At a Mid-America Trucking Show panel about Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs), an FMCSA representative spoke about ways of staying out of trouble while using the infamously inflexible technology. One such way – which became the topic of a huge number of questions from drivers – was making use of “personal conveyance time.”
According to the FMCSA website, personal conveyance “is the movement of a commercial motor vehicle for personal use while off-duty.” This allows a driver to continue operating their vehicle even when they have run out of driving hours.
Most drivers think that they can drive on personal conveyance time only in extremely limited circumstances – like driving just the tractor to get a meal. But Joe DeLorenzo, the FMCSA’s Director of Enforcement and Compliance, told panel audience members that drivers shouldn’t worry so much.
DeLorenzo says that as long as the driver is off-duty and the vehicle is being moved for a non-business purpose, a driver is probably fine.
“Am I off duty? Am I doing any work at the request of the motor carrier, rather than for myself? Is the major purpose of why the motor vehicle is being moved personal? Is it for a nonbusiness-related purpose?”
According to DeLorenzo, truckers can even drive on personal conveyance time until they find a safe location to park. Given the lack of safe truck parking, this could be a huge help for drivers.
“We don’t want a driver parking in a lot that doesn’t have any lighting or any protection,” DeLorenzo said according to Transport Topics. “We don’t want anybody parking on the side of the highway where it’s unsafe. You can make the call.”
Truckers can absolutely still get in trouble for using the time for things they shouldn’t, like bringing a vehicle in for maintenance, travelling after a vehicle has been placed out of service, or moving the truck or trailer at the direction of a motor carrier “in order to fulfill a business purpose.”
As for how exactly a driver is supposed to know when it’s okay to use the personal conveyance time allowance, DeLorenzo seems to think the rules are vague for a reason.
“It doesn’t matter what you’re hauling or whether you’re loaded or unloaded or hooked up to a trailer or not,” said DeLorenzo. “You can move the vehicle to the nearest safe location on personal conveyance time to get rest, and you don’t have to go backwards. This is one of those times where it’s OK to continue on the progress of the load as long as you are stopping at the nearest reasonable, safe location. We deliberately don’t define that because that’s a judgment call on the part of the driver.”
C GARCIA sr says
Pc it should be allowed to take your truck for service in your day off when is need it.
combil says
Not a day off if you are required t do business for the carrier !
Soloaded says
He means owner op. That’s gonna mess up 34hr. Reset.
Trucker74 says
How would that mess up reset? U run out of hrs u stop go off duty then personal time which your hrs are still being refreshed
Ariel Castillo says
Definitely not going to mess up the reset bc you’re still logged off as “off duty” – it’ll still count towards it.
Philip Dyar says
What about home time can I pc home and take my 34 at my res
Trucker74 says
Technically no..but if your close to home and don’t get caught
Digitalage says
Yes and every company I’ve worked for has refused any acknowledgement of personal conveyance
Bubba says
We are allowed to use the PC to reach a Safe Haven..I appreciate that ..
Countrycuz666 says
Thats all I need to know.
Thats what I have been doing.
Scott says
Then you have work for dummies
Mike says
Yes. Even my companies most experienced and respected drivers have asked for this but my company refuses to allow it. I have to wonder if there is more to it then what we’re being told. Is it possible that there is an increased insurance cost to allow drivers to use the truck for personal reasons? I don’t know. I’m truly curious.
Tim says
Mike, It is too complicated for newbies to understand. Its easier to just not allow it company wide.
Jim says
Even when we all ran paper logs I never had a problem with a dot cop if i logged a reasonable time for what we used to called “in search of a safe haven” .. we have personal conveyance line on our elog..dont abuse it just read and understand regs..a newbie can do it ..
Dawn says
Yes I do understand it and know how to use it. My company allows it. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure it out.
combil says
Mike you must think like a dispatcher, when congress finally gave a driver the authority to say NO to a dispatcher, I would think you would understand they would act like the Democrats, do not have the guts to be positive and except this as the right thing to be done even if it does effect their performance Bonus checks which should have been outlawed to begin with, but would find a way to make this new law to their advantage any way they can ! EIE you help my load status I
ll help you ! That is not a fair trade and any employer that lets it happen is not a good employer !
jo says
because as with everything else pertaining to drivers they would abuse it,,
Dan says
It’s about CONTROL, if the company severely restricts your use for P C. It’s to lower their costs and keep their driver under their thumb.
