Electronic Driver Harassment There was an interesting blog written by Jami Jones, that appeared on the Land Line Magazine website. There was a mass message sent out electronically: “Don't quit when you're tired. Quit when you're done.” As a slow marathoner, I have read too many motivational sports quotes like this on the backs of T shirts. Like sports, trucking is a competitive environment. For the old slow marathoner, and for the old dog trucker there is a line that you do not cross. Safety is that line.
This message crossed it. It is no secret that OOIDA opposes the ELD mandate. It is also no secret that I favor it. OOIDA has been successful using the driver harassment issue to delay the mandate. There will be an anti harassment policy written into the final rule. That is a good thing. Before the ELD, the only reasons that I might be late was if a customer was late loading the load, or the roads were shut down. I was also the kid who had perfect attendance on a regular basis. Iron men Lou Gehrig, Billy Williams, Cal Ripken Jr., and Brett Favre are among my favorite athletes. They always showed up for work.
It is hard for me to deal with drivers who don't share that work ethic. The messenger was upset that there were 21 missed appointments on one day. According to the message each one could have been made within legal HOS. That would frustrate me too. It wouldn't make me send out that message. I would endeavor to find out why so many loads were missed. Missing that many loads is unacceptable. This company needs to find out why, each load was missed. It may not be the drivers fault The problem needs to corrected, without sacrificing safety, or they will lose customers.
It is up to each driver and owner operator to properly manage their time. I have been on an ELD for 
almost 3 years now, and I like it. I have had one late load – by 15 minutes and it was my fault, sort of. Loads connect. My first load was supposed to be a drop and hook. It turned out to be a 4 hour live load. The planned mileage was miscalculated by about 75 miles, thanks to HHG and the Columbus problem. It took about 3 hours to unload that load. That made the next load tight, but doable. Then I took a 10 hour and 30 minute break, because I waited for a shower in the morning. It is the only time that I have been late without notice since I got my ELD.
This old dog has never had a problem running to the end of the clock. To me, late deliveries are unacceptable. So is driver harassment. Communication and time management are crucial. This has absolutely nothing to do with ELDs. Drivers have been harassed since before we started putting air in tires. The form has changed. It can now be done via mass message. Before it may have been “Just do the best you can.” over the pay phone. Every driver knew exactly what that meant. If you want to get the good loads get it here on time. At least ELDs limit the harassment to legal HOS. Those pay phones never did.