Veteran Truckers, Heres some questions from a Newbie about HOS

OP follow this advice right here. It's all about following the guidelines. My company requires us to show 7 min pre trip and 15 min post trip. That's what we show, what we actually do is a different story. Making money out here is all about running with balance and time management. If you learn all the rules and how to utilize your time properly, as well as have a willingness to run at any point around the clock, making money will be a piece of cake.

 

Except that doesn't say one can't be in the sleeper while someone else is unloading the truck. It only applies if the driver is unloading or assisting in unloading.

Heck, even number 4 of the same definition you failed to completely quote agrees that if one is in a sleeper berth one does not have to log on-duty.

(4) All time in or on a commercial motor vehicle, other than:
(ii) Time spent resting in a sleeper berth; or

And just so you can see the full definition of On-Duty.
On-Duty means all time from the time a driver begins to work or is required to be in readiness to work until the time the driver is relieved from work and all responsibility for performing work. On-duty time shall include:
(1) All time at a plant, terminal, facility, or other property of a motor carrier or shipper, or on any public property, waiting to be dispatched, unless the driver has been relieved from duty by the motor carrier;
(2) All time inspecting, servicing, or conditioning any commercial motor vehicle at any time;
(3) All driving time as defined in the term driving time;
(4) All time in or on a commercial motor vehicle, other than:
(i) Time spent resting in or on a parked vehicle, except as otherwise provided in § 397.5 of this subchapter;
(ii) Time spent resting in a sleeper berth; or
(iii) Up to 3 hours riding in the passenger seat of a property-carrying vehicle moving on the highway immediately before or after a period of at least 7 consecutive hours in the sleeper berth;
(5) All time loading or unloading a commercial motor vehicle, supervising, or assisting in the loading or unloading, attending a commercial motor vehicle being loaded or unloaded, remaining in readiness to operate the commercial motor vehicle, or in giving or receiving receipts for shipments loaded or unloaded;
(6) All time repairing, obtaining assistance, or remaining in attendance upon a disabled commercial motor vehicle;
(7) All time spent providing a breath sample or urine specimen, including travel time to and from the collection site, to comply with the random, reasonable suspicion, post-crash, or follow-up testing required by part 382 of this subchapter when directed by a motor carrier;
(8) Performing any other work in the capacity, employ, or service of, a motor carrier; and
(9) Performing any compensated work for a person who is not a motor carrier.

 

Excuse me, but there is nothing in the reg you quoted that would prevent you from being in the sleeper unless:
1) you are actually loading or unloading yourself (which of course you wouldnt be doing if you are in the sleeper)
2) Actively assisting loading or unloading (which of course you wouldnt be doing if you are in the sleeper)
3) Attending a vehicle (meaning supervising) loading or unloading (which of course you wouldnt be doing if you are in the sleeper)
4) Remaining in readiness to operate the CMV (meaning sitting in the driver seat) (which of course you wouldnt be doing if you are in the sleeper)
or 5) signing the bills (which of course you wouldnt be doing if you are in the sleeper)

 

And another winner! If they want the truck moved they’re going to expect you to do it, correct? You are in readiness to move the vehicle at their direction. Therefore regardless of where you are, you are on duty. The reg says “ remaining in readiness to operate the commercial motor vehicle”. YOU added the INTERPRETATION “(meaning sitting in the driver seat) (which of course you wouldnt be doing if you are in the sleeper)”. Therefore your view is exactly that. A view. And you prove my point nicely, continue to argue to give away your time.

 

What is this “giving away your time”?

 

You also interpret the rules under point 3. If you are in the truck at the dock and you are done they will tell you to move. If a fire breaks out and they need you to move you will move. You have no idea how long you will be there loading or unloading. You are on the truck and attending it regardless of your interpretation and are expected to operate that vehicle when told to. Guys just love to try to interpret a straightforward reg to their perceived benefit. It’s one of the reasons this industry is in the state it’s in

 

In this instance it’s guys trying to maximize their clock by using the sleeper berth provision to mask multiple uncompensated hours backed into a dock or under a load rack or something. Rather than just getting fairly compensated for ALL your time they will mask things to maximize that clock.

 

If you are going to log sleeper time, the MINIMUM that you can log for any real effect is 2 hours. So therefore if you are going to be there, UNMOVING for a MINIMUM of 2 hours, then sleeper is not only allowed, it SHOULD BE expected. Now guess what? YOU dont understand the concept, but trust me, as a 39 year vetern driver that has NEVER had a log violation, YOU are incorrect...

So ding ding ding yourself.

And if you think the D.O.T. is going to give you a ticket because you got out of the bunk to move your truck in a fire....


Well, that kind of says everything we need to know about YOU, doesnt it? Because God knows a fire cant happen in a truckstop while you are in the bunk either can it? Or how about a meteor? Im sure a meteor could fall on you too! Or Godzilla!! What if Godzilla comes through the truckstop while YOU are in the bunk? Wow, the possibilities are endless...

I guess its better in YOUR world to just stay home. In YOUR world. In the REAL world we do things...

 

You are not in readiness if they tell you they don’t need you for two hours. Anyways I log off duty and say they had a break room, every time. Totally legal. Gotta bend the rules to your favor.

 

Ignore him, hes a troll...