Letters to the Editor: EOBR Mandate; Auto Bridge Loan; Broker Legislation; Medical Certificates

These Letters to the Editor story appears in the Dec. 15 print edition of Transport Topics. Click here to subscribe today.

EOBR Mandate

Onboard recording devices are the future. Successful use of these devices . . . does not eliminate cheating on the logs, in spite of anything Joan what’s-her-name thinks. Ask any driver [at a company that uses them].

But now is not the time; the trucking industry is reeling from the costs of fuel because of all the diesel fuel being used in the two wars the Bush administration has involved us in. The industry needs a chance to recover before this extremely expensive ruling is implemented.

Give the process the full 90 days for comment, as is normal, and eliminate the need for future litigation.

EOBRs are the future, but now is not the time.

R. Thomas Dugan
Training Contractor
Springfield, Ohio

Auto Bridge Loan

The “Detroit Three” automakers should be asked to add domestic content to their so-called American automobiles.

The whole U.S. heavy manufacturing sector needs a jump start. Start with domestic steel. Get the percentage of U.S. content up on the window sticker.

Let us truly buy U.S. products.

Tom Welles
[Company Name Withheld by Request]
Detroit

Broker Legislation

Why is legislation needed for brokers to divulge their commission? (“Brokers Brace to Fight Potential Legislation Requiring Them to Post Load-by-Load Profits,” 11-24, p. 2.) It already exists — see Title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 371.3, Subsection C. Truckers just haven’t read the regulations lately. Brokers already are required to divulge their commission to either party in their transaction.

If the government is considering improvement in broker regulations, it should declare all brokers to be the fiduciary of the motor carrier actually making the freight move. That way, if a carrier goes unpaid, its officers can call the district state’s attorney where the broker lives and invoke that state’s escrow and fiduciary laws, which provide serious penalties, including prison time, for brokers who abscond with carrier funds. Penalties will eliminate brokers who fail to pay carriers.

I think most carriers should know it is a felony for a shipper, receiver or broker to coerce a driver to load or unload a truck (Public Law 104-88). The law is very specific that shippers and receivers are required to assist drivers in loading and unloading and pay for that assistance. Every time a shipper threatens and then forces a driver to load or unload, a felony is committed.

David Dwinell
Master Broker
Loadtraining.com
Sun City, Ariz.

Medical Certificates

It would be great if the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration could stop trucking companies from hiring commercial driver license holders who get a new medical certificate each time they change jobs. I find that most drivers have more than one card. This is like with the old drivers licenses before that was changed. I also feel that most doctors do not give the same physical. This has become a potential hazard.

Gregory Evans
CA-IV Tester/Trainer
Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration
Glen Burnie, Md.