Big goverment to regulate Trucking Industry

[AC]

I was involved in the trucking industry for 22 years and most of that time I was an owner-operator.  Regulations have always been a part of that industry.  While I know the general public hears from the so-called safe-highway organizations, the general public doesn't know the whole truth.

I will be the first to stand up and defend the cause for removing BAD drivers from the highway....it needs to be done.  But, the problem is, we will never regulate the problem away with laws that only make matters worse. It is like Gun-control, in my opinion.  You will not stop crimes from being commited by passing more gun laws.  The regulations passed a few years ago only made matters worse by cramping the drivers day into a 14 hour system in which the driver must do whatever duties he has to perform in that period.  A driver may spend 5 hours waiting on a load but the clock is still ticking.

The driver is forced to shut down and sleep when he may not be sleepy.  The truth is , you will never regulate whether or not a driver sleeps or doesn't sleep.  What would  be effective in removing dangerous drivers from the highways would be to write tickets for excessive speed, tailgating, and aggressive driving.  After a certain amount of tickets, they will lose his/her llicense.  Stiff punishment for bad driving is what we need.  Though the stricter regulations may sound good to the general public, these regulations will not work

If the new laws pass it will only make matters worse and in the end....the consumers will pay the price. If a driver can not drive the miles, he does not make the money, so the company has to pay the driver a higher wage.  A higher wage is not a bad thing but the extra cost will be passed on to the consumer.  The drivers log book is required by Federal law, and I can testify that it has never contributed to the safety of the highway.  It sounds good to the general public but it really doesn't do anything to further the cause of safer highways.  Another factor is Mexican drivers crossing the border and not having to abide by the same standards as U.S. drivers.  I know this from first hand experience. Most drivers [including myself] have no problem with enforcing laws that require truckers to maintain their equipment.  Keeping trucks safe as far as mechanics go is a good thing. But, writing tickets for nit-picking things is not necessary.  The trucking industry has been ravaged by Insurance companies, trial lawyers, goverment regulations for too long.