Personal Time "Bobtailing" I asked DOT :)

You really can't take your trailer and go to eat on off duty or to a motel. I am about certain on this situation it is meant to be done bobtailing or empty trailer,without any load on it,as in the rules you can't be off duty anytime with a laden trailer hooked up and driving it anywhere,to home or whatever unless that trailer is empty or bobtailing,not under dispatch.

 

Well, Bobtailing pretty much implies no trailer.

However, the rules don't state that you must drop the trailer to go off duty & to a diner or motel while enroute. All it says is that you can claim off-duty, while enroute, if you go to a "nearby" motel or diner.

If they meant you could only do the off-duty driving thing without a laden trailer, they would have specified going bobtail or with an empty trailer.

You see how poorly it's written?

 

Kentucky is one state that has been somewhat liberal with this.

I know of at least one officer that will allow you to unhook from your trailer, if you have been placed out of service, and bobtail to a truckstop.

I haven't been placed OOS in many many years. But, if I ever am. I will be asking that I be allowed to bobtail to a truckstop. Of course, depending on where I am, I fully expect to be told NO!!!

 

What about hooking up a race car trailer or camper to my commercially registered truck? On duty or off?

 

Who owns the truck?

If owned by the company, would their insurance cover this?

You could be flirting with some major problems here.

 

It is my truck.

 

If your truck is leased to a company, you need to see if they would allow this to be done.

You need to also check out the insurance issue also.

If allowed, be prepared to be possibly stopped by a DOT or state randomly and they may want to see paperwork on the vehicle being transported. It would be no problem if the company allowed this and you could show ownership and explanation.

 

I would say no since you "technically" in the companies eye, are still responsible for that trailer. Now, if that truck wash was on company property that might be a different story.