Big Road Trucker log book

you should already have had a paper log on hand for use if the printer or program went on the fritz

 

I have never been questioned about it.

there is a guidance that says it has to be handwritten, but there are several legal cases that have been in fed court making electronic signatures legal. and since this sig requires you too click and drag, you are placing the sig manually.

but all you have to present is a copy of your log, even the copy of a paper log isn't a original sig , it is a carbon copy.

the eclipse sig you mail in is far better than one where you fax your signature in to be electronically converted


the main thing is to have it looking nice and neat, have it ready for inspection, don't be digging and fumbling around all over the sleeper looking for logs,

in other words present yourself and professional and organized , and you will be just fine. to many folks give off the vibe that they have done something wrong, just by being so nervous when they get inspected.

keep your stuff up to par and you will have no problems

 

professional? ??????

truck drivers??????

Now THAT'S the laugh of the year.

 

You have to break that word up snowwy.

Profession - Truck Driver or steering wheel holding
al - A shoe salesman on TV.

 

I think laser printers use a toner cartridge filled with some sort of a powder, so there's nothing to dry out.

 

What benefits? Having the graph line turn red if you go over 11 hours driving? I have a hard enough time reading the confirmations sent on my phone's small screen and having to make it bigger and then scroll. Not to mention the pain of typing using compact keyboard with my big fingers. But hey, if it makes you happy. I'll buy my loose leaf sheets and put them in my binder tho. I don't care to draw any unwanted attention to myself by using something that is going to possibly be frowned upon by any law enforcement officer and I'm sure this will be by some of them. Just not worth the hassle.

 

Signature? I have a stylus. I sign the screen as if I were signing a piece of paper (or a point of sale terminal). It is very obviously my signature, it is written with my hand, and it will stand up any place I need it to, court included.

Can't read the screen on an iPhone? That's OK. I can print a paper copy of today's INCOMPLETE log. Things like BigRoad also run on ipads or tablets if you have one of those. I'm not too sympathetic here, as I have horribly bad eyesight, and have since 4 years old. If you're out working without appropriate corrective lenses for any situation you may encounter, you're making a large mistake.

Last 7? Already printed, signed, on my clipboard, and handed over along with registrations, BOLs, and the like.

Ink drying up? Not if you actually use the printer. Inks are now considerably less fade prone than they used to be as well, to the point of Epson touting theirs as "Archival Quality" (former printmaker talking here, and they do hold up quite well in practise if you use decent paper).

I'm left handed and my handwriting sucks, so any tool I can use to make my logs more legible and make me shuffle less paper around while retaining my control over the information presented, is a win for me. And now I'll shut up and go back in my bunk and continue working on the rest of my paperwork.

 

I don't do mine on a phone, I use a 18 inch laptop. it has a huge keyboard also, not a tiny one like a smart phone. and with the printer in the truck, I can print whatever I need and not have to squint at a smartphone, and with my internet card and myfax.com I can get any confirmation or permit faxed right to the truck.

for me its not a hassle, I got a office on wheels and law enforcement has never gave my logs a second look , they are printed an in the folder in the passenger seat.

its far far from a hassle, its actually very easy , neat, and convienent for me.

 

with eclipse you can send them your signature and they digitize it, and add it to the log program, you simply hold the left mouse button and drag to the right, get the sig the size you want and let go of the button. you can vary the shape. size, placement and tilt of each signature.

 

Take heed to those who have warned that this is not an acceptable form of record of duty status if you have not printed and signed the previous days and have no capability to print the day of inspection as well. As was earlier stated, this system is being confused as an Automatic Electronic On-board Recording Device and it is NOT as the system is not integrated with the CMV power unit itself. Big Road I believe has tried to convince users otherwise, to increase sales I'm sure. Be advised from me, a current Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Trooper, if you are stopped by me using this system, I will educate you on the regulations pertaining to this system and I will put you OOS. Have done it, will do.
Please reference FMCSR 395.8 Interpretations Question 28 as well as Question 27.
Reference FMCSR 395.15 for guidance on Automatic Recording Devices.

Also, in response to Big Road and their reference to 390.31, I have two things to say. 1- the following is copied and pasted from that very regulation and is what I assure you is the latest guidance.
(d) Exception. All records except
those requiring a signature may be maintained through the use of computer
technology provided the motor carrier can produce, upon demand, a computer
printout of the required data.
Notice the EXCEPT THOSE REQUIRING A SIGNATURE. I believe a record of duty status is required to be signed is it not?

2)Chapter 390 of the CFR really has nothing to do with roadside requirements for driver hours of service anyway. That chapter is concerned with company records. All record of duty status and hours of duty status requirements are found in Chapter 395. Reference the correct chapter when seeking info on regulations.

Bottom line, the system is a good system, its easy and helpful to some drivers. But it is NOT an approved automatic recording device and therefore is subject to regulation pertaining to electronic preparation of logs in that yes, the method is approved, however it must be printed and signed at the end of each day and those copies must be in your possession. And by signed, as is pointed out in Question 27 that I listed above, it means signed by YOU. Digital/electronic signature will not be accepted.