Thread started by bentstrider at 06.8.08 - 6:23 pm

This here off to the side is what many truck drivers seem to get tickets for.
The funny thing is, this thing is so simple to work with, I'm still at a loss to see how some could lose so much money in fines for violating a log-book.
Essentially, 11 hours of driving, done within a 14 hour period, with a 10 hour break once that 14th hour has been reached.
In other words, if you started your day at 9am, you have until 11pm to get your 11 hour fix of driving done.
You can take breaks of course, the more, the less the highway patrol will be on your jolly ass.

I just felt compelled to share this due to the many, interesting questions I'm asked into "how the job is done".

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Do truckers still refer to their log books as "comic books"?



PC
06.9.08 - 2:19 pm

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I can't imagine why they wouldn't.
Especially when it comes to claiming less "on-duty" time than actually occurred.

Like, for instance, when a driver get's to shipper/consignee to pickup/drop-off., etc
Any time spent in the office, on the dock, unhooking/hooking to a trailer, or even waiting to be loaded/unloaded counts as on-duty and eats up the 14 if used to the exact letter.
But, most of the time, drivers will claim 15-30 minutes for 2-3 hours of actual "on-duty" and in reality, be chilling in the truck, or riding a bicycle someplace.

When it comes to the DOT/CVET/FMCSA, it's treated as a de-facto, "don't ask, don't tell" sort of thing.



bentstrider
06.9.08 - 3:33 pm

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This thread title promised a daily lesson ... What happened? I only see one lesson.

>:|



katiepoche
06.9.08 - 7:51 pm

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The third post should be a lesson.
The logbook is just another tool on the dashboard of the semi-tractor.
That other post was describing one of the many tactics employed to retain available hours.

Perhaps I should just write a country song about the
"Trials and intimidations of the FMCSA."





bentstrider
06.9.08 - 8:44 pm

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Bentstrider,

I still have that copy of "Diesel Truckers" for ya!



bananaphone
06.10.08 - 8:48 am

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O, okay. Phew.

And yes, please write a country song. I will sing backup.



katiepoche
06.10.08 - 9:36 am

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And to continue, I'll go over the lines on the logbook page, particularly 1-4.

Line 1 happens to be my favorite due to it effectively being labeled "off-duty".
This is where you would indicate all time not spent in the truck.
Activities would include: Being at home, watching a movie at a theater, pumping iron at the gym, eating food someplace, sneaking off to an out-of-state MR-Escapade., etc

But, whatever the reason, it's good for the driver if there's a decent amount of time indicated here.
If a CVET-officer/inspector sees this, they'll flip through your book much quicker.

Tommorrow, Line-2, "The Sleeper".



bentstrider
06.10.08 - 10:56 pm

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