A question of rounding.......

Discussion in 'Trucking Industry Regulations' started by Powell-Peralta, Jun 28, 2010.

  1. Powell-Peralta

    Powell-Peralta Road Train Member

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    Basically, i want to know the regulation concerning rounding:

    1) For example, if i return to the terminal at 10:38am and want to conserve hours, can i round it back to 10:30am?

    a) How about 10:37am?

    b) Let's say i returned at 10:45 or 10:44am, could i round back 15mins to 10:30am under the pretense that not everyone's watch/clock is exactly the same so the FMCSA gives 15 mins "grace period?"

    Can you site the exact regulation(s) concerning #1, 1a, 1b? (i don't have my reg book in front of me presently.)

    2) In the next example, let's say i leave the yard at 9:45pm and return the next day at 11:45am (still within 14hrs). Later that day, if i leave at 9:37pm, but log as 9:45 using rounding logic is this ok?

    This is due to running a very tight schedule with specific delivery times.

    In other words, logwise i would be legal----if, in fact, rounding like that is permissible. But absolute time-wise, would i be in violation since it has been less than 10 hours (by a few mins) that i was off duty?
     
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  3. notarps4me

    notarps4me Road Train Member

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    I round everything off. Miles 10%, hours, states....:biggrin_25523:
     
  4. wsyrob

    wsyrob Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

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    If its 7 minutes past the 15 minute increment it goes backwards. At 8 minutes it goes forward. I keep my watch set 8 minutes fast and always round backward. That way its easy with no math to screw up.
     
    rookietrucker Thanks this.
  5. jtrnr1951

    jtrnr1951 Road Train Member

    I usually went with the 7/8 minute rule also.

    Looks like electronic logs will eventually solve this problem !!!!
     
    truckerdave1970 Thanks this.
  6. wsyrob

    wsyrob Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

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    Yep and they will do away with the 8 minute P break to help out line 3.
     
  7. Hardlyevr

    Hardlyevr Road Train Member

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    I just hope if they mandate electronic logs that they will allow 1/10's of an hour instead of quarters.
     
  8. jron619

    jron619 Medium Load Member

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    I always thought of it a money. If something cost 52 cents then you must give 60 cents.
     
  9. Powder Joints

    Powder Joints Subjective Prognosticator

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    Personally, when behind the wheel I log to the closest, 7 back 8 forward.... At the end of the day (most of the time) I grab a clean log page and clean it up to ensure accuracy of course. I log between 49 and 56 mph depending on the state. But if there are substantial sized cities, like Los Angeles (Salt Lake, Las Vegas etc...) I don't count the miles across the city only city limit to city limit. If you ask a map program for the miles from Los Angeles to Las Vegas it will give you the closest city limit to the closest city limit, those are the miles I use.then subtract off 5 to 10% divide by 52 mph and thats the time I show, If there is extra time between time stamps looks like line 1 meals to balance the day. Protect your 70.
     
  10. tracyq144

    tracyq144 Heavy Load Member

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    I know you are being facetious, but elogs are the pits.

    The system I am currently driving under goes by the minute! Yep, don't start driving at 9 hrs 59 minutes on a 10 hour break, you WILL be in violation!

    I don't know if all elogs are the same, but ours suck.

    Add into that the lag in the Q-comm pipeline, and you better give yourself a 15 minute cushion before you start moving. And that cushion applies to all the other "duty status" changes.

    And then, of course, the satellite loses signal once or twice a day, and dumps you on line 4, even if you are in the sleeper.

    Yeah, this is a REAL good idea. Thank you, Big Government!!!
     
  11. Emulsified

    Emulsified Road Train Member

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    I'm near sighted. Sometimes it's hard to read my watch. But it always reads the way I WANT it to. :biggrin_25515:
    Just know the answer they want you to know. I just had my second level 3 in as many weeks and both asked me that same question. My answer was: If 7 minutes or less, I round back. If 8 or more, I round forward. When in doubt I round to MY disadvantage.
    I came away with no citations at either inspection.
     
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