Cheating on logs

my logging has less to do with obeying DOT. it's all about what dinomite said in his post: The accident that may happen where someone gets killed, and I'm not at fault -- Or -- i wasn't at fault until the prosecutor or opposing attorney goes thru my days prior to that with a fine tooth comb.

People like to brag about getting one over on the DOT ociffer. That's easy. When you get one over on the well-educated guy who stands to earn 5, 6, or 7+ figures for finding something wrong with your logs after an accident, then you've accomplished something.

Being new, there's a lot to learn and the majority is CYA. Do I bend rules? Probably. I just know that if something does happen, the most they will likely find will be in the gray areas and not blatant falsification. It will also be something that, even tho im on paper, I could have done on elogs.

So, by one of your responses in this thread, I know you don't like the "when someone dies" answer. But IF someone dies, you'll probably be going to jail. I'm definitely not a goody two shoe person, and i'll be the last person to throw stones at people who run illegal. But I've put a lot of thought into repercussions of illegal logs, and it just comes down to .. Is it worth the few extra bucks?

 

Sorry but i think they will find something wrong no matter what --if you read a lot of threads you realize no one can agree on what some of the rules mean let alone the interpretation of some of them.
Oh yeh not to mention what they will find wrong with the truck --which in turn is your fault for not seeing it ---"Hanged"

 

I will agree a Good driver don't need to cheat.
But even Good drivers do stretch the truth from time to time.
And Great drivers don't hide from it and log as they do it I for one will never get stuck in Penn when I did the responsible thing and slept for 3 hrs when I was tiered but it meant I got to the shipper 30 min past my 14 I won't hide and its marked noted and DOT seen it and was very happy I was honest and safe. now don't get me wrong there are those that will be picky but most are more unhappy when they find out you lied.


as to his reasons I can see them I mean come on what other profession does it tell when you work how you work when your tired and not?
How often do you get 30 min or less from your end point and have to stop and take a 30 min break? Twice to me just last week you think that gives me the REST i need? or would getting there shutting down and taking my ten (45 min earlier 30min break 15 getting parked and get started again).

I for one am a 5 to 6 hour sleeper I can't sleep past that so do the 11-14 hours exhausted so sleep up in six sit for 4 tired from boredom then got to drive yeah thats safe!
OH yeah and lets not forget new 34 hr restart Now I have to wait till 5am Mon morning and oops 2 problems one either direction I go I am in rush hour traffic st 7 am and 2 between 5 and 7 no matter if I have been up 1 hr or 15 I have a hard time keeping my eyes opened its just the way I have always been.

Lets try to do something to help change these rules and regulations (not Laws by the way) and cheating them is not it.

 

It IS unnecessary to log on duty while being loaded or unloaded. DOT clarified that rule a few months ago. You only need to log when you are actually on duty. I log when I arrive at the shipper/receiver and check in, when I'm opening doors and backing into the dock, when I'm getting out of a dock and closing and locking the doors, etc. However, when I'm in my tractor while being loaded or unloaded I'm Off Duty. That's how the new clarification works. During live loads or unloads my total On Duty time should be no more than about 30 minutes, but split up over however long the total process takes. Therefore the only impact a long live load/unload takes is on your 14, not on your 11 or 70.

 

Other then that be prepared to spend time with bubba.

I would prefer you leave me out of this.

 

[QUOTE="Hang - Man";3697665]Sorry but i think they will find something wrong no matter what --if you read a lot of threads you realize no one can agree on what some of the rules mean let alone the interpretation of some of them.
Oh yeh not to mention what they will find wrong with the truck --which in turn is your fault for not seeing it ---"Hanged"[/QUOTE]

I agree 100%. That's why I said the most they will find will be in grey areas. What they won't find is blatant violations, like driving 5 hours over limit. I'm at least going to make them do SOMETHING to earn their money Like, convince a jury that I shouldn't have been logged in sleeper after the unloader told me to crash out if I want.

 

Swift put out a video clarifying the rule for On Duty time during loads and unloads. Might want to ask your company again to revisit that rule. If indeed you are officially required by your company to log On Duty time then that is an incorrect interpretation on their part. Have them do more research on it.

 

I think this forum needs a step by step instruction's on how to (they may be posted somewhere already) fill out electronic logs to maximize a drivers money making time -gray areas and all.
I see to many threads where everyone rambles on about how they do legal logs --yet next post they wonder why they cant make any money.
I know you just have to stretch the truth on the electronic logs --all the hints tips what ever they may be.