Commentary: Werner’s Paperless Log System Gets Unfair Rap from CRASH

I am writing in response to the article in Transport Topics titled “Group Blasts Paperless Logs” (3-29, p. 8). Given the fact that Citizens for Reliable and Safe Highways has for many years shown itself to be absolutely biased and critical of every aspect of the trucking industry, we find it distressing that you would print that article without a thorough investigation. Once again, it is obvious that CRASH is pursuing its separate agenda of attempting to discredit the Department of Transportation and is willing to sacrifice a program undertaken in the name of highway safety to accomplish its agenda.

In addition, the article was inaccurate to state that Werner refused to comment on the CRASH letter. We had not seen it and were waiting to review it before responding.

If CRASH were actually interested in the issues of highway safety as a paramount objective, it would not only have taken the time to gather the facts and understand the system, but would be supportive of the paperless log system. We do credit Parents Against Tired Truckers with an approach that at least withholds judgment until the facts can be obtained.

Let’s look at the facts. First, the article states that Werner is working with the Federal Highway Administration to field test “on-board computers that automatically record vehicle movements.” There are no on-board computers involved in the process of determining vehicle movement. The system does not test vehicle movement, but works off of position changes calculated by satellites to determine whether a vehicle has moved. That is an important distinction in understanding the system.

Michael Scippa, executive director of CRASH, alleges that “on-board computers have been programmed to basically allow for a wholesale avoidance or violation of the current hours-of-service regulations.” The allegation apparently is that the system does not properly record slow speeds or short travel distances. While the technological system upon which the paperless log system is based has many substantial benefits, it has some slight limitations for logging purposes. The company that provides positioning information used in the Werner system uses three different systems — GPS, LORAN and its own proprietary technology — to locate and identify a tractor by geographic location. Due to that fact, a tractor can move a very short distance or in some cases not move at all and the system shows that the tractor has moved between one of several cities in the immediate vicinity. Because of those technological limitations, certain assumptions must be made to avoid generating inaccurate reports of movements.

Similarly, with regard to idle time, it is true that if a truck is idling or otherwise not moving, the system assumes by default that the truck is not being driven and the driver is off duty. Also, if the truck idles or does not move for more than two hours, the program records it as sleeper berth time. The important point to remember in this instance is that these are default assumptions only. Drivers have been instructed and trained to make entries that will correct these assumptions for the true facts. If, however, the driver fails to do so, the default assumptions are made. But even with the assumptions, the Werner Paperless Logs System is much more accurate and provides more safety benefits than a paper logging system or any other system now available.

The Werner system did not start out to be a paperless log system; it started out as a means to better control hours of service and to provide safer highways by proactively managing hours of service on a real-time basis. The system has been used for that purpose at Werner for more than four years. As the system developed and experience was gained, it became clear that it offered far more accurate log-keeping than the paper logs currently in use by the trucking industry or any other system available.

Admittedly, there is no camera in the truck to tell us when a driver is actually in the sleeper berth. For that information, we must rely, as do paper logs, on information provided by the drivers. One of the very significant things it does do, however, is tell us when the truck has changed position and how long it took to do so. For CRASH to suggest that this amounts to “wholesale avoidance or violation of current hours-of-service regulations” is absurd. We have more than 6,500 trucks on the road each day. If a few of those trucks are caught in a traffic jam where they are forced to spend hours going only a short distance, and that driver fails to accurately record the true facts as instructed, that driver’s hours may be recorded inaccurately for that time period. To suggest that that problem would not have arisen under a paper log system is equally absurd.

We have developed at Werner Enterprises a paperless log system that was designed and implemented in the interest of highway safety at a tremendous cost of dollars and time. Its major purpose was to better control hours of service and thereby make the highways safer. Since implementing the system, we have made presentations to numerous state officials and to the Department of Transportation. The few technological limitations and assumptions of the system have been explained at each opportunity. No attempt was made to conceal how the system works. The conclusion, including that of California Highway Patrol officials referenced in the article, has been unanimous that the system represents a tremendous achievement and a very positive step forward in controlling hours of service and making the highways safer. Any objective review and analysis of the system can lead to no other conclusion.

Safety is, was and always will be a major emphasis at Werner. Although we are proud of the efforts of our driving force, we will continue to seek improvements such as the paperless log system. The Werner Paperless Logs System has helped Werner become and remain one of the safest trucking companies in the industry. Although we will never be satisfied, our record compares very favorably with all comparable companies.

Once again, CRASH has shown its true colors. However, this willingness to sacrifice highway safety and be critical of a positive step, such as that taken by our company, only to further its political agenda is a new low. Your decision to print the misinformation mouthed by CRASH lends credibility to an organization deserving of none.