They didnt screw us too bad
 

I guess if I were still driving, the two time periods between 1 AM and 5 AM would not be a problem. I generally fit my 34 hours into a 48 hour time span. The 30 minute break after 8 consecutive hours of driving isn't all that bad either. I used to take a break after about 6 or 7 hours... Generally in a restaurant, and often for 45 minutes. That wouldn't not affect me too much at all. The two hours in the jump seat being off duty time should help some of you.

I don't like the 30-minute break thing. When I start my day, I like to run hard and then get my dinner and such. The 34hr thing won't bother me either, since I generally don't do 34's on the road anyway.

That 34 reset once aweek might screw me up, what's the big deal if you do a 34 every 5 days?

I did a whole lot of "run full out" until my driving time was up. But there were also many times I did take a break. Thinking back, I don't know if it's all that bad an idea to take a break. I know there were times when that was not convenient, and I doubt that's changed much, if any.

I know that it is too much to ask, but it would be much better if the feds and all these special interest groups would leave drivers to decide when they can work or run and when they need to rest. It should also be up to the driver when they need to do a reset. It will be interesting to see who files the first lawsuit.

No offense intended to YOU, but... there are too many out there that get a bit sleepy and sloppy on those "hard runs" of 11 hours straight without getting out of the seat... especially at 4 a.m. Make 'em get out of the truck for 30 mins... slap some cold water on their face and get some coffee or a bite to eat... maybe even FORCE them all to play a video game... and I'll be MUCH relieved out there on the road.

I think I LOVE it. Haven't digested it all yet, but got the gist of it. Proves my point to the Rev that time spent "on the truck" but not in the sleeper should be considered OFF duty if the truck is parked... AND (for teams) if the truck is moving.

A mandatory 30 minute break is GOOD for safety, and EASILY managed in most logging systems.

I can't see where the 1-5 a.m restriction should affect anyone who is actually taking his 34 hr. restart. Please consider that these required times will be on your LOGBOOK times... not your pickup and delivery times in other parts of the country. A guy logging on east coast times will have to plan for a restart that allows him to make a pickup at maybe 5:30 a.m. But, if he's on the west coast, that will be at 2:30 a.m. I don't see how anyone CAN'T get a 34 hr restart and still make an early morning pickup... even on the east coast.

If OBAMA can get this passed... no reduction to 10 hours driving. No change to the duty window... MADD loses and Obama and truckers WIN!

Don't shoot a gift horse in the mouth just cuz he looks like a Donkey!

Ok - so, how good is this going to work when you're needing to take a 30 minute break driving anywhere in the northeast at, say, 2am? I can see the fuel islands backing up for miles now.

How about those that are on the west coast time for logging and have a 530a pick up time in the east... which is 330a, or even 230a in MST or PST? It works good for east coasters on the west but not really vice versa. I only bring it up 'cuz i'm based out of Denver and we go to the east quite a bit... this could potentially hurt drivers in the same boat... unless I missed something!?!

OMG!! Did Hobo just call Obama a donkey?

you cant always decide what time to deliver, fore instance, I have a customer who usually gets a load on Friday, and they get there at 5 am, so I get out about 630 and then it's time for a restart, guess what? I start break at 7 am, 5 pm tomorrow is 34 hours BUT I cant go, because I only have 1 period between 1 and 5 am, now I have to wait until 5 am the next day so my 34 hours has become 47 hours, they are counting on the fact that truck drivers are too stupid to figure it out.

Good point, Mystikal. Like I said... I hadn't absorbed it all yet. I'm pretty sure this problem will be recognized and addressed before the effective date in 2013. I think one possible outcome will be that shippers/receivers (or perhaps dispatchers) will have to start considering the driver's schedule a bit more instead of making US conform to their schedule.

There are alot of variables to be considered, but.... if you left the west coast on a direct run to a delivery on the east coast, followed by that 5 a.m. pickup... you should still have about 20 hours+ left on your 70. You should be able to make an early pickup (though I see the problem you mention) and keep moving... at least to a "relay" point. I.e: you shouldn't NEED a restart at that point in your week.

IF you have been out awhile, or on the east coast for awhile, and this would be your LAST pickup before you hit your 70 and NEED a restart... well... they shouldn't have YOU picking up that load anyways. I THINK this new ruling will require everyone to rethink their "scheduling." IF you are against the 70 hour wall, your dispatcher needs to get you to a point where you can take your 34 hr restart (under the new requirements) BEFORE you have such an early morning pickup.

I am currently considering all this input and recalculating things in my mind (as evidenced by the sweat around my collar,) and will do my best to help us ALL work this thing out.

I will defer to your advanced experience in driving in the Northeast, but... I HAVE been up there a few times. All the way to Maine. I've seen rest areas, offramps, pullouts... etc. I'm pretty sure you could find a place to pull over and log 30 in your sleeper. Point is... you don't HAVE to wait until 2 a.m. (or 8 hours into your day.) [In fact... I believe the new regs say you can take that time "resting" in the cab of the truck.]

And not EVERY driver in the area will take that break at the same time. In fact... I'll bet MOST drivers already TAKE such a break somewhere before entering the "forbidden zone" and, as long as it is sometime BEFORE they have been driving for 8 hours, it satisfies the new regs.

I will give more thought to YOUR "objection" as well, but.... I still don't see a problem. Not expecting a mass exodus from the interstate into truckstops at any specific time during the night/day.

Fredog said:

Fixed it for ya.

I guess you were out of hours when you GOT there. Why? But, I see your point about how it will cost you about 2 full days.

