Overdrive

August 2018

Overdrive Magazine | Trucking Business News & Owner Operator Info

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30 | Overdrive | August 2018 SOME PAIN AMIDST THE GAINS log violation was the last straw for Hose as far as concerned One20. Around the time of the F-ELD's planned shutdown on June 18, he switched to the BigRoad provider with help of the National Associ- ation of Small Trucking Companies. He's not experienced similar issues to date. Lt. Kevin Kelley of the Missouri State Highway Patrol notes that inspectors have certainly "seen some issues with ELDs and malfunctions, but it has gotten better since the mandate went into eff ect." As regards Hose's situation and the false-log violation, "if the ELD did not accurately refl ect what the driver did for that day and the driver could not articu- late his side of the situation or defi nitively show the ELD was malfunctioning," Kelley adds, "then the offi cer would be correct in citing the violation based on the info he/she had at the time of the stop." The "false log" violation – typically written under the 395.8(e) code – also was the one incurred by a driver quoted anonymously in the June Overdrive. When the driver was stopped in traffi c, he said, "the ELD changed automatically to on-duty not-driving." When the truck moved again, it changed back to driving, but when the hauler was stopped by law enforcement a few hours down the road, that switch netted him a false log violation, often accompanied, as Hose's case shows, with 10 hours out of service. Over the entire for-hire population this year, false-log violations are way down. They're on track to come in at more than 50 percent less than 2017's total 38,000- plus violations. A closer look at the false-log violation by carrier size, however, shows 1-4-truck fl eets' share of the total rising for the fi rst time in the last fi ve years to nearly 28.3 percent, more closely refl ecting the broader trend in HOS violations. Kelley noted that owner-operators in a situation like Hose's might resolve it if they can clearly show an ELD experi- enced a malfunction that caused their log to misrepresent their day. This may not be possible on the scene but can be done via FMCSA's DataQs system with a review and follow-on investigation by federal and state offi cials. Also, Kelley says, "It would be nice if the vendor could verify the mal- function" by phone on the spot, or later as part of a DataQs challenge. If Hose's experience is any indication, as ELD providers with clear technical issues or inadequate customer support either solve the issues or leave the ELD market, violation percentages for the smallest operators should improve. But that doesn't change the lingering DEPENDABLE QUALITY At home or on the road, you've come to depend on quality parts from the industry's leading brand names to keep you moving. Visit one of our national network of locally owned and operated TruckForce ® Service Centers for the quality parts you expect installed by skilled technicians. At home or on the road, you've come to depend on quality parts from the industry's leading brand names to keep you moving. Visit one of our national network of locally owned and operated TruckForce ® Service Centers for the quality parts you expect installed by skilled technicians. Find your nearest TruckForce ® Service Center in the US or Canada by visiting www.truckforceservice.com Supported by these and other quality brands: For information on becoming a TruckForce ® Service Center, call 800.494.4731 TruckForce ® Service Center is a registered mark of VIPAR ® Heavy Duty Q U A L I T Y P R O D U C T S L E A D I N G B R A N D S Q U A L I T Y P R O D U C T S L E A D I N G B R A N D S

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