Page 24 - ATR 5 2019 digital

entirely. She said it does not produce
anything of value and leads mostly to
driver frustration, and it’s difficult for
carriers and enforcers to know if drivers
“THE FMCSA LISTENED TO ALL THEIR STAKEHOLDERS are using the 30 minutes to rest.
INCLUDING DRIVING PROFESSIONALS, AND I THINK Jeff Loggins, president of Loggins
THEY HAVE COME OUT WITH A PROPOSAL THAT Logistics, also would like to see the
break eliminated. Drivers are already
APPEARS TO BE FAIR AND LOGICAL.” stopping to eat and fuel, and the cur-
rent rules force them to park on the
—CLARK GRAY, PAM TRANSPORT’S VICE PRESIDENT OF DRIVER shoulder or on a ramp because they are
RESOURCES & COMPLIANCE out of time.
“It’s not needed in the real world,”
he said. “Maybe it looks right on paper,
but in the real world it’s not a viable
option.”
The 30-minute rest break provi- hours without stopping to stretch C.C. Jones Trucking’s Stephens said
sion also received mixed reviews. PAM or go to the bathroom; his drivers the adverse conditions exception would
Transport’s Gray said the change would average 6.5 to 7.5 hours a day total. be helpful. He was neutral about it until
be beneficial. C.C. Jones Trucking’s Moreover, Maverick is a flatbed carrier one of his trucks was driving between
Stephens said it would help carriers be that requires its drivers to stop every Houston and Beaumont, Texas, during
more efficient and safer. But Newell 100-150 air miles to check their loads. the recent flooding there. The driver
said the FMCSA should simply remove Likewise, CalArk’s Stout said the change made it through the area safely after
it entirely because it’s unnecessary to the 30-minute provision would be driving through deep water. An extra
and accomplishes nothing. Few driv- better than the current rule, but her two hours of driving would have given
ers remain on the road an entire eight carrier would rather it be eliminated him more time to pass through the area
before it became hazardous.
Ed. note: At the 2019 Safety
COMMERCIAL TRUCKING SPECIALIST Symposium, Dan Horvath also noted
that when ATA surveyed members, most
said they don’t use the adverse condi-
tions exception because they aren’t sure
when they can and cannot use it. As a
response, ATA is requesting clarification
and a good definition of ‘adverse condi-
tions’ that would trigger the exception.
As for the short-haul provision
change, CalArk’s Stout said it would be
easier for carriers to comply with and
easier to enforce because it will be more
consistent with current hours of service
requirements. While Maverick’s Newell
was OK with the changes, he believes
every truck should have ELDs for
tracking purposes. He has trucks that
would be affected by the change, but
he doesn’t plan on removing the ELDs,
which the carrier uses as a time clock.
Garney, the attorney with
Scopelitis, said 650,000 drivers already
501-422-0850 are exempted, and he expects carriers to
www.richinsservices.com increase their short hauls.
225 W. Main St. ◆ Cabot, AR 72023 “After spending 10 years advocat-
ing and pushing for ELDs in trucks, this

24 Issue 5 2019 | ARKANSAS TRUCKING REPORT