Trucker74 says
As a company driver pc cost them fuel and yes insurance is a big part of why they say no
GDriver says
Yep, and the ELD administrator must set the ELD to allow the Personal Conveyance option to work. I have logged out, and started a paper log, just to be able to run legal in the rare times I’ve had to use the “looking for a safe haven” location. No different that using a paper log when ELD fails. You are required to “notify the carrier in writing” if the ELD fails, and not allowing a “DOT legal” function” is certainly a failure. An email to the carrier explaining that the ELD will not allow you to find a safe haven on personal conveyance time, is a failure to function according to DOT regulations. Just be sure your paper log reflects this. You could have a paper log started with all the necessary wording, but of course leave date/time blank till you need it. Good luck to all.
Tom says
I agree and would add to your statement. Can a company legally deny pc? My answer would be to follow the law, if FMCSA says it’s allowed then it’s for a reason and that’s obviously to get you off the road safely. If your company denies they as a carrier under FMCSA rules and regulations would be in violation. A denial would mean that they’re forcing you to operate past your hours of service.
Fred w says
Fmcsa says it’s up to the carrier if they want to let you see PC. It is not a right to use under the law.
J Baker says
The company my husband and I work for allow it. It has a place where u have to put it in as that but they allow it for reasons like finding a truck stop after we finish a load or after we finish getting loaded but run out of time.
Charles says
Gotta admit, it does help. You can pre-plan for a rest area, and low and behold, the thing will be closed. So its cool to enable personal conveyance, to next safe parking.
Valri says
Then maybe the law should state it must be allowed if the driver is trying to find a safe place to park. And that it is not the company’s decision in that instance.
Bubba says
Exactly..
Steel Horse and Wooden Mem says
As well as most DOT if you’ll hooked to a trailer
Steel Horse and Wooden Mem says
Never happen…never want us to have any control, just make the money until we’re expendable.
Jude says
Exactly. If continuing is a “judgment call on the part of the driver”, won’t issuing a ticket be a “judgment call” on the part of the cop? What happens if you’re involved in a collision while on PC and looking for safe parking? Whose “judgment call” will prevail? Yes, the rule is intentionally vague.
John Ridders says
You are exactly right They’re just giving you enough rope to hang yourself with
Trucker74 says
Pc is for owner ops cause companies can’t say no and plus the insurance covers pc
Dwight says
I agree with you 100%
John White says
My company had it as an option but took it off, I’m going to show them this article
Michael says
Same at my company, but it was taken away because some drivers were using it for extra time to drive. The rest of us have to pay for what. a few did.
combil says
Then those drivers should be fired if they cannot conform ! All of you are going to this wee bit of control that for years was ours and treated with respect and then along came these used car sales brokers than prided themselves and touted the ability to tell a shipper and receiver where their freight was, in spit of the age old practice of calling the receiver as soon as loaded and giving an ETA, and then being there when you say you will. you word was your bond and meant something ! Now all you hear is 100 excuses
combil says
Go back to you company and explain they are not being fair they should block those drivers or terminate them but allow the rest of the drivers to use the benifit
Paula says
I just read another article about this same seminar at MATS. In that article Joe DeLorenzo said if you were held at the dock you could “drive on personal conveyance time until they find a safe location to park.” The way this article is written, you could drive your hours out with the expectation of parking at a particular spot. If there is no safe parking at that spot then you can continue on indefinitely until you find a safe spot. So, if you were planning on parking at a truckspot at 11 pm and can’t find a safe place to park then you continue on until you find that “holy grail” of parking spots which could be 6 am. They are going to let you drive 7 hours over your hos?
TheRealTrucker says
Personal conveyance has a two hour window. That’s per the fmsca’s reg. Book. No need to exaggerate.
Curt says
FMCSA does not restrict the amount of personal conveyance. Carriers can place limits on the use of it though.
https://www.fleetowner.com/regulations/10-things-know-about-personal-conveyance
George says
Not true.I know an owner operator who drove 400 miles on personal conveyance…He didnt have a load
Soloaded says
No it doesn’t
Dan says
Quote me the EXACT chapter n verse of this supposed regulation you speak of. Because I haven’t found a DOT or FMCSA inspector who knows of it and I cant find it…..
