Just Say Thanks

Today I want to talk about a change in driver’s habits that I’ve seen changing over the last five years. The change is in drivers helping other drivers make lane changes.

You are driving on a four-lane highway. The truck ahead of you is running slower than you. You signal and pull over into the “hammer lane.” As you pull ahead of the slower truck, the driver of the slower truck briefly turns off his headlights when it is safe to make the lane change back to the right lane. 

Then, as you move over or after you are back in the right lane, you either put on the four-ways or blink your running lights as a way of saying, “thanks for your help.”

At night the “standard” was for the slower driver to briefly turn his headlights off. During the day, the slower driver would turn his headlights on, if they were off. If they were running with the headlights on, they would either briefly turn them off or flash the high beams.

In 2005, this happened 98% of the time one truck passed another. It was just one of the standard courtesies of the road that professional drivers extended to other professional drivers.

Changes on the Highway

Over the past couple of years, I see fewer and fewer drivers using the headlights and running lights to help other drivers. If I had to venture a guess, this only happens 60% to 65% of the time.

The other negative change I’m seeing is at night. In 2005, I would never see the slower driver flash the high beams at night to signal the faster driver it was now safe to change lanes. Sure, some four-wheelers would do it out of ignorance, not knowing they should flick the headlights off. Or, if they did, were afraid of not being able to see that brief moment the headlights were off. 

But, professional drivers never used their high beams to signal at night because they knew the faster driver would be looking at the mirrors. And they knew that using a high-beam signal was unpleasant (at best), or dangerous (at worst) as it diminishes night vision. 

The first time I passed a Big Truck at night and the driver flashed his high-beams to signal that it was OK to change lanes I was surprised and angered that a professional driver would to that to another professional driver! My reaction is still surprise and anger when it happens now. Some of my anger comes from the temporary night blindness that always follows afterwards.

If you are a driver who does this, please don’t use your high beams at night to signal it is safe for me to change lanes. If you don’t feel safe turning your headlights off briefly to signal, either don’t signal or flash your running lights. The purpose of signaling is to help the faster driver make a SAFE lane change. During the day, sure, go ahead and flash the high beams. I don’t mind a bit.

Why?

I asked myself why the change in the way professional drivers use their lights to signal lane changes. So, I decided to do some research to see if I could come up with reasons for why these changes are occurring.

It’s Taught in Driving Schools.

I found out that some driving schools are teaching students to signal with high beams! This caught me off guard because I couldn't believe that a school would actually be teaching an unsafe practice! The instructors teaching this probably haven’t actually driven and are teaching out of textbooks instead of from actual experience on the road!

Perhaps this is an example of, “Those who can, do. Those who can’t, teach?” If you are an instructor teaching foolishness like this, please spend a couple of nights on Donner passing some of your students. One or two nights like that will change you forever. Assuming you survive, of course.

Cell Phones

Some states now have laws making it illegal to use a cell phone while driving. Or, they require drivers using cell phones to use a headset or other “hands-free” device. I’ve noticed more professional drivers using cell phones in these states than before the law was passed! Maybe they figure they are “above it all?”

The odds of getting a “safe to change lane” signal from a driver holding a cell phone to their ear after passing them is pretty low. Are you trying to reach that light switch with your knee? 

A recent study shows that head set or not, using a cell phone while driving significantly increases response time in emergencies. It’s not about having both hands free; it’s more about what's going on inside the head that is controlling the hands. It’s like having twenty programs open on your computer and wondering why it is running slowly.

I Didn’t Know.

More drivers are going straight from school to the road with no Mentor Program. Driving schools do a great job at one thing. Getting the student ready to pass the state CDL exam. If it is not on the exam, it isn’t taught. As a result, new drivers with fresh a CDL are given keys to a tractor and let loose in the highway without the benefit of driving with an experienced driver.

More foreign nationals who bring their culture with them are now driving commercial vehicles. Many of them were professional drivers and bring the driving culture from home as well as language, diet and clothing preferences.

I Don’t Care Anymore.

I’m convinced that many seasoned drivers are frustrated. I know that I’m tempted not to signal at times when I pass and the driver doesn’t signal a safe lane change.

I made a decision, to flash the running lights even when I don’t see the driver signal a safe lane change. Why? First, I might have missed the signal. I’m not perfect and may have missed seeing the signal. Second, I don’t want to get in the habit of not flashing. Third, I hope that flashing will encourage the “I didn’t know” drivers to pick up the habit of courtesy. Monkey see, monkey do.

If you are one of the “I Don’t Care Anymore,” drivers, I encourage you to get back in the habit of signaling safe lane change to drivers passing you and flashing a “thank you” to drivers you are passing. If you are opting out because some other drivers aren’t reciprocating, you are actively contributing to this problem.

