Logging during a snow storm

No you can't pull over and extend your hrs. The law allows 2 more hrs. to get to a safe place. If you pull over you would be in a safe place. Correct?

 

You can extend the 11 hour rule 2 hours, but must stay within your 14 for adverse weather. Drive the best you can within your comfort level. By all means pull over if it gets bad. Nobody is going to punish you for keeping their freight safe. Customers understand bad weather and if they don't, too bad!
A good example is a storm hits and starts getting bad. You pull in a rest area and the plows and salt trucks come through where you can continue. Just make sure you flag and comment the extension.

395.1 (b)

http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/rules-regu...ruletext.aspx?reg=r49CFR395.1-o#r49CFR395.1-o

 

I've done this several times, depending on the situation, a rest area, off-ramp, or shoulder of the road would not be considered a safe area. I've waited out a storm for 16 hrs on a off-ramp in Wyo. once, 60 mph winds, -0 zero temps, no food or water in the truck. That would not be considered a safe area, granted your off the road, but your far from safe. As condo cruiser said, under certain conditions you can extend, but you need to flag it, give an explination, and be prepared to answer questions later.

 

actually you cant even do that. the law states you can only extend your 11/14/70 for something that was unforseen, or a complete accident. a 55 car pile-up? yes......a FORECAST snow storm/blizzard, road reports on your CB radio and your weather radio telling you about said blizzard? NO. You knew about the storm, therefore it isnt something unforseen. you need to get parked before your 11/14/70 run out.

P.S. if you do fall within' the perameters of being able to extend your clock.....you are given 2 hrs to find a safe place to pull of. the FIRST safe place to pull off and park. This dont allow you to drive another 2 hrs just to get to the final. Because if you get stopped and claim '2 extra hrs', the cop will probably give you a ticket, cause there was a rest area with plenty of parking 15 min. past where you started your '2 hr' rule. If you pass a wal-mart, truck stop, anywhere you can get off the road (ramps are still part of the interstate system/road) thats where you need to park it, and wait it out. if you abuse the rule, you'll probably get yourself a ticket.

 

FMCSR Part 395.1 (b) .......a driver who encounters adverse driving conditions........and can not, because of these conditions safely complete the run...............may drive and be permitted by 395.3 for not more than 2 additional hrs~ So you get your info about knowing about the storm voids this provision from where? Truck stop lunch counters? Encounters is the key word.

 

Encounters includes information obtained through the CB, truckstop and news stories as well.

It does not restrict it to stupid first hand knowledge because a driver could not think for themselves.

 

There is a provision about knowing before hand, and if the road was closed and you knew it was closed then MR. Jones is correct, however because you know its snowing in WY and the road becomes impassable don't mean you can't use the extra 2 hrs. if you need it to get to safety. It all depends on what you knew at the time the run was begun.

 

I understand both sides.

But you and I must realize the person who enforces this does not think the same as we do.

 

I sure if you read FMCSR Part 395.1 (b) you will find the word~encounters. Your definition of encounters is off the mark by a long way.