Troy says
Thats Right
Trucker74 says
Not true for owner ops
Andrew Jamison says
It states you have to park at the first safe and legal place you find, not where you want to park
George says
Well I’m parking at a place where I can take a shower even if its farther than a closer place I could’ve parked! I m a man not a dog!
Steel Horse and Wooden Mem says
No, most would say first available safe parking whether lit or not. Can’t use it to find a much better spot, just a spot that’s legal and safe from someone rear-ending you.
Steel Horse and Wooden Mem says
No
Michael Grossman says
Your whats wrong with trucking your an idiot and thats just the reson so many companys disabled that function because they know they have hired a bunch of idiots
Willie Watson Mote says
If it’s allowed by FMCSA then the companies should not be allowed to refuse the use of personal conveyance
Willie Mote Jr.
combil says
You do not understand FMCSA sets the limits of the requirement , if you feel like you feel you a being discriminated against then notify the enforcement dept. of FMCSA
Evan says
It’s pretty clean-cut to me. Personal conveyance is when you’re NOT under contract to be loaded or unloaded or an emergency situations such as moving to a safe spot.
combil says
you are half right, if you are in situation which could lead to an emergency such as No safe place to park then the Personal conveyance is in fact the way to legally do that to avoid a violation
Frank says
It’s not the company that determines what the policy regarding personal conveyance entails. It’s the companies attorneys and their ability to defend an accident while a driver is on personal conveyance if one occurs.
Dan says
Frank just hit that infernal nail on its tiny head.
Justin Freeman says
Paragraph Four!! Where DeLorenzo says “probably Fine” .
I’d be cautious on this one, if you ever were to get pulled over, on PC. You know it would be up to the Law Enforcement Official, as to how HE of SHE would interpret the law to read.
It even states in the article, that it’s still very vague.
John Tyo says
Let them interpreted the way they want to take the ticket and then go to court get a good lawyer and beat it they can’t force you to not use a restroom to deny you food or deny you a safe place to park as long as you’re not going 30 miles 40 miles to get it if it’s early in the morning and you park close to a shipper and you need to use the restroom and the shipper is the only place that has a restroom around by all means go to it and as long as you’re not getting unloaded or load in your truck doing anything related to open in those trailer doors then you’re fine
Mike says
It’s also up to the officer to decide whether or not they’re going to pull someone over for speeding.
Michael Sutton says
A can of worms was just opened! What’s to stop drivers from just driving and using “no spots available” as the excuse? NO! Just do away with the 14 hour clock and all the flexibility needed will suddenly be provided!
Jack says
Now now! That would take fore thought and planning! We can never ever have that in our industry!
Charles says
I totally agree!! Do away with the 14 hr clock or extend it. It really sucks!!
David Hendrickson says
your allowed only 2 hours of PC time..
Jake says
That’s not true. Nowhere in the regs does it say that
Dan says
David Hendrickson
There is NO LEGAL or Regulatory Limitations on P.C. the limits are set by the companies and the insurance companies.
John says
Not true if you read the rule on the FMCSA’s website it says there is no limits to time or miles that would be determined by the motor carrier.
Trucker74 says
Um it’s called GPS tracking
Shaun Hopkins says
Well, that’s certainly not how my company looks at it, as far as personal conveyance goes. And if this guy thinks you can just find safe parking, he obviously don’t know jack about driving in the Northeast. Try coming into the real world and see how that works out for you, pal.
Paul E collins says
I am a lease purchase owner operator the company I am leased to tradition transport only allows 1 HR off duty driving. With all of the round table meetings why isn’t this being discussed with these companies to keep us drivers compliet?
John says
First, bad choice in a lease purchase from the company that you drive for. They are robbing you blind. Second, do you get to choose your loads or are they assigned to you? Assigned? Company driver. Third, even though the rules are vague, your company is telling you what to do. Again, company driver.
Ray Bowers jr says
Yes.do away with the 14 hrs and let drivers run there clock the way they need to with in there 24 hr.
Marion D. Hunt says
This gentleman can spout off all he wants, but he does not enforce the law. State DOT officers do. And it varies state to state how officers interpret all of DOT standards.