Be a Teacher.

The best way to lead or to teach is by example. Make sure that what you do “out there” is the best it can be because someone is always watching and learning from your examples.

Average Speed and EZ-Log (Part 2)

This is a continuation of the discussion started last post on the importance of being aware of your average speed on logbooks. To recap the first post, excessive average speed can mean a driver was speeding or falsifying logs by under reporting driving time. Both are bad for your CDL!

D.O.T. Company Audits

Lets say, a driver for your company is terminated. Maybe that driver wants to cause some problems because he has a grudge. So, the driver contacts D.O.T. anonymously and says your company overlooks unsafe driver practices or forces drivers to violate Hour of Service regulations. Under certain circumstances this could trigger a company audit by D.O.T.

When D.O.T. conducts a company audit, they like looking at driver’s logs. Yes, your company audits your logs and gives you that little report every month listing the violations they found.

You can bet that the D.O.T. auditor will find more. Average speed will be looked at because speeding is considered a safety concern. Usually, D.O.T. will not audit every single driver’s logs. They are most interested in drivers who have lots of violations found by your company’s internal audit. This is like having a red bulls-eye on your file folder. It tells the D.O.T. auditor “lots of potential revenue here!”

If you fish, think of it this way. You don’t throw the line in just anywhere there is water. You know luck won’t be on your side fishing in the pool at your local Holiday Inn. So, you don’t bother. You go places where you know there will be lots of fish to catch. The auditor thinks the same way. Why bother with the drivers who don’t have many violations.

The auditor has a ticket book handy and will issue citations to drivers for violations including speeding. Even when the violation occurred many months in the past! 

Points Forever?

Before CSA*2010, getting a speeding ticket meant getting “points” against your CDL. Prior to 2006, CDL drivers could attend Traffic Safety School in lieu of points. No different that for non-commercial licenses.

Changes in the law, eliminated the option of Traffic Safety School and “points” remained for three years before dropping off. That ended having your friend go on-line and taking the test for you. (I knew a driver who did this for about 5 speeding tickets over about 5 months in California.) When the law changed you were stuck with points for three years if you got a speeding ticket.

Now, with CSA*2010, “points” do not drop off as easily. Now, getting “points” against your license is more like getting a tattoo after a night of tap beer and tequila shots. You wake up with a splitting headache, dry mouth and promising yourself you'll "never do that again!"

Get 12 points and your license is suspended for a month. Each time you get 12 points, you also get a 12-point “notch” on your gun. These 12-point “notches” are also permanent. Earn yourself three 12-point notches and you are permanently banned from driving a commercial vehicle. Well, maybe you could get a driving job in Peru, Afghanistan or Siberia. In the U.S. and Canada you can probably rule out driving a taxicab. 

So, what is the solution? You don’t have control over anything except what you do in the truck you are driving and your logbook. With the advent of GPS equipment tracking, PrePass and stricter law enforcement your logbook really can’t be a work of fiction. If it is, you are risking your career as a professional driver. Even if you are an independent owner-operator, don’t use PrePass and a GPS recorder tracks none of your equipment, your logs are subject to audit.

The EZ-Log Solution

Look at EZ-Log as an inexpensive way to prevent many of the common problems that would cause an auditor or officer to question what is in your logbook. No, EZ-Log won’t help you “cheat” the system. What it will do is eliminate many common problems. Like simple math errors, lack of good records and not planning ahead. 

EZ-Log can help you plan ahead and avoid problems like accepting loads that can’t be done legally. With an iPhone or portable GPS, it is easy to plan multiple day trips. Ever think you have more time that the time actually available? Ever sleep in when you should have been driving because your mental estimate was off?

Just a reminder. Go to www.ez-csa2010.com and sign up for the EZ-Log newsletter before release and save $20.00. Plus you will be notified when this Blog is updated. Thanks for reading. 

Average Speed & EZ-Log (Part 1 of 2)

Take a look at your daily log. Do you see anywhere on the form where your company (or your log book) asks you to write in your average speed for the day? I didn’t think so.

In the past I didn’t give any thought to average speed. Partly because the log book my company wants drivers to use doesn’t ask for it. In fact none of the log books I’ve used asks for average speed. And none of the log books I see hanging on the racks at truck stops seem to ask.

So, average speed for the day isn’t important. Right?

On the surface, no. But, consider this. If your average speed is too high, it means one of two things. The first is obvious. You were speeding. The second, not quite so obvious. It may mean that you falsified your log book by under reporting time driving. (Ever find yourself with 5 hours left on your 70 and you are 6 hours away from your destination?)

