Owner-operators and other drivers gathered around the country Monday in opposition to the electronic logging device mandate as part of a so-called “ELD Media Blitz” two weeks before the mandate is to take effect.
With legal challenges having failed and a proposal to delay the mandate stalled in Congress, the rallies were an attempt to bring attention to what the truckers say are security, economic and safety issues associated with the mandate.
Safety tops concerns for drivers in Nashville
A small group of drivers gathered early at the downtown Travel Centers of America location in Nashville, Tenn., just across the Cumberland River from the Tennessee state capitol building. Coordinated in part by Continental Expedited Services driver Tom Harris of Clarksville, Tenn., the group worked in solidarity with dozens of similar events nationwide.
Harris bobtailed in with his company Kenworth T660, meeting owner-operator David Floyd of Collinwood, Tenn. (with Bane Hauling and Rigging); independent Ingrid Brown of Mountain City; Dennis Piersall, independent of Cuba, Mo.; and other truckers.
The 45-50-truck expedited fleet Harris drives for has terminals in its Clarksville home base and elsewhere, employing U.S.-based drivers but also operators in Mexico and Canada.
