By Matthew A. Barr
April of last year, changes in the laws on hours of operations for truck drivers was implemented. But like any law, affected parties are parted in their opinions about it. While many operators and drivers would want more hours of operation to get more income, others agree with the new law to ensure the safety of the drivers and everyone else on the road.
Before going deeper into their arguments, here's what the law basically enforces every driver to follow. In a 14-hour period, drivers can only drive a maximum of 11 hours. After such time, the driver is required get rest of at least of 10 hours. In addition to that, truck drivers are not allowed to drive more than 60 hours within one week.
To ensure that drivers actually follow this law, they are to keep a daily log of their off time, sleep time, hours of operation and vehicle inspection time. They should keep this log book updated because anytime that they are stopped by an enforcer, they can be asked to present this log book and it can be reviewed by them. If the log book reveals that the driver hasn't rested the number of hours required, he would be made to do so. Until then he wouldn't be able to continue his trip. The driver may also be fined due to this violation.
Another instance when the log book would be asked is when the truck is involved in an accident. If the driver doesn't have it or if he has not religiously updated it, he would be fined whether or not the accident was his fault.
So what's the problem with the law? Well, according to truck company operators with less number of hours their trucks are able to be in the road the fewer loads they are able to deliver. With less volume of work done, this would mean lesser income for their companies. Because of this, they are forced to ask higher fees from customers to maintain income. In the end, it is actually the consumers who will suffer the most since they are ones who will carry the burden of the additional costs of the merchants. On the drivers' part, they say that they feel that they even end up more tired because they are forced to split their sleep with the new rule in place.
Yet, there would be some that say drivers are actually protected by the law from the slave drivers in the industry. Their operators cannot force them to continuously drive without rest. They cannot force a rush delivery on their drivers. These operators cannot just think of making an income but they also have to consider the safety and the well-being of their drivers.
The appeal to reverse the implementation of this law has already reached the Supreme Court but the higher court denied the appeal. It was the judges' belief that this new law would make the truck drivers and the other drivers and passengers safer on the road. With the heart of the law on this, it cannot compromise the well-being of the drivers and the public for the sake of better income and economic reasons.
Matthew Barr is a successful webmaster of www.urban-neon-car-lights.com He provides more information on auto simulated alarm lights, accessory lighting,led car lights, and led automotive lighting on his website.
Source:www.isnare.com |
