Partner Article

Digital driver logs for business

The trucking and transport industry is planning for a major overhaul due to new EOBR laws. While the bill for new logbook requirements and drivers’ records is determined to go into full effect by 2015, the kinks of the chain still need to be worked out. Drivers, business owners and EOBR manufacturers each have their own special interest in the program. Additionally, these different factions have their own opinions, which make for interesting conversations regarding the proposed law.

The 800-Pound Elephant

Drivers in the transportation industry are notorious for fudging logbooks so they’re able to be in compliance upon delivery. Why has this blatant falsifying been permitted to go on for so long? Wasted time spent at poorly run facilities on both the shipping and receiving end. According to Kevin Mullen, a member of the EOBR industry wrote in Transport Topics, “We wink and ignore it. Rates don’t adequately reflect the real worth of our drivers and equipment and are artificially depressed by this continuing logging phenomenon.”

As a result, drivers anticipate their rates and time to be severely infringed upon following the implementation of EOBRs. While these new laws are going to completely change the lives’ of truck drivers across America, and with idealistic positive intentions, truckers are concerned that the laws are going to push them out of their driver’s seat.

The Gap in the EOBR Ideals

The idea is that the typical driver log should be transformed immediately to EOBRs to become compliant for a law that will not be fully in effect until 2015 triggers multiple emotions. Drivers, on one hand, are notably and understandably adamant that the EOBRs will bring down their hourly rates and thereby drive them out of a job. Additionally, drivers who are technologically challenged are sure to have misgivings toward using a computerized device for tracking their mileage. On the other hand, it also means drivers have to keep track of less paperwork The goal of business owners, then, is to note both sides of the issue so they are aware of the reasoning on both sides of the table.

While transport owners work with drivers every day, and these workers are their bread and butter, it is essential that owners understand the legal issues pertaining to EOBRs. This grants business owners the opportunity to build a bridge between the drivers and the law.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Cameron .