcement officials acknowledged that all drivers, including police, have many items that could possibly distract them.

“It’s to the credit of law enforcement officers, who looked at all the things they have in squad cars – laptops, radar, radios – and realize they have more distractions sitting in their squad cars than most truckers do,” Rajkovacz said.

OOIDA position: Laptops, GPS devices and other equipment are being used by many drivers for important tasks such as mapping and maintaining electronic logbooks, and shouldn’t be banned or considered a distraction simply for being in a truck cab.

Speed limits and speed limiters
CVSA does not appear to be poised to jump into the debate over speed limiters.

Weakley said a representative from British Columbia came into his committee and reported that Canada’s western provinces weren’t likely to pursue speed limiters as Ontario and Quebec have approved them.

“What they were thinking is, speed limiters were done in two provinces. We’re in western provinces; we’re not dealing with the issue,” Weakley told Land Line Now. “That kind of gives you an idea.”

OOIDA position: OOIDA has always maintained that split speed limits and speed limiters endanger the lives of all highway users.

[Phantom433a]

Instead of insulting each other and screaming foul....Let's take a look at this checklist. Yes its voluntary, but if you refuse....they decide to do a level 1. One way or another, they are bound and determined to shut you down.

[Fredog]

I'm going to say.. "I'd like to take your survey, but I'm just too damned tired!"