PDA

View Full Version : What do you think? Have the new HOS proved themselves?



buzzy
05-11-2007, 07:45 PM
Ok it's been a little over 5 months since the new regs came in to effect.


What do you think?

A good thing or a bad thing?


I can tell you as far as I'm concerned the idiots who designed them to benefit the driver are full of doodoo.

Reasoning was by implimenting a 14 hour cycle a driver would get more rest. This applied to both sides of the border.

Today I walked in to a real mess in the office. We have 2 drivers off at the same time for work related injuries. Both injuries were a direct result of drivers being told they have to sleep and they can't. Then after 5-6 hrs of rolling around in a sleeper unable to sleep being forced to go another 14 hrs straight to make any headway in their trips.

One driver has a broken thumb. He was tired, his reflexes weren't as sharp as they should be and a chain binder snapped open and got him.

The second driver was admitted to a hospital in Indiana for a broken ankle. Again, fatigue and numbed reflexes were the root cause. He tripped and fell.

Admittedly we are extremely busy. We also run legal as we can. These two drivers got caught in a long wait at Detroit customs, were running behind,getting up to 9 hours driving duty and rather than be caught in 3-4 hours of traffic down the road decided to take a 10 hour break in the middle of the afternoon.

Both say they couldn't sleep but were forced to remain the 10 hrs after they're "clocks had run out".

The next shift to they're destination was 8 hrs of driving, 1 hour to unload and 1.5 hours to reload.

This company has experienced at least 2 work related injuries a month since the U.S HOS was put into effect. Prior to Jan 2006 they had 1 or 2 a year.

My belief is the new regs are going to get someone killed. My own health got worse because I'm forced to run and forced to sleep at times in the day I never used too.

One other thing. Have you tried to find a SAFE parking spot after 6pm at nite lately??? Virtually impossible.!!

What"s your say?

Accremonious
05-11-2007, 11:38 PM
The first revision to the US rules I was able to live with, but I am glad I am retired, as the latest revs sound stupid. This will force more trailers onto the railroads and the cost of business is going to be higher to the consumer!

Lonleyboy 515
05-12-2007, 08:14 AM
Truck stops are pretty well filled up all the time now.What i hate is doing a restart and having to sit 2 hrs longer to stay legal with our laws.

ralph
05-12-2007, 08:19 AM
One driver has a broken thumb. He was tired, his reflexes weren't as sharp as they should be and a chain binder snapped open and got him.


If fleets would quit buying CRAP like snap/lever binders these things might not happen. Ratchet binders and/or safety binders are a far better way to go.

http://www.kinedyne.com/flatbed/flatbed-detail.asp?FamilyName=ChainRatchetBinder&Cat=Accessories

buzzy
05-12-2007, 04:14 PM
ratchet binders have a place. not on my truck though. They have to be used properly.

Most drivers overtighten them. Have you noticed how many chain pockets are damaged lately? How many claims are caused by the tension that can exponenentially exerted by each extra tooth in that ratchet?

Another concern of mine relates to the safest place a driver can be is with both feet planted on the ground. On a flatbed at least 80% of the time you are forced to work on the deck and bent over to use a ratchet binder. They also will not work against a flat surface (plate steel) as you cant restrain the ratcheting system to allow the the handle to spin.

Snap binders are antiquated, yes! They aren't 100% safe. Double knuckle safety binders are a better bet. Yet both allow you to work from the ground, standing erect! Both will not close if way to much tension is applied to a chain, unlike a ratchet binder.

Safety? I have a 4 inch scar on my forehead from a ratchet binder. I work from the ground, I had hooked one end of the binder to the chain and was attempting to hook the lower end. The binder popped off the chain and gave me a new awareness of their dangers.

Securement devices aren't perfect. None of them ever will be. But factor in fatigue and any device can be a lethal weapon.