FreightWaves posted a story yesterday profiling the Jubitz Travel Center, an iconic truck stop in Portland. In Part II we talk to drivers who stopped at Jubitz for fuel, a bite and a few hours rest. Here they weigh in on traffic, ELDs and more.
Where I’m going: Los Angeles to Portland and back home to Los Angeles
What I’m carrying: Mostly Frito-Lay
What I drive: Freightliner 2018, cost me $160,000
Employment: Lease to Schneider
Miles traveled: 8-10,000/month
Years on the job: 18
Why I like the work: I can do a job the average person can’t.
Pet peeve: Too numerous to mention.
Name one: Everyone has a hand in my pocket. Every government entity looks at trucking as a revenue generator. Oregon has a per mile fuel tax. It was 16 cents; now it’s 20. California raised its diesel fuel tax twenty cents last year.
Pay: Grossed $160,000 last year, on paper. I lost most of that.
ELD: I prefer them. It’s easier, a lot less to keep track of. The only drawback is parking.
Traffic: We don’t have rush hour traffic anymore. We have rush day.
Where I’m going: Home, to Longview, Washington
What I drive: We’re power only. We pull other trailers.
Years on the job: Since 1999. My wife and I teamed pulling freight coast to coast. I’ve been doing power-only for 14 years.
What I’m carrying: Military simulators
Before trucking: A logger, then a millworker.
Miles traveled: Getting less and less and less. Don’t have 80,000 miles this year. I’m getting to the point where things are winding down.
What I like: Always wanted to get out on the open road. I have total control. The independence. I don’t get along with people well.
Pet peeve: With freight, I hated the push, push. Doesn’t matter what it is — you have to have it delivered on time. Power – there is some time sensitivity, but less.
Pay: $150,000 gross. Net half of that.
ELD: It is what it is; you got to go with the flow. Before, on paper, there was always the ability to adjust things, you know.
Homebase: SeaTac, Washington
Where I’m going: Seattle to California, waiting for load
Years on the job: Four
What I like: Nice money: $10,000-$11,000 per month.
Pet peeve: Sometimes lonely. I have a one-month old.
ELDs: It’s good. While you’re driving, the log speaks to you.
Other jobs: Move things. Other jobs not much money. I don’t speak much English.
Where I’m going: Fixing to head home to Prosser, Oregon coming from the Midwest.
What I’m carrying: Refrigerated LTLs
What I like: The things I get to see. Left to my own devices. Can sing at top of my voice.
Pet peeve: They need to stop pushing ELDs. They don’t make drivers safer. Responsible drivers make drivers safer. You have a boss looking over your shoulder.
Where I’m going: Montreal to Seattle. Tomorrow, back to Montreal. I come here once a month.
What I’m hauling: Heating/cooling equipment.
What I like: The trucks are better than they used to be. I have a microwave, fridge. They are roomier.
Pet peeve: Nothing against the ELD machine, but it’s like having a gun to the head, from beginning to the end of day. During the day, no time to stop. I’d like more flexibility.
Parking: Everyone starts at 8 a.m., and everyone is done at same time. It becomes a lot harder to get a parking spot.
On the other hand: Before, with paper logs, you were able to cheat on paper.
Tom Oswald
Once again, the difference between paper logs and ELD is the flexibility. Countless letters to FMCSA to bring back the (pre)2003 regs that were in place for ever! Main part is off-duty/ sleeper stops the clock. 8hrs is enough off duty time between shifts. We need to make this a simple and manageable industry again. Too much IRS like rules and regulations. Most enforcement officers don’t even understand what they are enforcing. Cheating on logs isn’t the proper way of stating this, should be stated as adjusting the need. For as much sitting time a driver does for zero pay, it should be the least the rule makers can do to keep these folks rolling and earning. If only they could experience the feeling of not getting paid while waiting on other to do their jobs! Hypocrisy, that is what this is.
Tom Oswald
OR make it a two line log book! Your either off duty or on duty. Work up to 14hrs a day, once that mark it achieved, shut down for 10. No body needs to be mandated to take breaks, no maximum hours per day. After your 5th day or 70hrs you do a reset. Easy to manage and easier to enforce.
David Eastburn
I guess I should explain my analogy to some of these highly educated government officials……a 10 foot board with 2 inches cut off one end and 2 inches added on the other end still add up to a 10 foot board……. nothing was lost, just adjusted to fit where it was needed. Like a typical day. 11 hours is 11 hours, however it is divided to fit the job.
David Eastburn
All I hear about is cheating on log books……and yet nobody can explain to me exactly who it is that is being cheated. Unless someone has been cheated, it’s not cheating…. adjusting a log book is like cutting 2 inches off one end of a board and adding 2 inches on the other end…or 2 hours off one part of ‘on duty’ and adding 2 hours on another part of the day……It only made it fit….So tell me please,. Who got cheated?
Mike Carrier
Lazy drivers and non-drivers called it cheating on paper logs, real truckers realized we at times needed to adjust our logs to accommodate others we are required to deal with unprofessional work behavior. I’m trading my time at home with my family for the opportunity to make an excellent wage for my education level. For me that’s 500 – 600 paid miles for every day I spend away from home. I think believe that is a reasonable expectation. I’ve been in this business since 1990 please allow me to work for my family.