Just A Car Guy: Truckers had a protest called Black Smoke Matters in Washington DC, parking at the Mall, and then, basically, a sit down strike on the I 95... why now? the date numerically, was 10-4

Saturday, October 06, 2018

Truckers had a protest called Black Smoke Matters in Washington DC, parking at the Mall, and then, basically, a sit down strike on the I 95... why now? the date numerically, was 10-4

Around 3 dozen rigs rolled into Washington, D.C. and assumed parking positions along Constitution Ave. and in front of the Department of Transportation headquarters in association with the Operation Black and Blue group, protesting the crippling effects that current regulations are having on the trucking industry.

These truckers are protesting the ELD mandate this week, encouraging a delay and eventual repeal intended to build support for the H.R. 3282 ELD Delay Bill in the House.

Under normal circumstances truck drivers are required to follow strict Hours of Service regulations that are tracked - to the second - by Electronic Logging Devices (ELD). These ELDs were mandated by Congress and enforced by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) in December of 2017, all in the name of safety.

When a natural disaster strikes such as Hurricane Florence "safety" regulations are waived. Actions such as these have driven driver frustration to an all time high. On October 4th drivers gathered on the National Mall in a show of Unity, Pride, and Public Awareness. This event has been dubbed "Thats A Big 10-4 on DC."

https://www.overdriveonline.com/eld-protests-day-2-truckers-roll-in-stage-along-rigs-in-front-of-dot-headquarters/
https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/thats-a-big-10-4-on-dc-300723209.html

https://www.facebook.com/bryan.hutchens.9
https://www.overdriveonline.com/its-the-little-things-eld-conversations-where-it-matters-short-term-on-capitol-hill/

1, Improve safety and training standards across the trucking industry.
2, Eliminate the “fourteen hour rule,” allowing drivers to split “sleeper time.”
3. Reclassification of professional truck driving as a skilled trade.
4. Hold shippers/receivers financially responsible for detention; drivers should be compensated for all on-duty time.
5. Improve parking infrastructure at rest stops and other stopping areas along the road network; crowding stopping areas and parking on an on-ramp or off-ramp is potentially dangerous.