30-day Federal Register Notice Comment 0046

Jon Edwards - Comments
This is a Comment on the Federal Motor Carrier
Safety Administration (FMCSA) Notice: Agency
Information Collection Activities; Proposals,
Submissions, and Approvals Driver and Carrier
Surveys Related to Electronic Onboard
Recorders and Potential Harassment Deriving
From Use
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Comment Now!
Due Jun 27 2013, at 11:59 PM ET

ID: FMCSA-2012-0309-0046
Tracking Number: 1jx-85lr-cv5z
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Document Information
Date Posted: May 29, 2013
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Comment
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In 2012, I returned to driving a truck from 15 years
out of the industry. EOBR's were in the company
trucks that I drove.
The forced us to complete unrealistically all work in
a 14 hour window. Whether we were tired or not.
You HAD to complete your driving or you were not
allowed to do it. No ability to stop and take a 2-3
hour nap. Just how it was.
Twice I was sent messaged in a 3 month window
by dispatch wanting to know why my truck wasn't
moving. The second time it was to send a text
message to wake me up after 10 1/2 hours on a
break. I was waiting as long as possible to move to
NOT start my 14 hour clock.
Both times I contacted the employer and told them
it was harassment and the third time, I would be out
of the truck and since they KNEW where the truck
was, could come and get it. They never paged me
again like that.
I have run long 1000+ runs and you are up 11-12
hours, down 10. You move your clock ahead about
2 hours per day and withing 5 days you are now
running nights and sleeping days. Abnormal sleep
patterns are common on EOBR.
Now as an owner/operator of a single truck, I am

Submitter Information
Submitter Name: Jon Edwards
Country: United States
State or Province: MN

looking to be forced to spend an additional $1600
on an EOBR with a minimum of $75 monthly
service charge to comply with this mandate. That's
over $900 annually in additonal FIXED overhead to
me.
Mechanically, I have had this wiring in my truck and
it caused my vehicle operating issues. It made my
truck unreliable and difficult to troubleshoot
mechanical problems until I took the wiring out of
the truck. An additional $350 maintenance expense
I DIDN'T need or would have had if it weren't for the
EOBR.