New HOS start today - figure out how to make it work

[TeamCaffee]

Henry Albert has a nice blog on Team Run Smart that is a good reminder for today:

Lemons to Lemonade

In the long run I will find it much easier to figure out how to make these new rules work for us.

Fighting the rules gives me a prolonged case of heart burn.

Henry's thought provoking article works in many situations.

 

[ATeam]

“when life throws you lemons you make lemonade.”

That presumes that you are somehow obligated or trapped in a way that requires you to keep the lemons. Additional options include hurling the lemons back at the people who dumped them on you (fight the rules), ignore the lemons (violate the rules) or render irrelevant the lemons and the people who dumped them on you (leave the business).

Diane and I made the decision to leave the business not because of the 30 minute break in particular but for other reasons, including the ever-tightening regulatory noose. We will comply with the new rule for the short time we remain in the business, but if we were truckers with a long future in the business, the tightening noose would likely continue to tighten and probably motivate us to leave sooner than originally planned.

Why stay in a business that continually and increasingly requires you to make lemonade out of lemons if other opportunities are available that have fewer lemons in the first place?

That's not to say people cannot still make a successful go of trucking, it can still be done. But those who stay best develop a taste for lemonade, because there is more and more of it to drink.

Drinking lemonade when you want to is one thing. Drinking it because it is the lesser of two evils is quite another.

 

[GandJ]

Great article. Except for people who are so burned out or are beyond bitter the article good information.
As a newer expediter I had read a lot of information before our h/w team started. We looked through this site back 5 years and read two daily blogs. We read about changes and moves, disappointments and different carrier styles. We are so happy with these last 8 months of our new small business.
We have chosen to roll with change and will continue to increase our personal wealth at an incredible rate. Every day has been a challenge but good. We have found most all gloom and doom claims stated before we started were unfounded by us. We choose to be happy and we really are happy and enjoy the way its going.
Could some things be better? Sure! but I only care to focus on what this team can change not what it can't.
Some people will continue to throw rocks at what they hate and despise. We choose to roll with it and enjoy everyday.
As a note we are not some youngsters that have stars in their eyes and are to young to know better. We are about the OPs age. We have had business started from day 1 in the fields of wholesale supply, 7 day a week retail and the construction industry. Seen it done it and have been regulated and over regulated. Expedite is fine with the right attitude. Amazing what a little sugar does to a lemon.

 

[mjmsprt40]

When life throws you lemonade, you set the IV drip to "Hose down the dogs" and enjoy the ride. Staying under 10K for the foreseeable future...

 

[layoutshooter]

The problem is that the more we just accept dangerous and intrusive regulations the more they will dump on us.

Yes, we are going to be forced to deal with this unless congress smacks down the DOT and takes control of them as they should be doing . The executive branch has NO business regulating business.

 

[ATeam]

Yes, we are going to be forced to deal with this unless congress smacks down the DOT and takes control of them as they should be doing . The executive branch has NO business regulating business.

I agree with the first part but not the second. It is the business of the executive branch to regulate this business because congress has given them the authority and responsibility to do so. DOT is a cabinet-level entity in the executive branch.

That said, the FMCSA, an agency of the DOT, is out of control and very much needs to be smacked down by congress. Congress has tolerated for far too long the FMCSA snubbing its nose at the ristrictions, limitations and accountability that Congress places on it. So part of the problem is the FMCSA's failure to abide by the rules under which it exists, and part of the problem is Congress'es failure to call them on it.

We are running today with reset log books. It wil be interesting to see what life is like under the new rules, and even more interesting to see what the roads are like when things return to normal after the holiday impacts are behind us.

 

[layoutshooter]

I agree with the first part but not the second. It is the business of the executive branch to regulate this business because congress has given them the authority and responsibility to do so. DOT is a cabinet-level entity in the executive branch.

That said, the FMCSA, an agency of the DOT, is out of control and very much needs to be smacked down by congress. Congress has tolerated for far too long the FMCSA snubbing its nose at the ristrictions, limitations and accountability that Congress places on it. So part of the problem is the FMCSA's failure to abide by the rules under which it exists, and part of the problem is Congress'es failure to call them on it.

We are running today with reset log books. It wil be interesting to see what life is like under the new rules, and even more interesting to see what the roads are like when things return to normal after the holiday impacts are behind us.[/QUOTE

The congress IS the problem. They are not doing their job.

We will run our first load under the new regs tomorrow. I am SO looking forward to spending the second part of each driving shift sleepy.

I am firing off a note to my congressman today. I sure hope everyone else is. We MUST hold their feet to the fire. It IS their job to represent us.

