Hours of Service regulations

[dpratt]

There is no doubt that the "recent" HOS changes were meant with good intentions. We all want our highways to be as safe as possible. That being said, most feel that there is room for improvement.

Carriers and drivers have been very vocal about the changes. I haven't heard much from those procuring transportation.

Any opinions out there?

[Oklahoma Jeff]

Drivers need to take rest times seriously. Even with the current HOS rules, serious sleep deprivation accidents will continue if adequate rest is not taken. We are at the point now that we have to prove that sleep related accident frequency can be reduced and not because of the HOS rule changes. How can we do that?
The driver population is dwindling and we keep creating new reasons for that to happen. Pay a man for a days wage. This is a skilled profession and should have a pay scale to match. TRAIN new drivers properly. A lot of time needs to be allotted to Health and the dangers of the lack of rest. Most of the Large carriers with in house training programs seem to be moving them in and out too quickly. I, with no driving experience, should not have to go out to our lot and back a trailer in for a trained driver who is driving for a large and respected dry freight company. We have to prove to the public that we are professionals.
1. Train properly
2. Understand the need for rest.
3 Unfortunately, we will have to live with the HOS changes for a while. We have scared the public far too long.

[Anthony P Lopez]

1- Pay Over the Road drivers by the hour and you will see a significant decrease in driver fatigue related accidents.

2- The pay rate should be a "skilled professional" regulated pay rate such as the Teamsters Union Rate. That way, every driver will be treated equally.

[Dot_Doctor]

What we all need to realize is that drivers are human beings not machines. You can sleep while waiting on your dispatcher's decision after a good night's sleep. You can not robotically change from night to day to night and back a million times without some type of reprecussion. Trucking companies and transportation procurement personel forget this obvisious fact way too often.

Truckers are not inocent either. They will run hard and try to put their bodies on autopilot. This is not because they want to but because the have to just to earn a moderate living. When a driver looks at the "real" hours, not the "coloring book" hours and divides that by his / her pay; they are lucky to make minimum wage. These are professionals and it is time the American public treat and pay them as such.

[Dot_Doctor]

What we all need to realize is that drivers are human beings not machines. You can not sleep while waiting on your dispatcher's decision after a good night's sleep. You can not robotically change from night to day to night and back a million times without some type of repercussion. Trucking companies and transportation procurement personnel forget this obvious fact way too often.

Truckers are not innocent either. They will run hard and try to put their bodies on autopilot. This is not because they want to but because the have to just to earn a moderate living. When a driver looks at the "real" hours, not the "coloring book" hours and divides that by his / her pay; they are lucky to make minimum wage. These are professionals and it is time the American public treats and pays them as such.