Need the "hours of service" explained

Great new photo!

 

But the problem is since filling out a logbook is technically performing a function then wouldn't you have to show the time you're writing in your logbook as on duty (not driving)? But then if you're off duty or in the sleeper you would have to update the log again at which time you would be on duty (not driving) but you're in the sleeper but you're updating your log but you're in the sleeper but you're updating your log but your in the sleeeeeeeee........GAHHHHHH!!!! LOGIC BOMB!!!!!!

Ummmmm about this brunhilda......can I have her phone number!?

 

You see the axe and hard hat? I am ready for battle... break out the pointy stick...

 

Frankly. I think the HOS are rediculous. Anyone that needs to look at their logbook to know if they are too tired to drive, shouldn't be driving. That includes anything before and after 11 hours driving.

And the DOT, who write tickets to those who are awake and safe to drive, but over on their logs, shouldn't be a cop.

Its all about obedience and money.

 

Well that's certainly a good point, Hrdman. Unfortunately, company drivers at any decent sized company doesn't really have a choice but to keep their logs accurate. Or risk the scary Brunhilda situation.

Almost all company drivers work in the land of Qualcomm or DriverTech or some other such pinging and spying hardware. We are tracked within an inch of our lives. Our DriverTech tracks the exact minute we cross state lines, the exact moment our truck has been idling for more than five minutes, and exactly how long our truck was rolling along at 75+ mph down that hill. Then it stores all this information back at the company vaults or somewhere.

If a driver ever finds themselves unfortunate enough to be involved in a wreck of any kind -- even if the wreck wasn't the driver's fault -- that log book had better be spotless. Because those records of the truck's location at any given time are available to every slick lawyer out there with a personal-injury-caused-by-a-big-truck fixation and they can go back months to show that you fudged your logs as a recurring pattern.

So even if your log was accurate at the time of the accident, they can show you had a history of ignoring the law and use that to scoot right on into "what other horrible things you must have been doing to make that poor innocent drunken four wheeler run up under your ICC in the middle of the night driving 97 mph... Because even though the victim was drunk and speeding and didn't actually have a license, Ladies and Gentlemen of the jury, this driver has a HISTORY of falsifying their log book..."

And next thing you know... you're all cozy up in there with Brunhilda rubbing her feet, fetching her ice cream, and trading cigarettes to buy her a nice Valentine's Day present.

Much easier to log it as it happens.

 

I agree with you, and the company who regulates their trucks and the drivers they hire. It's their business. And I have no problem with that.

That leaves it up to the person to drive for that company. And the company's decision to hire that person.

It's just the laws that were created by those who've never driven a truck. Who base their decisions on statistics based on lies.

Ever given a cop a lie about why you were somewhere you weren' supposed to be? That answer probably went into some stat somewhere...

 

Hey There...
I graduate from a private truck driving school tomorrow and just passed my final test over the log book, hour of service and the FMCSR with a 98%, got tripped on the adverse weather question.
Anyway, we also watch this video about a true story. A stellar trucker with years of experience and a good record got a dispatch to do a run. He knew he was too tired to take it, but the dispatcher pushed so he agreed, he called the dispatcher again during his run to say he was just too tired and needed to rest and that the load would just have to be late. Again the dispatcher pushed, and knowing what a stellar trucker this guy was he hit him hard with the company is depending on him and bla,bla bla. He was exhausted ad counting down the miles... just 200 more, just 150... just 75... just 50 more... just 20.... and then he was so exhausted he didn't realize he was coming up on a stopped school bus, he tried to stop but it was to late, he slammed into the bus, kids were injured and one little girl died. All the thousands and thousands of safe miles went down the drain. It ended with him standing by her grave.
This was not a stupid man. He was a hard worker who didn't want to let his company down. A dispatcher who got more focused on moving freight and forgot the human element.
We have all pushed ourselves one or more times in our life. I remember burning the midnight oil to get my quarterly reports done, or staying up way too late. How many drivers end their 34 hours off rested, you know some are running errands, mowing the yard, and other stuff before they have to return to their truck
I don't mind there being some limits on me... to not push myself too hard and to not be pushed beyond my limits by a company...

 

The first thing you forgot, was that was a movie. It was made to make you think that you don't have to be stupid to drive more than your body can handle. It was made to make you believe that "your just like that guy"....

But if anyone is too sleepy, then they should pull over and get some sleep. No matter what the company says.

Besides, if that was true, then the company would have been put out of business from all the lawsuits. The driver wouldn't have been by her grave, he's be in jail.

So, you go to jail. The company goes out of business. All for a load that some stupid dispatcher said "had to get there"......

No matter how you drive, I would hope that you would be smarter than your dispatcher. And it shouldn't take a piece of paper (log book) to tell you that.

 

That movie has been out for awhile.. I have seen it. He was running with another driver who was talking to him on the CB and the other driver and him split off before the bus wreck.