Is it okay to work past the 14 hr when in training w/Mentor?

Here is a message to all the green drivers reading these boards. I highly suggest you ask your log/safety dept when you have these types of questions. I will be the first to agree there is some gray areas when it comes to the HOS rules. Also, each carrier might have its policies when it comes to logging. Follow the instructions given by the carrier. In almost every orientation they will go over what they require when it comes to HOS compliance.

If you read something in here that conflicts with what you have been instructed to do TAKE IT UP WITH YOUR CARRIER!

I don't know how to be more clear!

 

Op asked about the 14, not the 70. Implication being the 70 was understood. Simple, but here we are at the lunch counter.

 

I don't think your assessment of the OPs intent is correct. Yes, if it was a one-time thing I agree. The question to me seemed to be a question about the continued busting of that 14-hour clock. I am using the terminology BUSTING because that is what you do when you go past those hours. Assuming your company did not raise heck about the logged hours you are also risking an HOS ticket if you get stopped by a state officer who looks at your HOS records.

This topic triggered a long-forgotten memory that happened to me back in the 1990s. I went to a clinic in Toccoa Georgia for a physical. At the time I was hauling Portland cement and fly ash and was not working OTR. I can't remember what my exact BP was but it was just over the limit for a 2 year physical. However, the Doctor still certified me for a 2-year card. When my company saw my long-form they would only accept it for a year and advised me to go back and try again. I did several days later.

Because I never drove using ELDs I will use paper log terminology to make my points. There is a general myth out there rooted in an actual fact that it is legal to go past 14 hours on duty. It is a myth for truckers because in the paper log days, you had to turn in a log for each and every day even fully off-duty days. If you turn in logs with any of the clocks busted your log/safety dept is going to contact you. In fact I remember a few years before I retired watching a driver clean out his truck. I asked him what was going on and he said I got fired by safety because (I'm paraphrasing) I busted my clocks too much.

Here is the reason I call this a myth based on actual fact. Yes, you can be on duty 24/7 if you desire and as long as you are not operating a CMV can legally do it. Now try turning in logs with that many on-duty hours! See how long you do that! When being inspected let that state officer see those busts in the last 8 days. That is why this is a myth.

 

I'll play devils advocate here and make a point. CMV enforcement officers can only enforce laws, not feelings. So as long as you are accurate in your logs and you don't violate any laws, you can turn in your logs with as many on duty hours as you want to. They don't have to like it, and if they don't, they can shove in their tailpipe. If it's not illegal, its not illegal, period. They can't put you OOS because they don't like that you were on duty a bunch of hours. That's not their job and they can be sued if they prevent you from participating in interstate commerce without a valid reason. That's a direct violation of your rights.

 

Attempt to turn in logs with clock busts and you ARE GOING TO BE CALLED TO SAFETY. That is a fact! State enforcement officers WILL ticket you and place you out of service if you show them logs with clear violations of 395.5 on them. In all honesty, I can't even see how somebody that is supposed to be a trucker would even make that comment!

 

"Clock busts", no, with violations, yea, but you said just simply "busting" a 14 which, by your wording, means going over 14 hours. Since that is legal as long as you aren't driving, I stand by what I said before. They can't put you OOS or give you any tickets for going over your daily allotted hours if you aren't driving.

A clock bust does NOT automatically mean a violation.

I'm using your wording and when I do, you change it and move the goalposts.

 

What does your mentor say about clock management?

 

I think your mentor is taking advantage of you you cant drive past 14 hours anymore its not 1984 anymore with 2 log books to switch over.

 

Ok troll

 

There is no upside for a mentor/trainer to do this. They are still getting paid for all the miles and the trainee is on a training salary most of the time. What I suspect is happening is they are doing that team-driving thing and the mentor/trainer wants the OP to be in the right seat when they are driving. I can see both sides of this. The best solution for the OP is to make contact with the carrier and get their answers there.