And let us not forget that most companies, especially mega carriers, do not allow their drivers to use PC, and if they do, it is under extremely strict circumstances to the point where it is usually not feasible.
Fade15 says
“Probably Fine” till you cross the state line !!
Xavire Smith says
Most of these Mega companies do, the driver just doesn’t know it, example I messed my hours up and forgot to log off and it put me over, when you call your dispatcher what do you think he puts you under 😂😂
Kevin says
I think the 14 he should stop, once you get loaded or unloaded, so there no problem at all.
Fade15 says
And once again “ The Law Is Wrote in A Million Shades of Black & White” so your “Probably Fine” …. Till the next officer of the law puts it into context for his interpretation of the law! Oh and don’t forget to call that number on the ticket before your court date!!!
George says
U can start looking before your hours r up one hour before, u don’t need anymore hours to fine a parking spot. U r not using hours of driving wisely. Stop driving to the last minute to fine safe spot to rest.
Tommy says
How often do you drive in the Nortwest or the douthwest after dark. I have been in both locations. I do trip plan with a location for an hour before the time and a location for expected ETA to a parking location on many occasions I have either park in an unsafe location of pay for parking. I am a company drive and having to pay up to $15.00 per night is not a feasible option.
John says
All states need to allow more funding to build more rest areas. Also need local state and federal government to work with private sector to build more truck stops
Kelly says
I’m an O/O at a small company. I was able to get the owner on board with this last year in June when specifics were released in May. We have our policy and understanding based on this. We use it, don’t abuse it, document in remarks why when doing so.
I haul ltl refrigerated. Recently had a stop that I got to and could park at dock 3 hrs before appt in PA off I80. My 14 was going to be up before the unload began. I checked in, parked while on duty, then started break. There was a Walmart 2 miles away that I used PC to, it had no parking due to a city ordinance. I had already used Truckerpath to check two small truckstops about 4 miles away that showed full 3 hours before I was done. The next truckstop was 20 miles east, used PC got there parked at 2300 or so.
I let the owner know what I tried to do and why it ended that way. He said it was fine, it was noted, thanked me for explaining to him. He allows us that because he trusts us to make those calls and will till we give him a reason not to.
Used responsibly it can work. I believe as adults and professionals the majority of the time it will, and even DOT, FMCSA will work with us. Will there be some bad actors and abusers, yes. I still believe most of us take this seriously and want to get home safe, will do our best.
RheumTrucker says
Excellent comment!
combil says
Excellent comment !
Marcus Wheeler says
‘The Real Trucker’ could you provide more specific FMCSA reg. Info which states a 2 hour time limit? I am unable to locate a PC drive time/distance limit from FMCSA.
Soloaded says
There isnt a limit
John says
That’s because they’re are no limits for it. Company’s can place limits on it but the rule says no limits to time or distance.
Trucker74 says
There’s only limit from carriers .
Buck says
Save this is my point exactly drivers whining when they were just told they could drive. We’re not rocket scientist let’s just follow the rules as they are made. If you don’t like the rules get out of the industry.
Harley says
That’s why so many drivers leave the Industry! Because to MANY RULES AND REGS Effecting Incomes now today! Duh! That goes w/o saying! The remaining guys in many instances Not all, but many, are nothing but “Steering Wheel Holders” ! Frankly the Federal Government is trying to put “The Little Guy” Contractor/Owner Operators OUT OF BUSINESS!!! The Big Companies will buy those Autonomous Trucks and not have to pay us to drive anymore! Next 20 to 25 years or less, that’s where it’s going!!! The United States Government is the ONLY Nation “Stupid Enough” in General, to allow an 80,000 pound “Horizontal Building” to drive down it’s Highways w/o a Driver! Yes, I know, right now, “supposedly” there’s someone to “Monitor” ! But simply look as an example, that poor woman who was killed by that Autonomous Cab (Uber, I Think?) In what AZ or NV somewhere! There was supposedly someone in the driver seat “Monitoring” ! Who ever heard of such stupidity! Putting Trucks, Cars or ANY other, Driver-Less Vehicles on US Roads ANYWHERE is simply INSANE!! Just saying! Something to think about !!!
Steel Horse and Wooden Mem says
This O/O doing just fine.
