Personal Time "Bobtailing" I asked DOT :)

Discussion in 'Trucking Industry Regulations' started by LogsRus, Jul 12, 2007.

  1. L.B.

    L.B. Third Generation Truck Driver

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    The way inderstand it, you should be able to log offduty once you drop the trailer to be washed. If you dropped the load and headed home with an empty trailer you should be able to log offduty then too, since you were not responsible for a load.

    LB
     
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  3. Roadmedic

    Roadmedic Road Train Member

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    If a trailer is attached to the truck, you are considered to be laden whether the trailer is loaded or empty. In order to drive the truck and not be logging, it must not have a trailer attached.
     
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  4. L.B.

    L.B. Third Generation Truck Driver

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    For clearification, is that quoted as such in the regulation. I have read elsewhere that you just don't have be under load, for example if you are running to get something to eat you could log offduty with the empty trailer still attached.

    LB
     
  5. Roadmedic

    Roadmedic Road Train Member

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    This is what DOT said to me when I started my authority last year. If I have time later today I will look into the regs.
     
  6. Roadmedic

    Roadmedic Road Train Member

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    Look at the first post by LogsRus. She had asked the question on the use of the bobtail during her recent audit.

    A quick look at the regs finds all reference of driving and logs to a property carrying vehicle. If the bobtail has no trailer on it, it would not be carrying property.

    If an empty trailer is on the truck, the trailer is classified as property. This is because the property is owned by someone.

    When the trailer is loaded, there is no doubt as to its carrying property.

    See section 395
     
  7. L.B.

    L.B. Third Generation Truck Driver

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    OK, good call.

    Here's another question for all:

    If you are an O/O and own your trailer and are empty, can it be logged as offduty since you are not pulling someone elses property?

    LB
     
  8. Roadmedic

    Roadmedic Road Train Member

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    This could also be considered property carrying since the truck is pulling the trailer. However, if you were pulling the trailer to a place to have it worked on or something like that, I would believe that you could get away without logging due to the short miles involved.

    I am not an attorney, so legal advice is worthless.
     
  9. L.B.

    L.B. Third Generation Truck Driver

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    But it was my understanding that if you were responsible for getting the equipment somewhere, i.e. maintenance, then you had to log on duty. If you could log off duty for that I don't see why you couldn't log offduty to run home with an empty trailer after delivering a load close to home.

    Logs!! Help us here!!!

    LB
     
  10. Roadmedic

    Roadmedic Road Train Member

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    You asked as an O/O who owned the trailer. I answered as such since most O/O would probably not log to take the trailer 20 miles into town to have it worked on.

    Actually, the ruling states property carrying, so even in this instance you would need to log.

    One thing to consider, even if the regs allow it or not, the company policy dictates what is needed.

    When I was leased to Landstar, I had to account for every mile put on my truck. My truck was driven by the mechanic when being worked on and I had to show the miles and account for them but could not log them.
     
  11. L.B.

    L.B. Third Generation Truck Driver

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    Question for you since you used to drive for Landstar.

    Did you run flatbed? If so, is it worth it to own your own trailer?

    LB
     
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