FIRE THOSE "FATIGUED" DRIVERS, or maybe.......

I left them because of their ways. Only there 3 months.

They even called and beeped on the quallcomm at night to remind you while you were sleeping that the load had to be delivered and the appointment time.

Stopped to take a shower one day and the phone rang. They wanted to know why the truck was not moving.

 

The last company I ran for (Schugel) almost always had the apt times set up to consider the rules, and the dm's kinda knew how each driver ran and would set times to them. I never had any problems getting sleep while otr. I usually tried to plan my trips so I could get to the stop I wanted to at a decent time. Say if I knew I had to be at a truck stop in chicago for example I would try and be there by early afternoon to get parking. If I was planning on stopping in the middle of no where I could run later. There were times where the stop was full in the middle of nowhere and I was out of hours, but thats where you get creative with the comic book. I would usually just write my mileage where my hours ran up and note where I was, then write whatever hours I ran past on the next days log. Lots of ways to work that book, thats why its pretty hard to run 100% legal, I would say though 80% of the time I did run legal and never had problems getting rest or finding a place to stop. Once you're out there you find out where and when you can find parking and where and when you dont even try to park.

 

Not legally, because you were on duty if you run it 100% by the book. Sure you can make it look legal and nobody would probably ever know any different but if your being technically 100% legal then no.

 

Personally in that situation and I was there 10 hours, and slept and felt comfortable running the rest of that 150 or whatever it is, I would log a 10 hr break then run it. Now technically no ya probably shouldn't log it like that but im thinking about 50% of the drivers out there would do it so they could make it to the next stop and get it done.

 

gotcha thanks for the feed back.

American Trucker

 

While I agree with your response, that is exactly how and why these unscrupulous shippers /receivers, and trucking companies continue to maintain there profit and stay in business! As long as some schmuck truck driver takes ALL THE RESPONSIBILITY AND LIABILITY and breaks the rules, they don't care about what happens to you!!!
Also, that s the major problem with EOBRs, they only keep a record of what the TRUCK IS DOING, doesnt keep track of what the DRIVER IS REALLY DOING! Sure the truck may have not moved in 10-12 hours, but does that GUARANTEE that the driver is well rested and safe to start driving again??? Not necessarily!

 

Here is how I get around this mess.

If I am sitting at a shipper and they tell me I need to monitor a CB channel for the door and I know it's going to take a long time I simply tell them I do not have a CB and if they give me any crap I tell them it's my truck, And my choice if I want to place a CB in there. Here is my cell number call me with the door. Then I hit the bunk and sleep. After I get a door maybe 4 hours I back up to the door and Back to sleep I go. If they are a big shipper/receiver they will want you out of the door bad enough and come running out and knock on your door with the shipping papers all signed.

If I am still tired I don't call empty into my dispatcher until I do a complete 10hr reset. I don't care If the appointment is 4AM and my truck was in the lot until it's 2PM. I simply turn my phone off, And sleep after I pull out of the dock. Yeah, They try there little fussing about appointment times and such but the fact is I was at the shipper at my appointment time waiting/sleeping and done a 10hr reset. Then I also say, You dispatch the load's I drive the truck and manage my hours, If you have a pickup for me at 12PM and don't tell me beforehand it's not my fault. Also, If You want to be legal you can refuse the pickup. They try pulling this "Are you telling me your refusing to pickup a load?" I simply say; "No DOT hours of service is telling me, And I am telling you I can not pick up the load."

Now, If you're running paper less logs it's makes it easy. I run paper logs, But I make sure they know who is in control and I make the decisions behind the wheel. Make sure they get into the habit of "Asking" not "Telling" you what your going to do.

As for getting sleep there are days I get enough and some I get less. But the bottom line is no dispatcher, 11/14 hr, Or cop is going to tell me when I am tired, And when I am not. There are times when I drive 7-8 Hours and just before I hit Chicago,IL and realize it's almost 4PM on Friday. Every driver knows whats that's like. So, What do I do I pull over and sleep to 1AM or so and drive threw the city to my delivery. Do I cheat my logs? Yes, No doubt about it. But I will be ###### if I ruin my career because of some stupid person who works behind a desk all day and has a idea on how truck driver should manage there time.

Just make your you stay in control of yourself, Don't let them control you or you're license.

- Gambino