The American Transportation Research Institute, the research arm of the American Trucking Associations, released the results Sept. 12 of its industry analysis of using the recorders to monitor driver hours. The ATRI research does contradict perceptions that the devices would hurt driver morale and retention. A surprising 76 percent of users said the recorders had improved driver morale, and 19 percent said they had improved driver retention. No users said driver retention had been harmed by the devices. The report did not explain why the improvements in morale and driver retention occur.

There was considerable consensus among users, non-users and vendors that recorders are effective at managing and monitoring hours compliance, but more research is needed to document the role that hours compliance plays in fatigue management and safety improvements, ATRI reported.  “As a compliance tool, it appears that EOBRs can meet FMCSA’s need for improved HOS monitoring," said Al Koenig, president of Midwest Specialized Transportation. "But we still need to address certain safety loopholes, such as improved confirmation of who is driving and whether EOBRs will increase speeding to offset potential productivity losses.”

The Shigley Law Firm  represents plaintiffs in wrongful death and catastrophic injury cases statewide in Georgia, and in other states subject to the multijurisdictional practice and pro hac vice rules in each state. Ken Shigley was designated as a "SuperLawyer" in Atlanta Magazine and one of the "Legal Elite" in Georgia Trend Magazine. He is a Certified Civil Trial Advocate of the National Board of Trial Advocacy, Chair of the Southeastern Motor Carrier Liability Institute and former chair of the Georgia Insurance Law Institute. He particularly focuses on cases arising from truck wrecks and accidents (tractor trailers truck wrecks, semi truck wrecks,18 wheeler truck wrecks, big rig truck wrecks, log truck wrecks, dump truck wrecks.