Frustrated ref Elog HOS. Need suggestions please.

I know that you are not going to want to hear this, but you just need to trip plan better, and if you have done the best you can and are still out of hours, you are out of hours, it makes NO difference if you are on E-Logs or not.

If you were on paper and ran over getting to the shipper and got stopped 3 miles from the turnoff and found to be out of hours, you would have gotten a ticket and shutdown.

I am sure I will get a ton of crap for this, but I am simply stating, it is what it is. I am trying to figure out how you ran out of your 11hrs drive time in 635? Construction hold-ups? Accidents? Governed truck? Weather?

If you were all interstate, and only averaged 60 mph you should have been good till at least 660 miles? What am I missing here? Not busting your butt, you asked, I am trying to figure out why.

To be perfectly honest if that trip had come up and paid well enough, I would not have thought twice about making that 635 in 11hrs. and I am on E-Logs.

BTW, I am showing 672 miles for that route, that would be VERY tight, IMO.

 

Yep. Common rookie mistake. Always allow an extra hour for unexpected surprises.

Two things stick out at me:

1. 635 miles. That's a full day on the Interstate. If any kind of pickup/delivery is involved, I plan for ~550 miles that day.

2. Arrival time. Why did you plan to arrive six hours before your scheduled delivery? Assuming that you started the previous day fresh, you should have waited until around 2200 to start. That would have left a few hours on your 14 for trailer jockeying. No, that wouldn't have helped the situation with your 11, but even if you did have a few minutes left on your 11, your 14 would have been expired.

Another option (assuming time left on your 11) would have been to leave a little earlier, and go into sleeper by 1 AM. 8+ hours in sleeper "freezes" your clocks. Go on duty, get to the dock, and go off duty for another 2 hours. Yes, your new day's clocks start after your 8, but you can at least get into position.

 

Actually,

Your dispatcher needs to give YOU some additional "Cushion Time"

And the fact your load switched from a D&H, to a live load, it happens all the time. Promised one thing, get another. Sounds like you have the basics of planning down. But, you also have found out first hand, that if your dispatcher doesn't allow you enough "Cushion" you need to fire back as soon as you do the math and add all the other pieces in place. IE, drive time, 30 min break, road conditions, truck speed, route, familiarity with that specific location (In case you get mis-oriented or lost because you've never been there before) on top of what you are expected to do once you get to either a shipper or receiver.

You'll get it down with a little more experience and practical application. At least you care about doing things right.

Is one violation on your record going to blackball your career? Hardly. Just try not to let a future scenario get the upper hand against you next time.

Finally, you're there now. Even if you don't get the original load you were dispatched on, believe me, they'll get you another.

Hang in there.

 

Sometimes you can roll past your 14 by slow rolling like you did but logging Line 4, when/if it kicks over to Line 3 quickly change it back to Line 4 each time-- no violations although the software may tattle on you back at headquarters that the truck was moving past the 11 or 14 or 70 or 30.

 

Many companies are wise to that and now their computer won't allow it. I used to unplug the satellite tracking antenna and keep driving to where I needed to be' The satellite would show you stopped at the point you unplugged it. Yes, it's illegal and the company figured it out and now the antenna can't be unplugged. Trip planning doesn't always work; to many variables.

 

Simple fix C & C, you my friend need a faster truck!!!

 

Called warehouse at 0830 was advised that they needed to live load at location 2 miles away. I have no hours till after 1200. Asked some of the drivers if they could drop my trailer at the location ref situation. No go and I understand. Sent running late macro with updated info advised the shipper. Now, not only do I have HOS violations, I'm late and frustrated. Spoke with safety manager. He advised that I need to add more cushion time and/or refused the load if I'm going to be too tight.

I love my job and like everyone else, I have to deal with the rules but I REALLY hate being held hostage by HOS via elogs = no flexibility. I am the type of person who will do what it takes to complete my work. After all, I went looking for this job, the job didn't come looking for me. I am frustrated now because of this and other events that have occurred. I haven't figured out how to play this game to my advantage and have no intention of turning down loads that "may" be tight. I need to get paid.

^^^^^^ The paragraph above ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Shows everyone that you're way too eager to bend the rules so you can make money..... ( " I haven't yet figured out how to play this game to my advantage , and have no intention of turning down loads that "may" be tight. I need to get paid " ) Aweful dangerous outlook to have since you're just getting started. Those rules that you say are hindering you are there not only for your protection , BUT , for everyone else too. You need to learn that making money is ALWAYS , ALWAYS , ALWAYS...NEED I SAY ALWAYS......way behind safety in this industry.....It always was and always will be too , at least to those that call themselves drivers.....you never compromise safety for anything , especially a freaking paycheck......

The load in question was "iffy" at best , especially when you knew you were going into a region of the country that has weather delays written all over it , especially this time of year. Best thing you can take from this is you were lucky , no accidents , no tickets , only an HOS violation.....think about it....what would you tell a grieving family after you knowingly tried to push through an illegal situation and caused an accident killing their loved one/s.....I'm Sorry doesn't cut it. You really need to think about the important stuff here C & C......and it ain't money , or the rules , a tight deadline.......goes much , mush deeper than those things......