I don't think they are that stupid... nor do they think WE are. Fact is... MATT and other organizations were pressing for a 48 hour restart. FMCSA was leaning in that direction based on medical evidence that a "worker" or driver needs TWO full sleep periods that include "the wee hours of the morning" which we ALL agree are the hardest on ANY driver. I believe the current ruling shows a compromise that TRIES to include two of those periods WITHOUT mandating a 48 hour restart. Count your blessings and figure a way to deal with it. I'm sure your company is working on it.

I also expect the ruling to be challenged in court. This will allow for a further "comment period." I hope some of you will make these "situations" known to them. You've HAD a year or so to do so... Both the 48 hr restart AND the "two night-time" considerations have been public knowledge for a couple of years now.

I think that they need to have more regulations. After all, we don't know when we are supposed to go to the toilet or take a shower or how long we should spend taking care of those thing. We also need to know how long and when we need to eat, grab a cup of coffee or get a coke. I need to know about these things so that I can operate compliant.

Absolutely NOT! I think someone recently admitted that they had "hacked" my account. If you FIND that pernicious hackster... you will find the CAD who made such an implication! :lol:

they should just require the 48 hour restart and stop trying to hide it

This is the one point I am still struggling with. I would appreciate any numbers or logbook examples you could give me. Sounds like you would have to be driving 11 hrs/day with absolute minimal breaks and inspection/hook times to use up 70 hours in 5 days. If so... it would seem that YOU, of all drivers, might need more than just a "daytime" 34 hr restart before pulling another 70 hours on this type of schedule! You all KNOW that I've never worked for a "common (coolie) carrier," so... I need some input to consider how these rulings would affect ALL drivers.

Just considering pure "numbers," it is hard to see how a driver could use the restart more than once a week. However... recent activities by my company have actually resulted in me getting a "non-intentional" 34 hr restart in the middle of my short week... so, I can see how it might happen while waiting on a load to haul. [And I drive TEAM! :eek2:]

IF I were so inclined to work thru the weekend to make up the miles I missed, I think I would be concerned that this unintentional restart would not "actually" RESTART my 70 hour clock. However.... I think I might be MORE concerned that these days of inactivity would show up as my 9th day BACK when I really "needed" some hours to gain... and wouldn't have them.

I really WOULD like to hear/see some examples (real or hypothetical) to show how this could be a real problem. Y'all know me. If I think the Feds are wrong... I will let them know it! :lol:

I'll continue to at least try to stick with driving 8.5 hrs or so per day. That way I don't have to worry whatsoever about doing restarts anyway.

I don't think they are trying to HIDE it. I think they are trying to "fight" it. PLEASE give me more details on your start/stop times for the first part of the week. If you start on Tuesday ?morning? and work three 14 hour days, you would still have 28 hours left to pull two more shifts on Sat and Sun. That's 5 - 14 hour shifts. I know this doesn't match your schedule, which is why I ASKED for for more details.

You're an O/O aren't you? So... YOU are the company and dispatcher I've been talking about? Again... I defer to the obvious experience y'all have in your specific niches as truckers. I am just trying to LEARN how these regs could affect the MANY individual situations that different truckers and companies might encounter.

It's like a puzzle that I want to solve. I'm not real good at puzzles, but... I'm good with numbers and regs. Since I've driven team MOST of my career, MOST of these regs and restrictions have never affected me. But, I have driven SOLO a few times, and so I HAVE had to deal with some of the problems (without the benefit of the practice most of y'all get every day!)

Please help me by treating me like an idiot! :lol: That shouldn't be too hard for SOME of you. :D

Seriously... if you can't formulate your objections HERE... on CAD... and pass MY test, you will never be able to influence the FMCSA with your "valid" concerns. And if you don't do THAT... things will never change in your favor. You will have to LIVE with the rules they pass.... and just continue to complain and blame Obama! :lol:

I really DO want to KNOW.

So... you'll "continue" to run HARD for 8.5 hours a day and bitch about having to take a 30 minute break? Okay.

PLEASE give me more details on your start/stop times for the first part of the week.

There is the whole problem for me, my start times are always different depending on where I am going, sometimes it's in the morning, sometimes, it's at night, sometimes it's when ever I feel like it, if my start times vary, then I my end times will vary also, but like with everything else they have thrown at us, I will learn to deal with it.
and by the way, I dont blame Obama, he is just a patsy for the large corporations just like all of the other presidents, now if you will excuse me, I have to go schedule my sleep apnea study because I am 30 pounds overweight

Wow... you are a better at this than I am. I have to stop at least once to take a squirt.. I don't have a 5 gallon bladder and I don't want to develop kidney stones. Maybe at the same time, grab a sandwich. Might also just go ahead and transflo a bill from my last drop. Might also do a check quick online on my iPhone and see about the cheapest fuel prices along my run while I am stopped. Oh..... all of this and I just got in my 30 min mandatory break. Wasn't that easy?

It takes you 30 minutes to do all that?

Thought you said you're driving for CELADON... Think they'll go along with that idea???

Think about it guys. The knowledge base of those that make up the rules is about as good as the bunch that referred to the "UN-CASTRATED COWS". You've got the same thing as a bunch of single-engine Cessna pilots trying to tell NASA how to fly the shuttle missions..... Ok, make that the LUNAR PROBES.

Not really, but this little example was just to show that 30 minutes somewhere before the 8th hr of driving is not that big of a deal. Most folks can easily find a way to make that 30 minutes work in their favor if they just use their brains a little. It can be a productive use of one's time that would have been used somewhere else anyway. Also, that 30 minutes can be folded into one of those 2 hr splits that some of us use to our advantage in some situations. In no way is this to construe that I agree with FMCSA logic. Quite the contrary. Instead of just pitching a fit and crying in my beer, I am just looking for ways to make the rules work favorably in my operation. I will.

I guess some will continue to curse at the darkness, while some of us will light a candle.