CDL class A- straight truck- log book????

I would say yes you need a log book, If you are not clocking in and out at the same place each morning and afternoon you would need one. Now if you are clocking out after no more than 12 hour shifts at the same place you started your on duty time you only need one for the days that you go over the 100 or 150 mile radius or over the 12 hours (which you would if your staying at a motel)

 

If you're crossing state lines, keep a log. DOT will want to see your logs whether you drove locally for part of the week or not.

 

SO much confusion and misunderstanding on this subject. Keeping a log has nothing to do with crossing state lines or if you have a cdl, it only has to do with the amount of time spent working and if you return to the same place every night. The only way the size of your truck plays into this is if you are in interstate commerce they define a commercial vehicle as any vehicle with a gross weight rating greater than 10,000 pounds, some states have a different definition for trucks that stay wholly within their state. The rules are really simple:

If you leave from and return to the same place every day, work less than 12 hours, stay within 100 air mile radius (150 air mile radius with a non-cdl truck), and punch a time clock or use a time sheet to track your hours no log book is needed regardless of how many states you operate in or how big your truck is.

If you work more than 12 hours a day or do not return to the same place that you started then you need a log book for that day. If you do this everyday then you would need a log book for every day, if not and you are subject to the local rules then you only need a log page in your possession for the days you do not meet the local exemption.

The way you describe the operation, under 26,000 pounds gross but going outside of the 100/150 mile radius and staying in a motel occasionally, yes you should do a log book. The reason is that you do not qualify for the local time sheet exemption, although you may on some days, it is simpler to just keep a log for every day rather than argue about it with some DOT cop who doesn't understand the rules.

 

It does matter if you cross state lines because that's where you're most likely to hit a scale. If you are called in for an inspection, they will want to see your last 8 days whether you drove local for a couple of days out of the week or not.

 

CJ, no it does not matter. You can be local and cross state lines, we do it all the time here in the NY/NJ/PA tri-state area, without log books and we cross several scales daily. The only thing that determines if you need a log book or not is time and distance, meaning over the 100 air mile radius rule or 12 hours, you can go in and out of as many states as you want. Further, you do not need to have 8 days with you if you run mostly local with an occasional trip requiring a log book, you only need the log book for the time you actual were not covered under the local rules. Here is a clip from the FMCSA guidance on this matter, trust me I make a living as a consultant, not just a driver, I know this stuff inside and out.

Question 21: When a driver fails to meet the provisions of the 100 air-mile radius exemption (section 395.1(e)), is the driver required to have copies of his/her records of duty status for the previous seven days? Must the driver prepare daily records of duty status for the next seven days?Guidance: The driver must only have in his/her possession a record of duty status for the day he/she does not qualify for the exemption. A driver must begin to prepare the record of duty status for the day immediately after he/she becomes aware that the terms of the exemption cannot be met The record of duty status must cover the entire day, even if the driver has to record retroactively changes in status that occurred between the time that the driver reported for duty and the time in which he/she no longer qualified for the 100 air-mile radius exemption. This is the only way to ensure that a driver does not claim the right to drive 10 hours after leaving his/her exempt status, in addition to the hours already driven under the 100 air-mile exemption.


Question 13: What documentation must a driver claiming the 100-air-mile radius exemption (§395.1(e)) have in his/her possession?
Guidance: None.

 

Not accurate, State lines have nothing to do with. Common misconception. Brian is right on the money.

 

Crossing state lines has no bearing on the 100-air-mile radius (short haul) exemption. IF a driver meets the standard for the exemption, they are not required to have a log book in their possession except on any day(s) they do not comply with the exemption.

Post #4 gives the correct and best information.



EDIT: and I need to type faster.

 

Thanks for straightening me out on that.