HOME

Quote of the Day

“The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, nor a lack of knowledge, but rather a lack of will.”

-Vince Lombardi

Senators introduce electronic logging bill

Senators Mark Pryor of Arkansas and Lamar Alexander of Tennessee introduced legislation (S.3884) that would require electronic logging devices in all commercial motor vehicles subject to both hours of service and record of duty status requirements. While the bill has the support of several large motor carriers, Congress is not expected to act on the legislation during the post-election lame duck session. If Congress does not act this year, the bill will need to be reintroduced when the next Congress convenes in January.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is expected to issue a proposed rule mandating such devices for a very broad portion of the carrier population, perhaps as soon as the first quarter of next year.

Meanwhile, the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) wants Congress to know that “while EOBRs (electronic on-board recorders) sound good on paper, they are no better than paper logbooks for tracking truckers' hours of service, despite claims by some entities that will cash in on a government mandate.”

“There is no data that shows these devices will increase highway safety -- none,” says Todd Spencer, OOIDA executive vice president. “EOBRs are a management tool, not a safety device. There are currently no mandated training or driving experience requirements for someone to become a truck driver. Many of the folks supporting this bill have fought against training requirements for years.”

OOIDA has long opposed regulatory efforts to mandate EOBRs on commercial vehicles and opposes the legislation introduced by Senators Pryor (D-AR) and Alexander (R-TN). OOIDA notes that the “bill not only requires the installation of a device in all trucks, but also requires the real-time tracking of all interstate commercial vehicle drivers.”

“This bill presumes truckers will break the law if they are not constantly tracked by the federal government,” Spencer says. “The burdensome cost, the violation of privacy and lack of relevant safety verification make any mandate unjustified. Information gathered could be used against drivers that has nothing to do with hours of service, and that is beyond the authority of trucking safety regulators.”

Return to Homepage