Hotshots Requesting Accurate Info From DOT Officers Who May be Here...

DieselBear,

If a Hot Shot driver such as myself doesn't have motel receipts when asked for them, what citation can the driver receive ??? I keep all my fuel receipts and our Way Bills have our trip reports at the bottom of them. I also don't fudge my Logs (well not that bad). If all our documents and Log Book entries add up, what citation can the driver receive for not having hotel receipts if they stayed the night in one or not ??? I haul in Texas about 98% of the time if that makes a difference.

 

Well I don't know where you were when you were asked for them. I ask for the trip pack or whatever receipts the driver has. Some have them, some don't. I look for compliance within the hours of service rules. If I get a 11, 14 or false log, then they are put out of service. I look for a 70 hour compliance as well. If over 70 hrs, then the oos can be longer than 1 day depending on how many hours fall off at midnight. If you are asking me if I have ever placed a hot shot out just for not having motel receipts, the answer is no. I don't know what that inspector had and could not possibly comment on whatever action was done.

 

$.02 from the Scalemaster...

Motel, fuel, turnpike receipts, etc.... If you have em, I will need to see them. If you don't have them, no problem. Just don't let me find them in your truck after you told me you did not have them.

One of the nice things for Hot Shotters about the new HOS rule just published is the change in the definition of "On-duty" time. As of Feb 27, 2012 On-duty time will not include "any time resting in a parked CMV". This is the way I thought it should have been all along. If you are Off-duty, "free to pursue activities of your own choosing", then where you spend your time should be up to you. If you want to lay down across the seats and catch a nap, fine. If you want to strip down and catch some rays on top of the cab, whatever! Sleeper berth not necessary, but you have to take 10 consecutive for it to count.

 

On top of the cab.

 

So you show 10 hours off, where did you sleep if you didn't have a sleeper, do you have girlfriend or relative in every place you stop at?

You could argue all you want, but I think with no documentation it's going to be harder to fight an OOS charge than having it.

(I was going to go to work for one auto transport company, when I asked him about hotels, he said, "Just sleep in the truck, if you get stopped just tell them you stayed at a relatives house." Needless to say, I didn't go to work for him.)

 

I've never been asked for motel/hotel receipts that I can remember. I was asking since we all read about these "stories" about drivers being placed out of service or receiving a citation for not having a motel/hotel receipt.

Thanks for replying and helping squash these rumors and stories.

 

I'm no regulation guru, so I'm honestly asking... Is there a regulation that says I have to sleep during my 10? Why can't I sit at the blackjack table for 10 hours?

Scalemaster said it best an hour ago:

 

They are not rumors or stories.

The locations may not be in the state where he works.

Many times, they have asked in several states as mentioned. This will all be a thing of the past come the end of February.

 

Nothing states "SLEEP", it states "off duty" In my experience a lot of hot shoters would log a sleeper berth when driving a F350 without a sleeper berth as defined in the regulations. Here's the 11 and 14 hour regulation. All the hours of service regs can be found at this link:

http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/rules-regulations/administration/fmcsr/fmcsrguidedetails.aspx?menukey=395

395.3 Maximum driving time for property-carrying vehicles.

Subject to the exceptions and exemptions in §395.1:
(a) No motor carrier shall permit or require any driver used by it to drive a property-carrying commercial motor vehicle, nor shall any such driver drive a property-carrying commercial motor vehicle:
(1) More than 11 cumulative hours following 10 consecutive hours off-duty;
(2) For any period after the end of the 14th hour after coming on duty following 10 consecutive hours off duty, except when a property-carrying driver complies with the provisions of §395.1(o) or §395.1(e)(2).(b) No motor carrier shall permit or require a driver of a property-carrying commercial motor vehicle to drive, nor shall any driver drive a property-carrying commercial motor vehicle, regardless of the number of motor carriers using the driver's services, for any period after—
(1) Having been on duty 60 hours in any period of 7 consecutive days if the employing motor carrier does not operate commercial motor vehicles every day of the week; or
(2) Having been on duty 70 hours in any period of 8 consecutive days if the employing motor carrier operates commercial motor vehicles every day of the week.
(c)(1) Any period of 7 consecutive days may end with the beginning of any off-duty period of 34 or more consecutive hours; or
(2) Any period of 8 consecutive days may end with the beginning of any off-duty period of 34 or more consecutive hours.