Prototype Test Driving Question...

Yeah that's true to a point but it still falls under the same regulations for operating it.

By the way I asked this question to a friend who is a MSP DOT enforcement officer, she said - "get pulled over and lets see", she said she will ask you how long you been driving and if it is over 11 hours, OOS for you.

You guys don't understand the company don't care, you take the word of these companies and nothing to back it. Test vehicles fall under DOT regs as much as state regs because they are not private vehicle used for pleasure but commercial vehicles used for commercial purposes, here we have five major companies doing truck testing, From Fiat to GM to Ford to Roush to Eaton and every one has to follow the regulations - including HOS.

I just hate it when people get screwed because they fall for the BS. Protect your CDL.

 

I gotta find it to back this up but there are exceptions for experimental vehicles. If they aren't hauling freight to or from anywhere. He's basically joyriding, if you could call it that. But if you are not hauling freight for commercial purposes there are exceptions and exemptions

 

I'm sure there is some truth to this, but I'd have to read it for myself first. I would be more concerned about the LEO's that are not familiar with the exemption, and put you 'Out Of Service' regardless of any written documentation you carry. I want to have some sort of contract that says you'll be paid for the 10hrs 'OoS' AND provided an attorney present in court. Plus I'm not familiar with any way to remove the FMCSA points regardless of conviction (which can effect future employment!)

But all that aside, it does sound cool, and I'd probably do it too.
Good Luck!

 

You will still have to abide by DOT rules even though you are "Not For Hire" and not hauling a real load. Even if you are a contractor to the job. If you run within the 100 air miles all the time you will still need to have some way to keep track of the time that you are driving and on duty. I have not heard of the experimental exemption from HOS. I actually do the job that you are talking about but probably with a different company than the one you are looking at. I've been doing this job for close to 10 years now. If you get pulled into a weigh station they still go through the same things as if you were a for hire company. The only real difference is in CO they say that if you are testing you do not need a permit to travel through there but I still buy the permits because another officer may not see it the same way.

 

Run the weekly and save yourself the future headaches.