This article is part of a FreightWaves series focusing on the electronic logging device (ELD) mandate, which federal regulators began enforcing on April 1, 2018. To read more from this series, click here.
On a Tuesday evening in March, Lisa and Lee Schmitt set out from their Wisconsin home to transport a 42,000-pound load of pre-cracked and pre-whipped eggs. As truck drivers, they had to meticulously account for every minute of their trip.
They enjoyed dinner at home before departing around 8:30 p.m., reaching Gaylord, Minnesota by 11 p.m. Their client, a multimillion-dollar supplier of value-added eggs, provides overnight parking for truckers, a rare convenience. Due to federal regulations in place since the 1930s, they couldn’t begin their workday until 9 a.m. the following morning.
The Schmitts encountered complications when warehouse managers identified a mechanical problem with their trailer, necessitating repairs at a neighboring facility. It took several hours to resolve the issue and complete loading, delaying them until 2 p.m. on Wednesday despite having been on duty five hours earlier.
Racing the clock, the couple knew they had to stop driving by 11 p.m. to avoid hefty fines and a negative impact on their safety rating. Their destination, Cedar Rapids, Iowa — where a restaurant supply company awaited their egg shipment — was approximately a six-hour drive. However, unexpected delays could threaten their timely arrival.
The Schmitts arrived in Cedar Rapids at 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday. Due to limited parking options, they parked at a nearby truck stop before delivering the pre-whipped eggs the next morning, embarking on another busy day.
Like many of America’s 2 million truck drivers, the Schmitts are only compensated for the miles they drive, with their egg load unusually paying $5 per mile, surpassing the average of $2.34. They resent the ELD mandate, which requires them to digitally log their hours. Although designed to enhance safety, studies show that fatal crashes involving large trucks have increased since its implementation, undermining the law’s intended benefits.
