Paperless logs

(I've read a lot of this thread but not all ... so if this is answered here, sorry)

With paperless logs, if you're off duty basically and have to move your truck 20 feet, does it show up as fifteen minutes driving, or not at all, or 1 minute, or what? I'm used to everything happening in 15-minute increments.

I hear lots of drivers saying they don't mind paperless logs but knowing as little as I know, it seems to me that it would really suck ... having a computer keep track of things THAT accurately and be so fussy!

My main concern would be parking on the east coast. I can't even count how many times I was "SURE" I'd have a place to park early (like 5-6pm) but ended up not being able to find a place. (Usually that "large" truckstop I was counting on to have a couple spaces still at 6pm would be filled, then of course by the time I'd get to the next nearest one it would be 7pm, and that one was filled then too. I've been told if I have an appointment at 4 or 5 just make sure I had enough hours to drive all night ... but that means I'll be on night shift and won't be able to get the next 4 loads they try to give me because they're all at 11am. UGGH) I'm rambling, whatever

 

Our e-logs need to move one mile continuously before they automatically switch you to driving. The count single minutes instead of rounding to the nearest 15. Doesn't matter where you are in the country the rule says 11 hours of driving not 11 then time needed to find a parking spot. You gotta plan ahead or else risk a healthy fine if caught. Imagine being over and getting someone hurt...it just isn't worth taking the chance.

 

This is good news, thanks

Yeah I know, I know, I know, but come on, it isn't as easy as you make it sound! Things happen you can't predict, things take more time than you thought they would, etc. I remember a couple times being out east in the afternoon (not even at night yet) where I allowed myself 3 hours to look for a place to park but each truckstop I got to had just filled up when I got there. So I'm supposed to always allow 5 hours to find a place to park when I'm out there? Okay, I'll just drive 6 hours a day! Talk about a waste of time on those days when it takes only an hour ... and you never know which days are which until the day is over.

Thanks for the info : )

 

My first suggestion would be not to work for an outfit with paperless logs. Filling out logbooks has never been a chore in the first place. The one reason for them is to be better controlled, funny how this business is changing.

 

With Werner you can drive 5 miles or so before it will pick up and auto put you on line 3.

The main thing about electronic logs is that they make you plan out your entire day. If you know your going to have to stop around 6pm-3am you need to have multiple places lined up to stop. Say a TA at exit 50 a rest area at exit 45 a flying J at exit 30 etc. Try to plan it so you pull into the 1st place when you have 45 mins or so of driving time left so if it is full you have time to go to other places.

 

Who's controlling you or trying to control you driver? The company? The Feds? How are they trying to control you? By making you follow the law? Instead of me not working for an outfit with E-logs maybe you should consider working somewhere that you can make good money WITHOUT having to break any laws...I know, it's a crazy concept. If you are cheating in order to make money then congratulations... you have won the race to the bottom.

Funny how some people are so afraid of change.

 

Yep, its the government, communism at its finest!! Mark my words, government is going to move in and control the trucking industry like they did GM. I believe its just another step towards government dependency. And their gonna do it through these big co's. I read today that in 2010 app.175000 drivers will be dismissed from their jobs do to DAC. O/O makes up most of the industry, and this is why Big co's are pushing all this "Run legal" bullcrap. Safety has nothing to do with it! And they know that someone tryin to make a living with a truck CANNOT follow every letter of the law! But thats what LAWS are for, right? To control... I mean THINK ABOUT IT! Someone TELLING you how long you can work! Its plain as the nose on your face.

 

Companies want you to run legal because if you get into an accident and kill someone when you are over hours the company could be sued for millions. It is just not worth it to run illegal. Even if you are sitting at a stop light and a drunk driver rear ends you. Guess who is responsible if the truck driver is out of hours.

 

Your exactly right, another fine example of these "laws". Who are they protecting? Not that poor trucker, working those extra hours tryin to get by!! NOOOO, We're more concerned with that drunk that dont have enouph sence, or consideration not to drink and drive! Has anyone else read, or heard about the dac going full swing in 2010? Ive been looking for it on here, but havent found it yet. Sounds pretty serious to me. If you look at how we are being scored, (and by what standards we are being scored) it would scare alot of drivers! They say in 2010, company's will have to dismiss 175000 drivers because their ins. providers will not cover them. Yes, this definatly includes O/O. Does anybody have more info on this? Where can I find out more?

 

There is a racoon behind a bush that has all the answers you seek. Strap on your helmet and go get'em little buddy.