Truck drivers make two 45 mph loops around I-465 in slow-roll protest

Semi-truck drivers took part in a slow roll protest around I-465 midday Thursday in reaction to a nearly 14-month-old requirement that truckers use electronic devices that monitor the hours they work and, drivers say, eat into their pay.

The event involving dozens of drivers came as federal regulators are considering changes to rules that dictate when and how long drivers can be on the road.

Drivers began gathering at 8 a.m. at meeting points around Indianapolis. The protest around I-465 started around 11 a.m. and was set to last about two hours.

Truckers said they would travel at 45 mph, looping I-465 twice going counter-clockwise. Traffic maps showed slight delays as the line of trucks inched around the interstate's loop.

The protested tracking devices, which became mandatory in late 2017, have been a source of tension.

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Regulators argue that the electronic logging devices (ELDs) increase trucker accountability and safety on the road. Drivers participating in the protest say the required devices erode the hours they can drive — and the money they can earn — in situations involving bad weather, traffic congestion and other issues that cause work delays.

"With the ELDs and the hours of service that we have, there's no flexibility," says Trish Tedrow, an owner-operator and event organizer who was gathering with other participating drivers Thursday morning off I-70 near Greenfield ahead of the slow roll.

Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill said the truck drivers' concerns are legitimate but questioned their method of protest.

“The ELD requirements might very well be motivated by good intentions," said Hill, who's sent three letters about the issue to federal regulators since 2017. "Everyone supports the idea of creating a safer work environment for drivers. Everyone sees the logic of making it easier and faster to accurately track, manage and share data related to driving hours. I still believe, however, that the current ELD requirements were rushed through the approval process without sufficient attention to their expense and practical workability."

Organizers spent months planning the event in Indianapolis, akin to a few other slow rolls that have taken place elsewhere in the U.S.

Several truck drivers at Indy-area truck stops declined IndyStar interview requests Thursday morning. However, one driver, one who didn't take part in the protest, said he agreed with its focus on electronic logging devices.

Maurice Jones, 29, has been driving for about six years. As he was off the highway at a Mr. Fuel Travel Center at the I-465/Ind. 37 interchange, he noted that he can budget his time on the road to a point but that traffic congestion and other problems can arise. 

That's where the frustration with the logging devices comes into play. 

"I think the biggest thing is that it limits how much money I can make," said Jones, who was on his way to Ontario. "I feel like if I'm rested I should be able to drive. I guess they call themselves trying to control when I rest."

Gary Langston, president of the Indiana Motor Truck Association, said he suspects many of the issues the truckers aimed to highlight with Thursday's protest will be addressed during the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's review of its hours of service regulations. The agency began reviewing the rules since last fall.

The Indiana association, a member of the American Trucking Associations, was not affiliated with Thursday's protest.

"The intent (of the 2017 rule) is to reduce fatigue-related crashes," he said. "It simply provides increased accountability in compliance with hours of service. It doesn't change the hours of service. It doesn't take anything away from the drivers."

Nevertheless, Langston said, he understands some of the concerns truckers have. 

"With regard to the need for more flexibility in the hours of service, we understand that and we support that," he said.

Amy Bartner contributed to this report.

Call IndyStar reporter Alexandria Burris at 317-617-2690. Follow her on Twitter: @allyburris.