Need dot consultant? Dot advice

What is the law when it comes down to shipping a truck in the city about 8 miles round trip that never gets on the highway? Our company is telling us we don't need paperwork to ship auto parts (bumpers, interior, mufflers and so on) from one plant to another 4 miles away. They are saying that because we don't leave the state or go on the highway or travel any real long distance we don't need any paperwork???? We are located in Michigan any help would be great thanks. If it is a law or rule can I get the number?

 

FMCSR Part 395,1(e)(1) is the 100 air mile exemption. Basically as long as you stay within a 100 air mile [114,63 statue miles] radius of your starting location and you return to that starting location within 12 consecutive hours and are then relived of duty you are exempt from the RODS and do not have to draw a log.

You have to have a 10 hour break between shifts and your employer needs to maintain a record of when you start/stop - like a time clock or time sheet - some sort of time record.

You can't drive any more miles than you could working a normal 11 hour driving shift [a lot] and if you go outside the 100 air mile circle -or- work over 12 hours you are supposed to draw a grid log for that day...

 

IMO i liked having tint before i took it off at night it stopped the glare of high beams coming from behind and helped when backing into a building on a sunny day also kept my cab cooler. but took it off-started getting hasled to much when certian states needed to increase their revenue.

 

I am curious about the lunch break off duty rule. My husband remembers something from years ago that said companies needed to have written authorization to take breaks and record them as off duty but had forgotten about it until I read this to him. We have a small trucking company and would like to know if the rule is still in existence and if we need to have something in the truck that authorizes him and/or other drivers we may hire to report meals and/or as off duty time?

 

ill play it safe and stick with my ten ours driveing an my 8 hours sleep no confusion it was easier in them days and a lot more practical.

 

I have a question. Did they pass a law saying trucks have to have air bags? If they passed it, when?

 

No, there is no law requiring trucks to have air bags.

 

Practical left right behind or just before common sense. I have learned that there is no way to cover all the bases and meet all the newly formed "safety" regulations but heaven knows I try to but I may have to get a bigger truck to carry the permit book in. I would put the permit book in the trailer but then I wouldn't have room for any freight. And to think that they have every single piece of paper I have in that permit book in their computer.

 

Yes they do. My current card says...
Driver________________ is relieved of all responsibility for his/her vehicle during meal stops providing that the said vehicle is safely and legally parked. Driver may log the meal stop as "OFF DUTY" for a period of not less than 30 minutes nor more than 3 hours. This exemption does not apply to drivers operating vehicles under part 397.5 of the FMSCA.
Then it's signed by our safety director.

I don't really understand what a card is going to do when the rules are already known. You're eating, you're off duty regardless. If you're hauling dynomite or something, you have no business in a truck stop as it's a populated area. Most big companies give you this card. The above poster is the first time I heard it being checked.

I believe George was stretching the story just a bit.

 

Alot of states like FL put restrictions on window tint because officers couldn't see what was going on like the driver having a gun during a traffic stop. I like tint on my personal vehicles but on trucks it hinders your mirrow view, especially at night. Most trucks you can roll the window down to back up, but like a Pete 387, that's not an option as you have stationary glass. So in a big truck I just stick to a good pair of sun shades.

Most states use the rule of thumb... hold your drivers license to the window and if you can read it, the tint is okay. Windshields are limited to a 6" strip, but that looks tacky IMO. My pickup I have the back window dark and the side windows 30%. Looks good that way.