So we’ve completed our first ten days on the road under the new hours of service. I’m going to be really honest here and say we didn’t start this with an open mind. George was mad about it from the beginning. But he follows the rules, and always has, so we set out to see how it would go.
As of the 10th, we’ve lost approximately $300 due directly to the new laws. Two good loads had to be turned down because George wasn’t able to do a reset and didn’t have the hours to get them to the final on time without it. We’ve spent an inordinate amount of time dragging short loads around just to be able to make enough money to break even out here. George went into long-haul because he does just that, long-haul. That’s how he schedules his hours of service, and always has.
Before I get the “You should have planned better” comments, let me suggest that those of you who feel good planning is the answer to everything obviously live in an alternate universe. One where you’ve never sat at a shipper with a 8:30 a.m. appointment and waited until 5:30 to be loaded. You’ve also never run into traffic and been hemmed up for hours because of a wreck or construction. Good for you. Now back to the real world.
I sincerely hope someone in Washington comes out of their stupor and realizes the people they’re hurting are the ones who followed the rules in the first place. People who cheat will always cheat, and they’re laughing at your new rules while they continue to cheat. If you’re concerned about hours of service, then mandate eLogs — don’t slaughter the industry by keeping the professional driver, who follows the rules, from being able to make a living. Governments don’t regulate people into submission, they regulate them into a revolution.
We don’t tell you how long you can lay up and sop your gubmint gravy, don’t tell us how to schedule our day.
