When loading or unloading, off or on duty

I'm on a tablet but it's a paper log if that makes sense. 15 minutes on duty the rest is sleeper time. The tablet does 15 minute increments or I'd show less than 10 minutes on duty.
When I was on a elog at a previous job 6-8 minutes at most on duty then sleeper.

 

If you want to spare the 14hr clock, creep in before you start the clock. Last 15 minutes go on-duty to handle pretrip inspections, load/unload.

Some shippers can do the load in 10 minutes, and customer sites under 30 minutes, so it's not unrealistic. Playing it safe for DOT, bypass all scales.

 

Sleeper Berth will save your time. You could do split sleeper if you get 2 or 3 hours in sleeper when waiting to load or unload. That might not be something you always. Because it all depends on how long you have been driving for the day already. Sleeper Berth will save your 70 hours. It would not stop your 14 hour clock but could pause it and that's only if you do the split sleeper rule.

 

It seems that freight haulers have a totally different way of understanding Off Duty & Sleeper Berth provisions. Off Duty is covered under 3 options. They are OFF, SLEEPER & PC, all being considered OFF DUTY status.

While at a customer loading or unloading, if you're NOT required to be in attendance for the loading/unloading, this leaves you free to be OFF or in SLEEPER status. If you are required to maintain attendance during the loading/unloading process you MUST be in the ON DUTY status.

For those saying sitting in the driver's seat listening to the radio or picking your nose... you are by DOT standards in the ON DUTY status.

Upon arrival at a customer, if you park to go into security or shipping/receiving office, after 5 minutes and 1 second you ELD is supposed to automatically go into ON DUTY thus making you legal on logs.

This knowledge I have obtained by working as a contractor for NYS, NYC & NJ DOT over the course of 18 years.

 

The green book clarified and changed the language in 2012 stating that if the commercial vehicle is 'parked' the driver may be 'in or on' the commercial vehicle in an Off Duty status- meaning even the driver's seat.

 

Where does it say that int he regs? Hint, you won't find it as there is no regulation claiming as such.

 

This is straight forward.

If you are working, on duty.
If you are relaxing in the sleeper waiting, sleeper.
If you are away from the truck and not working, off duty.

 

According to the regulations, ALL time at a shipper is supposed to be on duty.
If you are a single driver and not free to leave the premises, then you are on duty.
If you are a solo driver in the sleeper berth while at the dock, you're still in readiness to operate the vehicle, waiting for the proverbial bang on your door and you should be logged on duty. You can't leave and go get a pizza or take a walk to the cinema to see a movie.

The only thing I can see for an excuse is if you go in the breakroom for 30-60 minutes to get something to eat, then you're not in readiness to work.

 

Post the regulation then. Hint, you won't find it as you are incorrect.. Simply being at a place has zero bearing on on / off duty time.

 

395.2 definitions on duty time
Remaining in readiness to operate the commercial motor vehicle