Would You Sign A Petition And Pass It Along?

... about the 14-hr rule, what about petitioning for gov't-funded studies by a third party? And bringing support to it by every means possible -- social media, local news, heck even groups like M.A.D.D. if you have to.

Then a side-note in all of this reporting: the fact that members of this industry would themselves like to work with lawmakers and developers of new and useful technologies to create safer highways.

I'm willing to look into writing up a petition. I realize that we're all busy. Could I please just get a little feedback on whether or not this is something that anyone here would bother to sign & pass along? This is an offshoot discussion from the "Be careful about using that CB in some places" thread by Old School.

If you can also recommend other methods or resources for me, that would be just lovely.

Okay good, I'm glad I didn't bother learning how to draft and pass one! The next time I hear someone complain about the 14-hr clock being a danger to drivers, I'm going to shake my head and laugh :p

Okay good, I'm glad I didn't bother learning how to draft and pass one! The next time I hear someone complain about the 14-hr clock being a danger to drivers, I'm going to shake my head and laugh :p

The reason you didn't get any responses is because petitions are largely worthless. Online petitions even moreso as there's no way for the signatutes to be verified. No petition is going to change the 14-hour rule.

I didn't specify that it would be an online petition, but we'll agree on the rest for arguments' sake. Do you have an idea what WOULD lead to change? I haven't suffered from the rule, I'm only offering to help the people who have.

Do you have an idea what WOULD lead to change?

Nope. The FMCSA will change it when they feel like changing it, if ever. The opinions of drivers mean less than nothing to them. I suppose some of the large carriers could lobby to have it changed, but why would they? It doesn't affect their bottom line that I can see. Drivers could still only drive eleven hours/day, so freight would move at the same speed for the most part, barring occasional instances where the shipper eats up a drivers' 14.

I wasn't trying to be curt in my original reply, if I gave that impression I apologize.

Please don't apologize. I appreciate your response, but I completely disagree. History is full of change, accomplished by those who will act. Enjoy with me a vision of suffragettes waiting around for the powers that be to care about their opinions :p

Please don't apologize. I appreciate your response, but I completely disagree. History is full of change, accomplished by those who will act. Enjoy with me a vision of suffragettes waiting around for the powers that be to care about their opinions :p

i am sure, that if enough drivers sign the petition, it may hold some sway. What is the magic number? Who Knows, besides the Shadow? But if we placed enough drivers with petitions to sign, at various HIGH traffic truck stops, it is always worth a shot. Most people will sign a petition without really knowing what it is they're signing. I am sure it is the same with drivers, who will sign it, just to get rid of you, lol. The beauty of pursuing it in this way, is that you will have representation from all parts of the country, and from many different companies, small, medium, and large. That can really hold water, mostly because it spans hundreds of congressional districts, not just 1 or 2.

This would be incredibly difficult to pull off at the grassroots level. I mean, for a bunch of truckers to petition Congress to soften the logbook regulations is not going to carry much muster. You would need some serious lobbyists like the ATA has just to consider getting started with this in my opinion.

I suppose some of the large carriers could lobby to have it changed, but why would they?

There are actually quite a few good reasons they might be behind it.

• It would mean fewer logbook violations
• It would mean more flexibility for their drivers when it comes scheduling
• It would mean the time wasted sitting at shippers wouldn't matter so much because your 14 hour clock isn't ticking
• The increased flexibility it would give drivers would allow them to park the truck when they see fit and drive it when they see fit but still be within the same 70 hour clock limits. That could mean fewer accidents, less time sitting in heavy traffic, and fewer people trying to push through bad weather.
• The increased flexibility would allow more drivers to drive during off-peak hours, limiting congestion on the highways
• The increased flexibility would mean fewer drivers would feel compelled to push themselves to continue driving when they're tired. Without the 14 hour rule you can take a nap or quit a little early for the day without being late for scheduled appointments

So I certainly think it's in the best interest of drivers and companies to get that rule eliminated but I don't know what the chances are of making that happen.

The CFR regulations we live by are not laws!

Laws are written and voted on by legislators, from congress down to the city council.

Regulations are developed and written by other parts of government. Proposed regulations may be discussed in a hearing, and most of these are dominated by lobbyists and lawyers. They aren't voted on.

So, "writing your Congressperson" won't be very effective. And writing to the chairman of the FMCSA would be a waste of time. Go find a hearing instead.

Civics class is dismissed. No homework.

Congress critters can and do influence the bureaucrats that make regulations. One would need to find a sympathetic Senator or 2 to plead the case to the regulators.