Quote:
Originally Posted by heavyhaulerss
yes I would
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A couple of other truckers and I collected a lot of comments from the feds' web site. I believe the comments count for a lot. They were submitted 2 1/2 years after the split sleeper berth provision was taken from us. After 2 1/2 years of living with the mess, drivers made their comments at their first opportunity to do so. Nobody can realistically claim that their comments are a "knee jerk" reaction.
There never was a significant, specific, comment period offered for the split sleeper berth provision. The comment period for the 2003 rule changes should not be considered, because the removal of the split sleeper berth provision was only one of many possible considerations for inclusion in the new rules.
The comments we collected were the ones that protested the loss of split time. The comment period was actually designated by the feds for consideration of the 11th hour driving and the 34 hour restart provisions. The last time I looked, there were 3,500 comments.
In early 2008, we collected the comments that begged relief from our loss of split time. We didn't get them all, frankly because it was a lot of work. We read every comment. There were over 3,000 at the time. We have, I believe, over 400 comments on our web page. That's over 10%. Over 10% of the drivers who commented were more concerned with the loss of split time, even though the comment period was advertised to collect comments on the 11 hours and the 34 hour restart. If we'd have had more time to work on it, the percentage would be higher. That is a lot of drivers who feel aggrieved by the loss of the split sleeper berth provision of HOS rules.
I'm a driver, as you are. I let the matter lay for a while, because I had to drive and because I had work to do on my truck. I adapted to the new rules, but never will I be content with them. I worked a lot of years using split sleeper rules and made the best, most efficient use of my time, both sleeping and driving, under those rules. I feel that a federal mandate of 8 continuous hours of time in a bunk is an invasion of privacy, contrary to principles of safe operation, and makes difficult the efficient use of my time.
I am presently contemplating what should be the most efficient move to make at this point. It would seem to me that even though the comment period is officially over, the feds might be inclined to, or directed to, pay attention to the driver comments on their site.
I would like to know the names of the people who made the split time decision, and what exactly were the motives for their sudden and unanticipated directive.
Also, it would be a good idea at this point to stay informed with regard to other activity that is presently afoot, since there might be an opportunity for us to get this resolved quickly, if we're paying attention.
For starters, it would be a good idea to write to your congressmen and senators. It would probably also be a good idea to make a comment on the feds' website.
It has been a while since I have been at the feds' web site. I will try to locate the proper page for making a comment and post it here on the forum.
Thank you,
stonefly