Senator Charles Shumer demands for the use of ELD's
June 18, 2014
On June 16th Senator Charles Shumer (D) N.Y. is calling for the immediate mandate for the use of electronic logging devices in all commercial trucks operated in the U.S. He states that this will eliminate driver fatigue and create safer roads for America's travelers. http://www.schumer.senate.gov/record.cfm?id=352900&
Of course this comes in regard to the accident involving a Wal-mart driver that led to the death of comedian James McNair. Kevin Roper was the driver who swerved to avoid rapidly slowing traffic in New Jersey and collided with the limo occupied by 6 passengers. He plead not guilty to the charges of death by auto and assault by auto. Wal mart has warning detection devices in their trucks to alert a driver of slowing and stopped traffic ahead. http://finance.yahoo.com/news/wal-mart-truck-crash-had-212431703.html. It seems that this incident may have occurred due to over congested roadways.
Senator Shumer seems to think that by mandating the use of electronic logging devices (ELD's) in commercial trucks will help to eliminate driver fatigue. This is obviously a another short minded statement by someone who sits behind a desk and has no real experience for which he makes his claim. He thinks that an act of legislation will make roads more safe., a simple swipe of the pen and suddenly everything is going to be okay. There is nothing to prove that ELD's will be effective. In fact the opposite may be true.
The facts are that drivers are being forced to stop driving when they are awake and allowed to drive when they are tired under the current regulations and ELD's only keep tired drivers behind the wheel. ELD's cause drivers to park in undesirable locations where their sleep is constantly disrupted. Municipalities are closing down truck stops where parking is most needed or are not allowing proprietors to open new truck stops, minimizing parking availability. Municipalities are restricting businesses from allowing trucks and recreational vehicles from parking in store parking lots, such as Wal Mart. Municipalities have been fining thousands of dollars to businesses for trucks being parked at their place of business, as well as fining truck drivers. Anyone that has driven in the north east knows that parking is impossible to find at night. Truck stops and rest areas fill up beyond capacity and drivers that can't find find a better spot to stop other than the shoulder of an on ramp or wide pull off on the interstate are awakened and fined regularly. Drivers using ELD's can still still log sleeper berth when in fact they are loading and unloading, therefor negating the use of ELD's.
Laws don't create safer roads. Proper training, experience, better pay and adequate parking are the best avenues to promote safer roads in the U.S. Truck drivers are America's safest drivers. They do it to provide for their families and they are greatly needed as contributors to society. ELD's will only chase away good drivers and create more stress on the one's that may be willing to stay in the industry. Overdrive Magazine did a national poll and found that 51% of America's truck drivers intend to stop driving if ELD's are mandated. This will have a great negative impact on our struggling economic recovery. I hope drivers mean it, because apparently Congress and the FMCSA isn't going to get it in their heads any other way. Truck drivers need to realize the power they have if they get united on the issues and simply stop driving until members of Congress get the point. You should sign the petition to stop the mandate of electronic logging dvices