HOS Rules

RichM · Jun 30, 2004

The end of June is upon us and I was wondering how everyone has fared with the new rules. Personally they have helped me and hindered me. Running Team which I do about 75% of the time is no problem because we always ran 5 on/5 off. The 34 hour restart is great.You can take a weekend off and go with a full 70 hours on Monday.
Running single, in the beginning was a problem but then I realized that I could log a 2 hour sleeper break in the middle of the day and basically run under the old rules. Even while on a trip you could do this ,then log the speed limit .
Today I received the Flying J News letter and a driver Tim Barton has a deal going on with Volvo to drive around the world. Tim used to write for Truckers News and is a good guy.I had some personal correspondence with him at a difficult time in his life and he is one of us.
He reported in the News letter what the HOS Rules were in Europe and Russia. You go on duty for 4.5 hours,then 1 hour off,then on duty for 4.5,and 1 hour off,then on duty for 4.5 hours,then 9 hours off. In my humble opinion these rules make alot of sense. Chances are after 4.5 hours you are going to stop for a break anyway. I wonder if in Europe PATT and Crash Type organizations exist..

Glen Rice · Jun 30, 2004

With a commercial speed limit of 50 mph..we would all need a break after 4 1/2 hours of driving! Can you imagine if the speed limit in Georgia were 50 mph, and they inforced it! It would be a different world!

davekc · Jun 30, 2004

For us it seems about the same. 34 hour reset has really helped. I see several disadvantages to the single operator in certain circumstances

trump · Jul 1, 2004

I drive a van but am required to keep a log and follow the hos rules.
It Benefitual to me as I know how many hours and miles I drive each month. I didn't drive under the old rules.But driving with the new HOS rules seems ok to me so far.

terryandrene · Jul 1, 2004

Curious, what co. requires van drivers to log? My carrier naturally requires us to log hazmat when necessary. I understand Alabama and NY state require vans to log, but our company leaves that up to us and does not require log copies for anything other than hazmat

Although not regulated by the Feds, our carrier complies with the spirit of the HOS for vans and limits our run mileage accordingly. I'm in the minority among van operators but I agree with the mileage limitations being the safest way to go, particularly when the offer comes in at the end of a normal workday.

Terry

trump · Jul 1, 2004

I drive for ace forwarding out of Romulus,Mi. I just started working for them 6 weeks ago.

aquawarrior7 · Jul 8, 2004

The only real ways that it changed for us is 1)We are more careful on them making sure everything is right. 2) Gives us more loads cause we get offered more transfers, Seems they need us more and will pay us more for transfers than regular loads.Just my opinion f coarse.

Cpl_Fluff · Aug 2, 2004

If I run strictly by the new HOS I lose a load a week from what I used to run. I have a driver that has health issues his doc has told him he has to eat at reg. intervals and healthy meals, he won't stop to eat. Fear of running out of legal hours to run and support his family since off duty counts against 14 hour rule. I used to like to hike around the parking lots for some excersize and visit and look at trucks, NO MORE. This does not count toward my 10 hrs. in sleeper I've put on 12 lbs. The new HOS sucks with the exc3eption of 34 hr. reset.