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EOBRs an invasion of privacy? DOT wants to know what you think
Posted: Apr 13, 2011 11:19 AM | Last Updated: Mar 27, 2012 08:33 AM

WASHINGTON -- The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is asking for additional comments on whether its proposed mandate EOBRs sets up the possibility of driver harassment.

The agency doesn't believe its proposal would lead to driver harassment and privany violations during roadside inspections, but in reaction to a recent suit challenging that fact, it wants to be sure that everyone has a chance to comment on the issue.

The suit was brought by the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) against last year's preliminary rule requiring any carrier that violates the hours of service rules 10 percent of the time to install EOBRs in its trucks. (FMCSA more recently proposed an EOBR mandate covering all carriers regardless of their violation rate).

The suit is now under review by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.

The agency is required by law to consider the possibility of harassment -- defined as an invasion of driver privacy -- in drafting an EOBR requirement.

It would like interested parties to comment on several questions:

* Any experience drivers have had regarding harassment, including coercion by carriers to evade the hours of service rules.

* Whether such actions would be permitted as part of the EOBR productivity monitoring function.

* Whether EOBRs would impact the ability of carriers or shippers to coerce drivers to violate the hours of service rules.

* Whether there should be additional rules to ensure that EOBRs are not used for harassment.

 Deadline for comments is May 23.

-- with files from Truckinginfo.com

 
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Anonymous

2011/04/28

at 9:49 AM

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-5
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An electronic on-board recorder (EOBR) is a device attached to a commercial motor vehicle, used to record the amount of time a vehicle is being driven. The driving hours of commercial drivers are regulated by a set of rules known as the hours of service (HOS). The HOS are rules intended to prevent driver fatigue, by limiting the amount of time drivers spend operating commercial vehicles.

H SOERS

2011/04/28

at 7:13 AM

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What is EOBR????? It would be nice to know what that stood for

Anonymous

2011/04/26

at 8:34 PM

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EOBR’s what a FARCE. I have one in the truck now. So far it was taken over 2300.00 out of my pocket. Then we’re talking about HARASSMENT! The one I have has a beeping system in it, which in turn you have to get up out of the sleeper and answer the thing, so now your ‘on duty not driving’,which in turn you just voliated the HOS rules by answering it. Yelp EOBR’s are just great!!! What else is this government baloney gonna’ come with? I know Mexican trucks coming up here. Wrong answer!

Anonymous

2011/04/24

at 8:05 PM

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-3
55
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Why does everything revolve around money to congress? They don't have a clue what is like out here. They have there so called data and studies they go buy. This is a real world. Maybe we need to cut there pay up to 50% and see how they would like it and put a ankle braclet around them and watch when the sleep, eat, relax and take a @#!^ !!!. Would that be invading there privacy and livley hood? they would like it very much would they!! It boils down to the the bigger companies wants the little man out and congress is getting paid. This country was built on freedom and middle class people trying to make a living. i can't belive these people are who we are trusting to tell us what is wrong and right! They need to ride with in a truck with a owner op for about a month and by god everyone of them would sing a totaly differnt tune!! you can take that to the bank!!

Technotrucker

2011/04/22

at 4:33 PM

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8
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The EOBR's should be used on foreign trucks only. There is no need to keep track of local trucks. This is simply more attempts to Unionize the trucking industry. We are still the only industry that is told how much we are allowed to earn. The fed should stick to what they are designated to do by the Constitution, which isn't much. They have yet to even get that straight.

Vitaliy

2011/04/21

at 1:17 PM

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Let's keep America free country, like it always was!!!!

Anonymous

2011/04/20

at 9:17 PM

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-13
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my comment on the eobr bill--yes i do think carriers will use this as a tool to make you run when you are tired i stopped tonight at 6 pm after a hard day.well shower eat and its nine the company i used to work for would have said 4 am on the road i will get up 5:30 be on road at six i do this daily.When dispatchers push drivers with this time it will back up daily and you will never have a daily clock no sleep,tired,and driving all differant times think for once and get out of our lives i am an american not a russian or least we forget!!!!! John Bradshaw 15 yrs o.t.r. and a proud american.

Anonymous

2011/04/20

at 6:42 PM

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-13
53
66
EOBR's will simply drive up the cost of food, clothing etc. Drivers will be forced to drive less and appointment times as shippers currently set them will be impossible to meet. This will add addition days needed to complete loads. Thus bringing a driver's income down and cost of goods up. An EOBR cannot make me a good driver. My judgement, handling of the truck are simply up to me every minute of every day. It's a matter of the government and the public to trust me behind the wheel. But I suppose they don't trust us. This is perhaps the real issue. I can have a tough weekend through a child of mine having an illness or something traumatic like that and yet still have to get to work Monday morning and drive. Will I be more fatigued in this state of mind? Yes. Will an EOBR know that? No. I have a federal license that states I am worthy to drive a commercial vehicle. Now we have CSA to check every aspect of our driving and truck condition. Soon the EOBR. When will they be happy?

Anonymous

2011/04/20

at 9:44 AM

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I believe EOBRS are a violation of my rights to privacy,and are the beginning to more invasive maneuvers by the government to control the industry. I believe they will be used by the DOT to more easily increase revenue to the states or any other organization that can cash in.this will probably be the last straw for me,unless rates increase dramaticaly I will give up trucking. I became an owner operator as a way for a poor boy to be in business for myself, but we are becoming regulated and controled to death,its just not worth it anymore. I don't believe I'm alone in this feeling. I am commenting and trying to convence my lawmakers in this and other areas. thanks for your efforts and pleazse don't give up. Don

Barry Redden

2011/04/18

at 10:56 AM

Rating
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eobr's are just futher evidence that the big carriers are trying to push the small guy out. If they have 5 or 10 units put out of service for non-compliance, it most likely less than 5% of their fleet. If a owner-operator or a small fleet has even one put out of service that devastates his business.
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