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are transporting goods back-to-back,” with the state FMCSA office, says SMC the guesswork. We have almost instant
Breedlove said. “But for the most part, chairman Jason Wing. access to logs now, where we used to
the 34-hour restart is not going to “Our members have to get have to wait for up to two weeks to find
affect a lot of people. There’s been some involved,” said Wing, manager of safety out what a driver put down in his log
misunderstanding on how it’s going to compliance and training at ABF Freight book.”
be implemented, so the best thing to do System, Inc. “You’ve got stay active, stay CalArk is “very close” to having
if you have concerns about violations informed. You can disagree all day long, 100 percent of its trucks equipped with
is call me. Send us your logs and we’ll but if you don’t bring something to the EOBRs, and Hare “strongly, strongly”
talk you through it. I don’t think there table, your voice isn’t heard.” supports a universal mandate.
are violations where you think there are And keeping up “on a day-to-day Massey also was quick to name
going to be violations. We just need to basis” with what’s current at FMCSA the message he’d like to send to
look at your individual cases and make is standard procedure at CalArk Washington: “a rethink” of the 34-hour
sure there are no problems there.” International, adds assistant director of restart.
Ruban was quick to add FMCSA safety Malea Hare, who serves as SMC “I’m not a doctor, but I just don’t
can’t visit every carrier with a question, vice chairman. agree with the science,” Massey said,
but is “more than willing” to address Hare was hopeful, but cautious, referring specifically to the productivity
groups with similar issues. Additionally, about Collins’s call for cooperation lost on the consecutive overnight rest
the FMCSA website features sample logs between the industry and regulators. periods. “My question is just ‘Why?’”
to explain the change and help carriers “Getting information from motor The 34-hour restart “very much”
plan around the changes. carriers around the country is definitely will have an impact at CalArk, agreed
“It’s very much what I’ve been talk- beneficial for FMCSA,” she said. “I hope Hare.
ing about,” said Collins. “It’s the differ- they do respond positively to what carri- “We are still informing our drivers
ence between choices and rules. People ers have to say, because we are out there of the proposed rule, and doing train-
are not automatons and physiological — professional drivers are out there — ing company-wide. It’s going to change
situations change from hour to hour every day.” things for over-the-road carriers,” she
and day to day. Sometimes the rules Indeed, SMC Secretary Allen said. “The way customers have the loads
feel at odds to that. That’s the nature of Massey, safety director for Transco set up, the appointment times: every-
trying to set a regulatory framework so Lines, Inc., was quick to identify a dis- thing is going to be a factor in how
that you’re governing the vast majority connect between the industry and regu- successful it will be. “I really feel EOBRs
and setting a minimum standard. There lators: “driving.” will be able to provide the data to see
are always going to be folks who fall “They’re not truckers. They’ve if there needs to be an hours-of-service
outside those parameters.” never done it; they don’t understand it,” change,” she said.
Whether the litigation over HOS he said. “They’re looking at scientific Based on its studies, some drivers
will impact implementation of the new data, but when it comes to safety on the could be left sitting for up to 52 hours
rule “is in the hands of the court,” roadway, motor carriers need to be able on the restart, Hare added.
Collins added, and while there’s been to trust the drivers they hire to do the “It would make it very difficult for
no indication yet of delay, the situation best job; to do it safely and do it legally.” them to continue to be a professional
is “dynamic.” Carriers certainly should “stay on driver,” she said.
top” of their drivers and take correc- With good drivers being hard to
carrIEr rEacTIoN tive action when needed, but changes come by, that’s certainly the sort of
Of course, the importance of good to current rules aren’t necessary, he carrier communication FMCSA should
communication with policy makers emphasized. hear — but are they really listening?
is nothing new to Arkansas Trucking So Transco has equipped about Time, and regulations, will tell.
Association members. Indeed, the 15 percent of its 240-truck fleet with Meanwhile, to stay informed,
leadership of the Safety Management EOBRs, and Massey calls the results so Massey encourages members to get
Council (SMC) said much of the far “outstanding.” involved with the association and its
FMCSA presentation in Hot Springs “Reducing driver miles — the big- councils.
should have been familiar to council gest negative thought — has not been “There are real issues that safety
members, thanks to regular updates true in our case,” he said. “They’ve professionals in trucking deal with on a
provided by Breedlove. actually picked up, and gotten a little daily basis,” he said. “We’ve made great
But the Q&A session gave attendees more consistent from week to week. strides over the last few years to bring a
the opportunity to get answers to spe- We had no alerts, but as a motor car- lot of information into the council, and
cific questions, just the sort of “really rier we felt it was in our best interest to I think with the current leadership that
good open line” the association has keep the roadways safe and eliminate will definitely continue.”

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