Need dot consultant? Dot advice

A lot of people know that stretch of road, and I guess there was a witness who said that they were driving up that way on that night. It was raining and they noticed that trucks were mostly driving in the left lane or weaving to avoid the deep potholes in the right lane.

http://www.wthr.com/Global/story.asp?S=11872121
look at I-65 Traveler's comment...

regardless, it's a mess that will last a long time. If anyone hears a followup, post it here please. I'd like to know what the investigation discovers.

 

The point that I was trying to make is log violations, it doesn't matter who is at fault in an accident if the truck driver is in violation and that is the reason that I stated; "it ain't worth the risk".

 

All time spent behind the wheel is considered drive time..

 

I know what your point was, I was just hoping to hear more about the story if anyone hears...I'm an accident scene junkie, have been since I was a kid working for my dad's newspaper. I always found it interesting what they find during investigations. I disagree that log violations preface a driver's propensity for having an accident, although I know that it's against the law and if his logs weren't up to date, he's in big trouble....

 

You might make a good safety man.

 

I disagree that log violations preface a driver's propensity for having an accident,

The FMCSA, NHTSA, has plentyyyyyyyyyyyyyy of data to support the preface that there is a very strong relationship between log violators and a propensity to be involved in accidents. The entire point of even having an hours of service rule is to reduce accidents, and those drivers that hours of service violations have a higher possibility of being involved in an accident, whether at fault or not at fault.. I am speaking from 31 years of experience, and this does not mean that truck drivers are to blame, that is not what i am saying, I believe our drivers in this country are the most trained and are generally safety, and yes we know a huge portion of accidents are caused by four wheelers.

 

I have to debate that . Drivers often stay behind the wheel during a level one or level 2 inspection and they are told to show a change of duty status for the inspection .

 

Part 2: If this was hard for you to believe before, just listen to this.

When I got back in and started with all the weekly paperwork that accumulates in this racket, I looked back over my driving award from Tennessee.

Now with my company name and dot numbers on the side of my truck, and this officer having an official computer and all my legal documents in front of her for 2 hours, how does this officer write up the wrong trucking company on the driver/vehicle examination report?
I realize that I signed it that way too, but I did so in the dark because they don't turn on any lights in there for some reason. Probably to keep truckers guessing whether anyones home or not is my guess.

My current cab card lists under "motor carrier" a company that I was leased to for about 10 years, and up until about 6 months ago..
Last year at IRP time I had no intention of getting my own authority or changing companies. AL requires the actual truck owner to have a "registrant dot number" before they can buy a tag in their own name, but to operate under the dot number of the company that is responsible for the vehicles safety compliance.

This could get a little confusing, but any dot officials should understand the rules and regulations they are enforcing. What about using the MC number?
This officer noticed the dot numbers on the side of my truck and the cab card being different. In my most sincere tone, explained that I am a new motor carrier with an upcoming compliance review, that I was just trying to do my job while making a living. I think it had the opposite effect I was shooting for.

In either not knowing, or just not caring, what she was doing, my previous employer just got a big smear put on their safety rating.
It all just depends on the kind of driver that I am now, since this other company wouldn't even know about this for awhile at least, because I'm pretty sure that this dot inspection would remain even if I get the ticket thrown out in court. I'm thinking that the Tn Dot, or this officer's superiors would probably just want to switch the dot numbers at this point..

Reason for writing this here serves two purposes..
I like this board and useful information revealed in these discussions. Also in having recorded this online later I can always retrieve it, because a copy of this post is exactly what I will send my lawyer in an effort to get rid of one bad apple maybe.

This officer was incompetant and unreasonable. The officers that have their own agendas and obviously take a negative approach at dealing with truck drivers, will cause CSA 2010 to be a disaster for the trucking industry. Communism and hypocricy at its best..

 

If I were a betting man, your previous carrier will Data Q or challenge the inspection when they catch wind of it going on their DOT number and try to get the "proper" carrier assigned.

 

In this case the former carrier is just a small o/o company owned by a friend. He is aware of what happened.
I only said "depending on the type of driver" to make a point. It seems getting the proper carrier when the name and dot number is displayed on the side of the truck being examined shouldn't be a problem.
Former carrier can prove that I haven't drove for them in the last six months, no problem.
Why would I remember who I was driving for last week just to cover this mess, and how could the dot know now or be sure of it anyway, since I'm the same guy that was falsifying his log book.