Respect

I recently read a post by someone who sees the issue from the standpoint of the Insurance Industry. Below is my response to his sales job on EOBRs. The comment that evoked this response is as follows:

"EOBR's, a form there of is in each and every one of the new automobiles on the road today. The electronic communications that major auto companies have in their cars and trucks keeps track of you no matter where you are and or if you have the service turned on or not. GPS's check your speed, max speed, time running, fuel, mpg, and more.

EOBR's can help, and they can help the company using them. Currently we are asked by the insurance carriers we write with, does your client have GPS's on all trucks, do they have EOBR's on all trucks. Some carriers are offering free camera programs to go into certain types of commercial vehicles, and the result is a free camera, lower insurance costs, and a stonger commercial client.

It makes the insurance carriers happier, due to yes a lot of answers will come in from those devices, but it also shows that the owner of the company has a strong desire to maintain an efficient and safe company.
Now do I like all of this on board check and double check equipment stuff that the car makers are putting in vehicles and we have no choice about it, no.

Is it coming anyway, yes. Will it change the dynamic of how people operate their vehicles, yes. Will it help with insurance costs and company expenses, yes."                  

Posted by: Curt A Crapo (Craypo)

My Response:

Well, we know that the Insurance Industry is on board with EOBRs (pun intended). They will be happier; and of course, that just thrills us.
From the facts that Mr. Crapo has just given us; we gather that:

1. A "form" of EOBRs has already successfully been sold to consumers via their new autos. What is that form? Could we be referring to navigation systems that also monitor the auto 24/7 as a service that provides help or assistance when needed and monitors vehicle components and functions? As a customer, I can choose to pay for that service or turn it off. As a commercial driver, if EOBRs are mandated and funded, (which I personally hope never happens because of the amendment now headed for the Senate) the EOBRs in trucks will become the whip of those who sit behind a desk for 8-12 hour shifts and have the convenience of going home and forgetting about trucking until their next shift. If improperly used, EOBRs will make sure a driver is accessible to the operations department anytime; including off-duty or sleeper. It will become the favorite tool of the micro-manager; who can't or won't do the job a driver does, but wants to tell the driver how to do it. Nothing said about how this will be addressed or even if it should be. Comparing EOBRs to what is sold in personal vehicles is like comparing apples to oranges.

2. EOBRs help the company. That's pretty cut and dried. But that says nothing about how it helps to resolve the problem in item 1. So it seems as though the idea is to help the company secure better control over the driver without taking the driver's needs into consideration at all.

3. EOBRs and an owner's desire to run a safe and efficient company are not married to each other. That is something married in the sales pitch made for the implementation of on-board recorders by mandate from those who are licking their chops at the potential profits. How many loads are safely delivered each day? What is the ratio of these to the ones lost to accidents?

In summary, we should heed the alert sounded by the Insurance Industry as to the impending mandated implementation of EOBRs. After all, that industry has successfully legislated itself into every aspect of our everyday lives. It should know which way the governmental wind blows.

But let me say this to every driver out there who physically pays the price to move America; If it must be, let it be! But do not sell your services cheaply. It is a seller's market and the occupation has sufficient numbers to effect changes in the pay structure of all commercial drivers via the same legislative channels.

And let me say this to every company on behalf of drivers who are not just "steering wheel holders". I would love to drive a truck by the letter of the law always and professionally administer my duties as a Professional Driver; even if it means having to spend an inordinate amount of time away from my family because my work week is 14-21 days long. And you're welcome to monitor my every move because I'm out here to get a job done in a safe and timely manner. I have nothing to hide.

But don't expect to have your cake and eat it too. Do not bank on hiring quality drivers under the current pay structure. Drivers are a determined breed. That's what makes us who we are and makes us willing to do the things others wouldn't even try because they want to be home where it's safe; and not out stranded in some snowstorm, traffic jam, construction, accident, or spending hours or maybe even days waiting for a load. But I, and those who think like me, would rather turn our skills elsewhere if the pay system doesn't change; because as much as we love trucking, when you succeed in turning it into a menial job to be dreaded, the only way you're going to get us is to pay us for every minute we spend in the cab of your truck!
R.  E.  S.  P.  E.  C.  T.; tell you what it means to me!