RheumTrucker says
This O/O doing fine also.
Helen says
I am one of those o/o who sold my truck this year and bailed out.
Life is different. Better? Not sure yet, I miss the asphalt. But certainly less stressful.
Darko says
What you talking about?
Even ppl who came up and made these rules dont understand it or they dont know how to explain it to us! As you can see in comments above even DOT officials interpret the rules differently. Goes from state to state and from officer to officer discretion! Basically, we are at their mercy!
Joe says
I got a ticket for using PC. I drove 30 miles on pc trying to find parking, 3 days after I got inspected. It is up to the inspector discretion to believe or not.
John Tyo says
This is 100% true I use this at least three or four times a week I stopped at Walmart I use the restroom I get the food I need while I’m off duty and I move onto the lot I’m going to park In if you’re not bold enough to look that transport officer in the eye and tell him what you’re using personal conveyance for or too stupid to put an annotation on your log saying exactly what you’re doing off-duty with the truck or your company is too foolish or bullheaded to allow you to use for this privilege then you need to change things for yourself
DonBhoy says
Your comments are quite confrontational and derogatory!! Have you ever considered that some drivers may not have had these rulings properly explained or taught to them?? Some Southern drivers may not know about the 2 hour Emergency winter driving rule either, because that would not be explained to them. A lack of training or education DOES NOT make a person stupid, it makes them uninformed.
But I would suggest very much so that your comments are in fact STUPID!!!!
Jason says
To be clear, the 2 hour driving extension isn’t just for winter weather. It can be used for any unexpected delay. Sitting in traffic behind an accident for a hour or detoured because a road is temporarily closed are both valid reasons.
Just be careful how often you use it. Once in the last 8 days? That’s okay. 6 in the last 8? That’s not okay. It’s obvious you need to plan you days better.
Mike says
Wisconsin trooper said you have to go back to the zip code you initiated personal drive time for it to be legal.
DonBhoy says
Yes I heard that from one of our drivers that was “allegedly” ticketed for that. Also, in Iowa they will “allegedly” give you a ticket for it as they say you should find safe parking BEFORE your hos expires.
I say “allegedly” because these are stories I have heard from other drivers, not my own experiences.
Tom says
Somebody needs to school the Gestapo.
Steven Strimling says
See, that’s the problem with what the guy from FMCSA is saying. The guidance is clear that that trooper is wrong, but what’s going to stop him from writing up a violation?
https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/regulations/hours-service/list-proper-use-personal-conveyance
Paragraph 3: Time spent traveling to a nearby, reasonable, safe location to obtain required rest after loading or unloading. The time driving under personal conveyance must allow the driver adequate time to obtain the required rest in accordance with minimum off-duty periods under 49 CFR 395.3(a)(1) (property-carrying vehicles) or 395.5(a) (passenger-carrying vehicles) before returning to on-duty driving, and the resting location must be the first such location reasonably available.
Kc says
If it’s a gray area then the problem will be always up for interpretation. This a gray area that needs to be corrected.
Samuel gallezzo says
You can find a spot to park at the end of the day if your company allows personal conveyance if they don’t allow that and you drive when you have no hours you still have a log violation
Trucker74 says
There’s still a tiny window after hrs before violation
Michael says
They strangely didn’t mention that PC counts toward the strict 14 hr clock.
Steve says
No it dont
Wendy says
Only 14/11 hours mentioned. Resets away from home are mostly when we get time to restock at Wal-Mart. Being forced to go at beginning or end of reset is a major inconvenience that interferes with the quality of the reset rest, besides costs. Does PC break reset when OTR is only transportation available? We need more definition!
Gabe says
On the FMCSA website they have a complete article on Personal convince. I am an owner operator, I printed it and keep it on the truck with me. Anytime I’m question about it I pull it out to show it to them. This is not a thing to abuse the privilege to allow you to get somewhere safe
crabby says
I have never used personal conveyance. So what do you do with the eld when you are looking for a parking spot? It sounds to me that the driver should stop driving before his drive time is over, go to on duty not driving, do his post trip, go off duty, then log off the eld, then go find a place to park. at that point you are off duty and on your personal time. personal conveyance.
