Changing again, the rules change but we're not told til after.

You would really have to look at the FMCSA website and search within their guidance related to that specific regulation.

Even then the interpretation is up to the individual officer performing the inspection.

 

That's true, but if ticketed the burden of proof is on the officer to prove in court. He/she would have to find somewhere in the code where it says you can't pull an empty trailer not under dispatch on PC. The definition of laden is "heavily loaded or weighed down".

 

That's my point. Because there is no clear cut defined rule, issuing tickets pretty much assures that officer is going to court and they know it. Because it's not defined, there's no way for the officer to satisfy the burden of proof,therefore the judge would have no choice but to dismiss the citation.

 

Does your 14 hour clock keep counting down after you switch to line 5.....?

 

Yes per SNI policy

 

Not at my company.

 

...isn't it suppose to? If you work 5 hours and log off sleeper it still count down. Should be the same with line 5 since it'd still off duty. Nothing can "pause" your 14 unless u do a 8 hour sleeper.

I line 5 and it will tick down if I had hours. If I run out, doesn't matter I'm on line 5. Also if I wake up and line 5, my clock doesn't start till I go on duty