A Few More Thoughts On the 8/2 Split

                My post two weeks ago about the 8/2 split was shared on the Freymiller FB page and the response surprised me.  The volume surprised me; not the content.  A few comments supported my theory that many don’t understand how the 8/2 works.  Most don’t use it unless the other option is a late load.

                There are three times I’m likely to use it.

    1.   When it’s the only way I’m going to make an appointment on time.  This has happened twice since I wrote that post which supports my belief in the Law of Attraction.

    2.   When I get either an 8 or a 2 unexpectedly, I will take the other to make the best use of my time.

    3.   When it will get me home (or to wherever I’m taking time off) faster.  A couple of years ago I ran 8/2 from the California Central Valley back to OKC on Thanksgiving so I would get back in time to watch the Macy’s parade.

          The 8/2 split is the only HOS law I have ever seen stir such a passionate response.  People seem to either really love or really hate this law.  I don’t understand what it is about the law that causes people to have such a strong reaction.  Maybe it’s older drivers (who drove for years under the old laws) who are resistant to change?  Maybe it’s the drivers who really struggle to understand how it works expressing frustration?  I think Freud would have a field day with this one.

The 8/2 Split

          During the 12 years I was off the road before coming to Freymiller, the Hours of Service laws were changed.  The most difficult part about learning the new rules was understanding the 8/2 Split.  It took me months to really understand how it worked, and I spent those months relying on my brother to tell me when I needed to do one and my Qualcomm to do the math for me.  It took me about 6 months to get a solid understanding of how it worked.

          I would be willing to bet that 50% of the drivers I know won’t use the 8/2 split because they don’t understand it.  I’ve had many tell me as much.  I’ve also had drivers tell me they wouldn’t do one on paper logs because it’s too easy to mess up and go into violation.  On December 18^th, the law requiring all drivers to be on e-logs went into effect.  I know there are some exceptions, but I’m not one of them.

          On e-logs, there are times that I HAVE to do an 8/2 to be able to make on time delivery.  There are also times when doing one is the best use of my time.  Most of the time, both situations involve me getting held up for more than 4 hours, either at a customer or with repairs.  When that happens, it’s usually in my best interests to “finish out an 8 (hour break),” which resets the 14-hour clock back to where it was at the beginning of the 8. 

          The 8/2 Split works like an escalator: whatever falls off the top comes back on the bottom.  Think of it as a revolving 14-hour clock.  This is the visual I use when I’m explaining the 8/2 Split to a trainee.  It seems to help them wrap their brains around it easier.

Drive	5
Break	8 (Sleeper Berth)
Drive	6
Break	2 (off duty/sleeper)
Drive	5
Break	8 (Sleeper Berth)

          This was a quick explanation, I think I will expand on it next week with some examples of when I choose to use it.  I just wanted to show you that the 8/2 Split isn’t as scary as most drivers think it is. 

Knowing My Limits

                Last week, I got stuck on I-70 in Western Colorado by winter storm whatever-its-name-was.  This doesn’t make me unique; there were a lot of us stuck there.  My personal policy is to avoid Vail like the plague during winter months, but computer routing and a discussion with my Driver Manager (dispatcher) helped convince me to violate that policy.  That’ll teach me, huh?

                I was running with another driver and on the second day of our weather induced hiatus, we started looking at alternative routes.  He suggested a route that caused my stomach to do a dog trick… roll over and play dead.  I told him to give me ten minutes.  I spent that time thinking about it and praying about it.  I told God, “if you want me to take this route, I need You to give me peace about it.”  I couldn’t get peace and just had this overwhelming feeling that this route was a bad idea.  I shared my feelings with the other driver and we stayed put another day to try to wait out the problems over Vail Pass or figure out another route.

                We got out the next day, got delivered and are both on our way somewhere else.  A few days later we were talking about how good drivers know their limits.  I don’t drive when I believe I can’t do so safely.  It doesn’t matter if it’s caused by weather or my physical condition.  When I don’t believe I’m safe, I’m not safe. I know my limits. 

                I have had several trainees who got into my truck without ever having seen snow.  One asked me “how fast should I go when there is snow?”  There is no textbook answer to that question and I told her that.  I also told her, “if you feel like you’re driving too fast… you are.”  My first winter in the truck I drove a lot slower than I do now, but I have also learned how to drive in snow.  I don’t have to drop 20 or 30 mph every time I see a snowflake now because I have learned to read the road conditions.

                A good driver knows their limits.  My limits aren’t going to be the same as your limits.  It doesn’t matter if I’m driving the big truck, my pickup or my car.  I still have limits.  I know when road conditions are outside my abilities (it doesn’t matter how good of a driver I am, I’m still going to slide on icy roads), I know when I’m getting lethargic and need to get out of the truck for a few minutes and walk around.  I know when it’s time to go to bed.  That’s what good drivers do.  They pay attention to what’s going on around them and inside of them and they do what’s necessary to stay safe.

What Makes A Good Driver?

          Several months ago, I made a remark in a post that trucking isn’t what it used to be.  While there have been some good changes, like improvements in technology, there have also been some bad changes.  If you talk to older drivers, they will tell you that it’s just not like it used to be. 

          I have seen an overwhelming trend that is not exclusive to trucking, but in society as a whole.  What I’m talking about is a general lack of integrity and the loss of taking pride in a job well done.

          I’m a good driver.  I know I’m a good driver.  I don’t say that with conceit but with confidence.  I can say that because I pay attention to detail and I always do my best to act with integrity.  I also live by the Golden Rule: do unto others as you would have them do unto you.  Society seems to have twisted the Golden Rule into: do unto others before they do unto you.

          I was overpaid this week.  It wasn’t by a lot, but none the less I was paid for work I hadn’t done.  When I first noticed it, I thought “they’ll catch it.”  It bothered me to leave it up to them to catch it.  I’m one of about 500; they may or may not catch it.  That doesn’t matter.  What matters is I caught the mistake.  Had the mistake gone the other way, where I’d done work that I hadn’t been paid for I would have brought it to their attention immediately.  It was only right that I bring this mistake to their attention.  So, I did.

          I’m not sharing this so you can give me an “atta girl” or think highly of me.  I share this because this is part of what makes me, me.  If we want the world to be a better place, then each of us – individually - must be the change.  People are what makes Freymiller a great place to work.  I’m one of those people, we all are.  We have to be what we want Freymiller to be.