There are at least two situations where average speed becomes important. If you drive long enough, you will probably experience both.

The first is getting getting lucky and having to undergo an inspection by D.O.T. This could happen at a scale or you could get pulled over on the road. Or, by an enthusiastic patrolman who doesn’t like something about your rig or the way you are driving.

After a friendly greeting, you will be asked to give the officer your license, health card, registration, bills and log book. We have all gone through the drill. The officer then looks for problems with any of your paperwork.

When the officer looks at your log book, he or she is looking for obvious errors or omissions. If they notice anything peculiar (or sometimes not so peculiar) your log book gets a closer look. If it is a slow day, the officer might get out the pocket calculator and check your average speed. Easy to do. Just divide miles driven by the hours driven.

Lets say you are in California. The posted speed limit for Big Trucks on California highways is 55 mph. That means you can drive 11 hours an go up to 605 miles and be legal, right? (11 X 55 = 605 if you care to do the math)

Um, no, not exactly. On the wrong day, you will get a speeding ticket!

Wait a second. How can this be? The officer wasn’t following you that day with his radar gun at the ready. He didn’t have to. Your log book and calculator was all they need to prove you were exceeding the posted speed limit. Thats because you don’t instantly start going 55 when you start, you probably had a couple of nature stops that you didn’t log and you probably had some hills to climb and no doubt got stuck behind a few slow cars or trucks.

The way the law is interpreted considers speeding when your average speed for any given day to be more than 5 mph below the posted speed limit. In California, you can’t average more than 50 mph or you can be cited. Across the border in Arizona where the speed limit on Interstates is 75 mph, you can be cited for averaging more than 70 mph.

This doesn’t happen much. It could happen on a slow day for the officer. Or if you are annoying enough to make the office want to really dig for ticket material. If you are unlucky, the officer just went to a training session on how his department has to generate more revenue before anyone gets the next raise...

(To be continued) Check back in a couple of days for Part 2 on average speed which discusses D.O.T. company audits.

Work, Work and more Work

Reset


I'm doing a reset today and working on getting ez-csa2010.com ready to launch. I have a ton of things to do to make it easy (ez?) for Professional Drivers to get more information about EZ-Log for now.


I've set up a contact page to go with the temporary "Home" page. So far, there is an email link where you can send me an email from the "Contact Us" page using your email client. It won't work if you use a web-based client. So, I'm also working on a "Form" where you can send me a message from directly from the site.


Newsletter Info


Last night I set up a way that you can sign up for a newsletter. We plan on using that sparingly, only sending subscribers a message when it is important. Like when I update EZ-Log or have a sale. 


If you would like to subscribe to the EZ-Log newsletter, follow this link. Subscribe to EZ-Log News Letter or go to the web site. Note that this will take you to a new window, but you can return here with your browser's "Back" button. 


When you subscribe, you will get a confirmation email that you will have to respond to by clicking on a link in that email before you are fully subscribed. Too many "robots" out there, so we want to make sure only real people sign up.


Thats it for now. Be safe out there!

About this Blog

This is the official Blog for EZ-Log. Incredibly easy software for professional drivers who use paper logs. I've been using and refining this program for the past four years. I used to spend anywhere from fifteen minutes to sometimes over an hour trying to get all four lines to total that elusive 24. 


It always seemed that it was the worst when I was tired and hungry. If you drive, I'm sure you have those kinds of days. Maybe it was a lot of stops or a bunch of drop & hooks. Or, just one of those days when you go up to the cab and just drive all day or all night.


I can remember days when I was surrounded by wadded up scratch pad sheets. I felt so frustrated that I wanted to send my calculator and clipboard sailing. Literally sailing as in across the parking lot.


Today, it is way different. Typically, I'm done with my daily log in about five minutes and I always total 24. I know exactly how many hours are left on my "Seventy." I even know what my average speed was for the day. I'll talk about why knowing your average speed is very important in a future post. I'll just say that if you don't know your average speed, it could cost you big time in the future!


In this Blog, I will write a lot about staying legal and in particular, things you should know and be doing in your log book. I will share tips and tricks that I have found helpful. Sometimes I might complain or whine. I'll work on not doing that too often! I will talk about other topics that are relevant to drivers. I would like to include posts by "guests" as well. 


Let me know if you would like to submit an article or if you Blog. You just might get an invite to post here.


I will end with mentioning D.O.T.s new CSA-2010 changes. With the changes in how it effects "points" on your CDL, anyone who is a professional driver needs to be very concerned about keeping log books current and accurate.


Thanks for reading!


Craig