Martin E Neltner says
No disrespect intended, but Common sense is lacking here folks. One must understand the intent of the regulation. Companies that ignore the intent, drivers who expand the intent to suit their personal purpose are not following the goals set by the Feds. Document your reasons and yes if it takes 5 hours to find a spot document each and every place you stop. Schneider is a company that does not permit personal conveyance. I challenged them and won. I ran out of hours due to the receiver etc. It took the police to order me to move. I documented the officer name rank etc and I bobtailed to the nearest hotel and yes I send the bill to Schneider. Lol. Challenge your company with this article. If they still refuse make them put their reason in writing. When the situation creates personal conveyance then document and move your truck. Put this back on the company. But document carefully Whoopi talk to and when you talk to someone including the company dispatch manager. Then move the truck. Your safeguard argument is “your safety is at risk”. No one will challenge you. Use common sense and use personal conveyance for the right reason.
crabby says
did schneider pay your hotel room bill for that night?
RAS Transport says
No it does not.
Gary says
They need to relay this to trucking companies and ALL law enforcement, who think they know it all.
Andres Olimpo Tamayo says
E Logs & Governors In All Trucks, The 2 Worst Rules That has Happen to the Trucking Industry in 50 Years.
Rob says
Funny, I’ve had my personal conveyance suspended for SIX MONTHS for doing just what he described.
Durtyda says
I yawn at these lmao “professionals”
That embark on a route based on planning and for some strange reason. Always needs help.. great job!!! Keep truckin’ guys and girls
D Ray says
I used PC during the time I was on 34 waiting for next load. That PC happened to take me toward my next load WITH OUT ME KNOWING. Is this going to bite me?
Steve says
You can use pc loaded or empty to find a safe place to park it does not count against your drive time you have to go off duty change your status to pc then you can drive up to 120 miles when you park change your status back to on duty and go into sleeper
Trucker74 says
Now why can’t people understand that lol
Well said
John says
Yes there are safe places to park…. just quit driving an hour early!! I’m pretty sure you passed up plenty of truck stops along the way that you could’ve stopped at. If you push it to the last minute then that’s on you!!
Kevin Chevalier says
I used it when sitting in the middle of a traffic jam in Columbus OH
after leaving the Bud plant got caught up in an accident, ran PC to
nearest rest area halfway to Marysville on us 33 safety had no problem
with it never had an issue with DOT either.
Sheriff John says
Drivers are making this more complicated than it is.
TMurphy says
Whom should we believe here?
The ATA because they are conspiring with the trucking industry to usher in 18yr old drivers or the government whom maybe concern about maturity and safety.
Samuel Mitchell says
Well, my opinion, is you drivers need to start preplanning your trips more thoroughly!
I’ve been driving 30 plus years an I’ve only used PC twice last year, one to go to The Walmart and once when I ran out of hours on the Jersey Turnpike, an I drove 10 miles then to get to Elkton,MD.
You all can’t drive thru Atlanta at 4:00 pm in the afternoon from Tallapoosa, Ex5 an expect to get thru there in 2 hours, at 4:00 pm with 2 hours left on your clock, so therefore you must park.
It is pretty simple to figure this out!
PRETRIP before you start your day!
Grim Reaper says
Sure glad I retired last year!!
PC has no set rules, weather a company should use it, how much time/miles to give, or anything else, NOTHING
My last company set it as time, 60min, no matter where or when, whereas other companies use a miles restriction. I’ve heard as little as 25 miles in any 24hrs!!
How does any of this help if there isn’t a standard and rule that companies let their drivers use it???!!!