 

[davekc]

This is what happens when people are writing laws for industries they know nothing about. This will continue literally everywhere regardless of the business. As long as we keep electing the same people, we likely will get the same result.
Soooo....based on that, it is pretty much make the best out of a less than desirable situation.

As mentioned, there is no escaping it regardless of what business your in. Just saw this weekend were a part time magician has to have a detailed disaster plan for his pet rabbit courtesy of the USDA. One of the dumbest things to come out of Washington last week. Sadly, this foolishness is a daily occurrence.
For your reading enjoyment while on your 30 minute break.
Agriculture Department tells magician to write disaster plan for his rabbit - Washington Times

 

[EASYTRADER]

This sort of thing is Rands point in "Atlas Shrugged". Its also why the economy has not recovered, nor will it.

 

[davekc]

No part of society will go untouched unless you work for the government or are a lobbyist. And even then. Even Wall Street doesn't escape it now.

 

[OntarioVanMan]

No....you guys will just whine into future generations....tsk tsk

 

[Murraycroexp]

DING!!! Popcorn's ready!! Who wants some?!??

 

[layoutshooter]

No....you guys will just whine into future generations....tsk tsk

They will be coming after you 4 wheelers next. I even brought up the fact that you guys don't have to log, can drive as MANY hours as you like, and even run overweight, in my email to my congressman!

 

[Turtle]

They will be coming after you 4 wheelers next. I even brought up the fact that you guys don't have to log, can drive as MANY hours as you like, and even run overweight, in my email to my congressman!

Sounds like jealousy and envy more than anything else.

 

[OntarioVanMan]

They will be coming after you 4 wheelers next. I even brought up the fact that you guys don't have to log, can drive as MANY hours as you like, and even run overweight, in my email to my congressman!

You do that LOL yeah emailing it has really been effective

 

[layoutshooter]

Sounds like jealousy and envy more than anything else.

Nope, it's FEAR!! I have to share the road with all you 4 wheelers!

 

[paullud]

Why stay in a business that continually and increasingly requires you to make lemonade out of lemons if other opportunities are available that have fewer lemons in the first place?

I'm in the process of trying to determine if it is worth it. The new regulations are more of an annoyance than anything but we know it will just get worse and to many out here are to stupid, ignorant, or lazy to fight back. We need to get much more organized and find the time to contact those in charge and put pressure on them.

Sent from my SCH-I535 using EO Forums mobile app

 

[layoutshooter]

I'm in the process of trying to determine if it is worth it. The new regulations are more of an annoyance than anything but we know it will just get worse and to many out here are to stupid, ignorant, or lazy to fight back. We need to get much more organized and find the time to contact those in charge and put pressure on them.

Sent from my SCH-I535 using EO Forums mobile app

Just stop in the travel lanes to take your 1/2 break. That would do it!

 

[paullud]

This is a quote from a trucking group I follow on Facebook.

"This is exactly what we knew would happen with this new hos rule. Could not stay at delivery and the only legal place to park was a rest area 30 mins out...had about 45 mins left on clock tell 8 hour rulekicked in....then traffic/weather and then less than a mile out 'REST AREA CLOSED TO TRUCKS' so now we are on side of the road waiting for 30 freaking mins....unsafe across the board....ugh"

Sent from my SCH-I535 using EO Forums mobile app

 

[TeamCaffee]

“when life throws you lemons you make lemonade.”

That presumes that you are somehow obligated or trapped in a way that requires you to keep the lemons. Additional options include hurling the lemons back at the people who dumped them on you (fight the rules), ignore the lemons (violate the rules) or render irrelevant the lemons and the people who dumped them on you (leave the business).

Diane and I made the decision to leave the business not because of the 30 minute break in particular but for other reasons, including the ever-tightening regulatory noose. We will comply with the new rule for the short time we remain in the business, but if we were truckers with a long future in the business, the tightening noose would likely continue to tighten and probably motivate us to leave sooner than originally planned.

Why stay in a business that continually and increasingly requires you to make lemonade out of lemons if other opportunities are available that have fewer lemons in the first place?

That's not to say people cannot still make a successful go of trucking, it can still be done. But those who stay best develop a taste for lemonade, because there is more and more of it to drink.

Drinking lemonade when you want to is one thing. Drinking it because it is the lesser of two evils is quite another.

Well said Phil. I applaud you that you have found a business that is more palatable to your taste. Right now we still find this to be the way we prefer making a living and who knows one day we to may discover another business that lures us away from the transportation industry. I wish you well in your new venture.

Those that choose will leave the industry which will tighten up the supply and demand.

In the end water will always find its own level.