New HOS rules.

[louixo]

I read the long thread about the new HOS rules, and decided it was time to start another one, as it is such a controvesial topic. First of all I think the jury is still out on the effect it will have. In my opinion it would be no major task for trucking companies to essentially mete out thier freight on an hours of sevice basis. In essence, give the short runs to those that have fewer hours, and the long runs go to those that have more hours. Companies are doing it right now, they just have to fine tune it. I also think that those of you who see a resurgence of van freight because of the new rules, are dreaming. The name of the game is, and always has been, more freight on bigger trucks, resulting in lower freight rates.The new HOS rules will be manipulated to accomadate that basic trucking tenet.Remember when everybody thought the new CDL license was going to mean fewer drivers and more money? That should give you a clue. Several states made the CDL test an open book test, to accomodate the approaching deadline, so there would be enough drivers. Same thing happened a few years back with the air traffic controllers strike, and those misguided union members thought they would paralyze the air travel system by going on strike. They lost thier jobs..permanently. My point is, that the govenment has already put alot of thought into the new HOS rules, and are set up to accomodate any eventuality, and will react accordingly. Trucking companies had plenty of advance notice that the new rules were coming, and have plan "b" ready to go. They will hardly miss a beat. They didn´t draft the new rules randomly. The companies WILL adjust, and it will be business as usual. The safety factor is another question, and will take time to sort out. IN short, I think there will be little chaos when the new rules take effect, and we´ll all just ease into compliance, like always.

 

[Dreamer]

I hope you're right.. I really do. If the companies DO allocate freight like that, giving short runs to someone who already had a short run that day, instead of 'blindly' going to the next on the list, it might work out.

I guess I've just been seeing the possible frustration, like many, of doin that short run, then having to turn down that 'cherry run'...

But... I do have to disagree with you on the van freight issue. I 'personally' see D and E unit drivers being more apt to turn down those short, light, lower paying runs, wanting to save their hours. Yeah, I know, the percentage of B freight on D and E units is low... BUT.. 2 or 3 more loads a week would make a big difference for me.

Please understand, I am NOT wishing any bad luck on D or E drivers. If I was a 'little' more confident on how these HOS rules would work out, I would DEFINATELY be going D Unit instead of van, simply for the comfort factor, more freight, etc...


Dreamer

 

[davekc]

I keep seeing shorter loads to those that have available hours. Still sounds like less money. Since the wife and I team I don't really see a negative effect for us, but I do support the single folks who are certainly going to take a hit from this. The best thing I saw was on EO relating to the Canada port strike. Seems like they got what they needed. Maybe we should be looking at that closer. If anybody should notice it should be OOIDA which I am a member. I get sick and tired of hearing they can't organize anything like that. Simply put, can't or won't. I know they would be threatened with jail time or fines but in todays world sometimes you have to take one step back to get two forward.

 

[zingfu25]

Yes i feel sorry for the single drivers, but I see the team expediting industry going crazy with loads coming to them from customers whose former carrier can no longer make it from point a to b in the usual amount of time. Am i seeing something that isnt there?

 

[louixo]

Trucking will continue to change and adapt to market forces. There didn´t used to be warehousing on wheels, there didn´t used to be cross docks, and there didn´t used to be expediting. And most of all there didn´t used to be deregulation.Look at trhe mileage rate that is paid to drivers. The increases over the years are due to recruiting, not a general increase in freight rates filtering down to truckers. The increases also have not kept up with the cost of living adjustments that government and union workers automatically receive. All the problems will be solved, and freight rates will be kept at a manageable low level. Getting goods to market in the cheapest way possible always has been the order of the day, and still is. Team loads may be at a premium at first, if the 14 hour consecutive rule is enforced, and the DOT will never allow van and "c" loads to continue to run unlimited hours if they are increasing in numbers, and hauling a larger percentage of freight. I´ve heard truckers strike being tossed around for years in truck stop conversations, and on truckers forums, but orginization of said strike is next to impossible to acheive. I don´t know what the solution will be, but i doubt it will be teams, vans and "c" trucks take over in the money making department. If history is any teacher, then a year from now we will still be looking for higher mileage rates and more benefits, because shippers will find cheaper ways to get the job done...new rules or not. So don´t change equipment just yet.

 

[Weave]

That is the way I am looking at it, just business as usual for me, a solo expediter. The new rules are not going to change the industry overnight, and myself along with every other solo truck driver out there will just adjust ourslves accordingly as to what needs to be done for us to continue business as usual. If there is going to be a huge enforcement campaign and a big controversy over the 14 hour consecutive rule, I imagine that will be straightened out in the courts in due time after the ruling takes effect.
-Weave-