EOBRs and Driver Harrassment

ATeam · Apr 14, 2011

News story:
FMCSA Seeks Comments on EOBR's and Driver Harrassment

Why not just equip the EOBR's with an off switch that can be used when we are out of service and off duty?

TeamCaffee · Apr 14, 2011

There would also have to be a switch to make the truck a non commercial vehicle.
Maybe a switch to turn the truck in an RV toy hauler.
Maybe a switch to cover up all the signs.

I think with these switches it might be a viable option.

gotta go · Apr 14, 2011

TeamCaffee said:
There would also have to be a switch to make the truck a non commercial vehicle.
Maybe a switch to turn the truck in an RV toy hauler.
Maybe a switch to cover up all the signs.

I think with these switches it might be a viable option.

You've watched the Transformers movies too many times.

arrbsthw · Apr 14, 2011

that's a great idea!

xiggi · Apr 15, 2011

People would just use the switch for things it is not meant to be used for, some carriers could also pressure drivers to take loads over their hours and tell them to switch it off. I could see a lot of reasons where this would defeat the purpose of requiring them.

shadow7663 · Apr 15, 2011

xiggi said:
People would just use the switch for things it is not meant to be used for, some carriers could also pressure drivers to take loads over their hours and tell them to switch it off. I could see a lot of reasons where this would defeat the purpose of requiring them.

It's also part of the law that the system must record where and when the system was shut off or unplugged and turned back on or plugged back in.

greg334 · Apr 15, 2011

shadow7663 said:
It's also part of the law that the system must record where and when the system was shut off or unplugged and turned back on or plugged back in.

Not really, by regulation it has to indicate to the driver that the system has been tampered with as a "Cease to Function" indication with a recording of the time and date. It also has to indicate a "sensor failure" and record the time and date.

ATeam · Apr 15, 2011

xiggi said:
People would just use the switch for things it is not meant to be used for, some carriers could also pressure drivers to take loads over their hours and tell them to switch it off. I could see a lot of reasons where this would defeat the purpose of requiring them.

The purpose of requiring them must be balanced against the negative effects of having them, which is what inspired the law suit mentioned above.

greg334 · Apr 15, 2011

ATeam said:
Why not just equip the EOBR's with an off switch that can be used when we are out of service and off duty?

Because it defeats the purpose of the EOBR.

fastrod · Apr 16, 2011

ATeam said:
The purpose of requiring them must be balanced against the negative effects of having them, which is what inspired the law suit mentioned above.

If your running completely legal than what would the negative effects be?

ATeam · Apr 16, 2011

fastrod said:
If your running completely legal than what would the negative effects be?

The negative effects are detailed in OOIDA's brief. You can read about it here.

moose · Apr 16, 2011

fastrod said:
If your running completely legal than what would the negative effects be?

not such thing.
to date i yet to see even one completely legal log.
some are getting dern close, but not even one otr truck can run 'completely legal'.

the negative effect will simply be placing us all out of business, making room for cheap labor baboons, which is why the almighty ATA is so in favors of that.
like everything coming out of the gov. we always needs to look hoe is sponsoring the new regulations .
and hoe is opposing it.

ever wondered why all the Expedite carriers hoe already have QC, don't even sound a voice asking the gov. to pay for all of this ?,
surly large Expedite carriers can enjoy a gov. supply EOBR's, rather then spending the money themselves .
but NO, this is not about the money, this is about wiping out the competition via regulations.

or we can believe it's all for the sake of safe roads, which ever float your boat .

blackpup · Apr 16, 2011

I think that most if not all of the citizens groups pushing these regulations are staffed and run by professional staff whose main incentive is their paychecks and job security. Whatever the organizations original intent was.

Deville · Apr 16, 2011

gotta go said:
You've watched the Transformers movies too many times.

Optimus Prime is my hero!

Deville · Apr 16, 2011

greg334 said:
Not really, by regulation it has to indicate to the driver that the system has been tampered with as a "Cease to Function" indication with a recording of the time and date. It also has to indicate a "sensor failure" and record the time and date.

I have had constant sensor failure on unit since the second it was installed, it comes and goes for blocks at a time. It hasn't effected my hours of service though. I see blue & red, than blue again on the grids. No one has said anything to me yet & im still keeping paper logs so I'm not gonna screw around wih it.