[Demidog]

It's for the life of the others on the road.

That's the excuse given yes. But it doesn't make anyone any safer and a man has the right to decide for himself when he is or isn't fatigued. The government is not your mommy.

[conservative cat]

That's the excuse given yes.

So, if that is the excuse given, then what is the REAL agenda?

But it doesn't make anyone any safer and a man has the right to decide for himself when he is or isn't fatigued. The government is not your mommy.

By this argument, then the government would never pass any laws for public safety.

I could give a rip what someone does when they are tired as long as it doesn't endanger me.

The problem with fatigue is that it's a pretty subjective thing and you may not notice it creeping up on you. One reason I am against gun-cotrol is because I trust most humans to not shoot me. Shooting a gun is a conscious choice. Most people aren't going to pull that trigger unless they have a good reason to do so. However, despite best intentions, we are all prone to fatigue. Can we control it (without drugs masking it)? No. Are we always aware of it? No. Are we more dangerous on the road because of it? Yes.

As much as I dislike this argument, driving really is a priviledge, not a right. That's why there are laws regarding turn signals, brake lights, headlights, speed limits, etc. I have seen more than a few fatal accidents caused by semi-trucks in my commuting time. Only one of those actually killed the driver at fault. All the others were in other vehicles.

[eastforker]

I drove for over 15 years before seeing the light and changing carreers.What used to piss me off was the gubmint told me how many hours I could or couldn't drive but drivers weren't paid time and a half over 40.One more thing,driver pay is an industry standard,unless you are lucky enough to work for some local construction company that getting paid T&M and the driver isn't bound by the time restraint over the road drivers are,the pay is almost identicle nation wide. yeah, Tankers get paid the best probably, but dry frieght and flat beds realy suffer.Glad I got out of the bussiness,I now get paid 1 1/2 times my base after 40 and if I put in 60 I take home a grand.If I was still trucking I would still be broke.There is alot to say about this subject,can't cover it all in a couple paragraphs,but my heart goes out to all knights of the road puting up with all the chicken coops,swindle sheets,lot lizards,log books,high dollar fuel,lying dispatchers,and above all when something goes wrong, it's always the drivers fault.Been there done that,no more.