I used to use mine in traffic slowdowns to get past that useless 30min break. So come and fine me DOT!!! USELESS
MrNA says
I thought PC was for when you have logged off duty and parked and say “Hey, I wanna go miniature golfing or go see my Uncle Darrel close by, or get a pizza, or go clubbing…whatever ” I wrote the feds how if I drove 11 hours and deemed “unsafe, unlawful, fatigued” after that 11 hours and in need of a required , mandatory, lawful 10 hours of rest, how on earth can simply drawing a line and making a quotation note automatically make it ok and safe and lawfully legal to drive ??? How does that protect The public or me from myself when clearly on one hand I shouldn’t be driving but on the other it’s ok ? The reply I got is the rules were made for flexibility. I asked them how I can log off duty, drop or drag my trailer and drive an hour to a bar and drink soda pop and play pool for 4 hours, drive an hour back and then log off duty/ sleeper berth for four hours and all that will fulfill my 10 hours off duty…on paper ? The reply was the same. They just want to give us some flexibility to live a normal life on the road. Now I know well not to drive tired and be rested before coming on duty. That works into the PC equation. Kudos to the FMCSA for addressing this. Although I don’t think it is wise to use it to find safe haven. As mentioned before, situations come up no matter how well planned and to me that would fall under ” emergency weather or traffic conditions .” Not PC. It’s all up to each Driver being professional and honest to what they are doing. And of course roadside law enforcement is where it really matters. Shame on those Companies not acknowledging PC or Emergency Conditions. Sounds like a lawsuit against them, if that’s what it takes
Jim says
As a Canadian citizen and driver for many companies , it comes to mind that the trucking industry is the only government regulated working industry for employees. I have been in this business for 56 years. I have seen a lot of changes in the past and it has been very difficult to expect the results of the rules and regulations the government has employed on drivers whether it be o/o or company.
The government keeps on tightening up every chance they can. When have they come to the long time
driver’s to ask them for their input. We have the experience of many years of 100 and thousands and millions of miles where as some political power who makes these REGULATIONS DON’T. 24 hour work reg. That was the biggest farce I have ever seen. I remember the days when if you got tired, stopped to get some sleep whenever. I did perfectly fine doing that.
Driverless vehicles? Technology is making people lazy. Vehicle that backs into parking, puts the brakes on when someone or something is in the way. My God, does that mean you really don’t have to pay attention?
You drivers can whine and complain all you want, it comes down to the fact that the government has accomplished it by putting their biggest THUMBS over your head.
I really feel sorry for what has happened. I’m ready to leave the industry soon so I don’t have to deal with it anymore.
GOOD LUCK.
Dum Trucker says
You are on any givien highway..what do you think of distance to “next” rest area or stop and who knows next one already occupied as well. Naaa it wont work. Plus the distance you covered how will you able to make understand next DOT OFFICER??
Dum Trucker says
No SIR you have to clear about this..rest area truck stop start filling up after 5pm. Who wants to leave highway and get into unfimilar small town to park truck naaa forget this. Elase everyday cut short service hour upto 1 hour.
Robert says
Hey Samuel I bet you don’t take your 30 minute break at the fuel island either
Kevin Chevalier says
Planning your trip don’t always work things can go awry in the process
like being held up at receivers or shippers it’s the unforeseen things that
catch you off guard.
G I Joe says
HOS should be increased to new format 14 hrs driving 16 hrs on duty or add a new option such as city drive which allows hour to be added on driving.Current DOT rules need to be updated ! It’s lame for American drivers!
Tommy says
The voice of American driver 🇺🇸
Shaun Wentworth says
It may work well or it might be bad but everything does possess a consequence.
I learned an important lesson on that day from a delicate teacher.
Make a checklist – this saves your period and energy.
Jim says
you were a newly once…….
Dee says
When I know I am getting into trouble looking for a spot because of where I am at, foresight, I look earlier and I just stop earlier. The very best words to use with the company, broker or Officer is, “safe and Legal”. They can not argue with that. Use your rights for making good sense on your decisions to park. There is also yard moves on the ELD. If you have to park off property, use it, just stay in the same Zip code. I know this is hard and I agree with the others on the interpretation and shame on the “Probably” excuse. That is like saying, do what you want and risk the ticket, fine, time and loss of work, we don’t care.
J B says
What prefix should this be done in off duty. On duty drive or where on the qual com. Our company says to be on a public hyway we can’t be in off duty we must be on duty or driving One example is when traffic comes to a stop due to an accident or closure i go on duty but am still moving at a very slow creep
Matt says
I heard from our safety guy moving the wheels will trigger on duty as a new dot rule soon. No more creeping to hook up or anything. PC will be the last alternative if you don’t want to start your clock. This is REALLY going to suck. Might take a week off sitting still to convince govt otherwise.
Jjags says
Read and understand. He says you’re PROBABLY fine. That means it’s at the discretion of the cop if you get pulled over. Enough rope to hang yourself , pay a heavy fine and all is well.