truckemup97
Member
Well, OK, that title is kind of misleading. I just want to let you all know about some of the things that are going on that affect truck drivers. We are a small part of the population, so our votes don't count for much. Plus, when I've called other states concerning legislation and policies, I've been told, essentially, to shove off, as I don't vote in their state and they don't care about my opinion. They certainly want my tax money, though.
Right now, we are losing parking spaces all over the country. Several things are happening.
First is that truck stops are going out of business. OK, nothing you can do about that unless you want to go into the business. However, many times when someone wants to build a new truck stop, "NIMBY" rears it's ugly head. Environmental activists get zoning blocked. Local "parents" groups make uninformed, rash statements in the media about trucking, kidnapping, and pedophiles. (I'm not making that up, and it's happened more than once.) I certainly believe that zoning commissions need to look at environmental impact, infrastructure, and location before approving a new truck stop, but the simple fact is that new truck stops are needed badly.
Second, states are closing rest areas and truck parking areas due to budget constraints. I understand that money is tight, but where are we supposed to spend the night? DOT regs require that we get 10 uninterrupted hours off duty after 11 hours of driving or 14 hours total on duty. We have to stop somewhere. With the closing of rest areas, there are fewer and fewer places to park.
Third, some states have put limits on the amount of time on the amount of time trucks can spend in a rest area. Virginia has recently lowered their limits to two hours. The state police are enforcing this with tickets that carry a fine of $135 and three points on your license. After they give you the ticket and send you on your way, you then run the risk of being pulled over for Hours of Service (log book) violations. I've been told, but can't confirm, that they then call the weigh station down the road from the rest area and tell them to watch for certain trucks that will be in violation. Of course, it's all about safety. When a spokesperson for the state police was asked where drivers were supposed to take their 10 hour break, she replied that they could just get a hotel room like normal people. I don't know what normal is, but I don't have $60/night extra for a motel room every night. Even if I did, very few motels have parking for a truck, so we're back to no place to park the truck again.
Thanks for letting me vent a little, but I hope I have informed you also, so that when these subjects come up, you can let your legislators and state or local officials know how you feel.
Right now, we are losing parking spaces all over the country. Several things are happening.
First is that truck stops are going out of business. OK, nothing you can do about that unless you want to go into the business. However, many times when someone wants to build a new truck stop, "NIMBY" rears it's ugly head. Environmental activists get zoning blocked. Local "parents" groups make uninformed, rash statements in the media about trucking, kidnapping, and pedophiles. (I'm not making that up, and it's happened more than once.) I certainly believe that zoning commissions need to look at environmental impact, infrastructure, and location before approving a new truck stop, but the simple fact is that new truck stops are needed badly.
Second, states are closing rest areas and truck parking areas due to budget constraints. I understand that money is tight, but where are we supposed to spend the night? DOT regs require that we get 10 uninterrupted hours off duty after 11 hours of driving or 14 hours total on duty. We have to stop somewhere. With the closing of rest areas, there are fewer and fewer places to park.
Third, some states have put limits on the amount of time on the amount of time trucks can spend in a rest area. Virginia has recently lowered their limits to two hours. The state police are enforcing this with tickets that carry a fine of $135 and three points on your license. After they give you the ticket and send you on your way, you then run the risk of being pulled over for Hours of Service (log book) violations. I've been told, but can't confirm, that they then call the weigh station down the road from the rest area and tell them to watch for certain trucks that will be in violation. Of course, it's all about safety. When a spokesperson for the state police was asked where drivers were supposed to take their 10 hour break, she replied that they could just get a hotel room like normal people. I don't know what normal is, but I don't have $60/night extra for a motel room every night. Even if I did, very few motels have parking for a truck, so we're back to no place to park the truck again.
Thanks for letting me vent a little, but I hope I have informed you also, so that when these subjects come up, you can let your legislators and state or local officials know how you feel.
