Stretching the truth on Line 1: Finessing or falsifying?

No more "heroics" for me, those days are long over.

 

Cheers! to your post, my brothertrucker!

 

Down until June 13, 2010.

 

That letter in front of your Swift log book gives you the keys to the comic book kingdom. You don't have to worry about fudging in that situation. If you are not behind the trailer and you have no obligation to do anything other than bump the dock and wait on them to do all the "work", it's line 1 or 2 depending on where you wait. Simple.


Usually (not always) a live load/unload situation takes you about 15 minutes to check in and get a dock number and bump the dock (well it might take you 30 lol). If it takes longer, log what it takes. If it takes you 45 minutes to drop n hook, then log 45 minutes line 4.

You should always log a minimum of 30 minutes for drop n hooks. If you don't, the bears are gonna wanna know why. Sure you can drop n hook another trailer and roll out in 15, but I can bet you didn't do much of an inspection. Not to mention, you have to do your qualcomm updates and draw lines. The bears know this.

Always match up your fuel stops exactly and it usually only takes 15 to do so. Just make sure you're on line 4 when you hang that nozzle up.

 

The rulebook is vague and leaves grey areas. Especially since all this line 2 crap was come up with before sleepers were big enough to sit up in..

Why can't you look it up yourself? Go to www.fmcsa.dot.gov and they have a nice search for it...

Actually, I've NEVER logged more than 15 minutes to load/unload for ANY reason except for...doing it myself! Including drop and hooks. When I ran paper logs, I had multiple level 3 inspections and the bears **NEVER** questioned me. I even clearly flagged them as "Drop/Hook". No questions, ever. Also, I point out that it takes me about 5 minutes to do a full inspection on a sealed trailer. I don't pretrip my tractor every time i hook a trailer, come on! Tires, brakes, frame rails, walls, corners, lights..5 minutes at the most. I have an air release on my fifth wheel which speeds things up, and i can hook/unhook air lines very quickly.

I worked for one company who claimed if i was hauling hazmat I had to log 30 minutes fueling because you can't fuel both sides at the same time. Come *ON*! I'll agree it usually takes atleast 15 minutes to fuel, but the actual fueling part of it....most pumps operate around 60 gallons per minute. The actual pumping of fuel takes 5 minutes if i do one side at a time. I log it the same way to fuel in canada too, because they have a federal regulation that you can't fuel both sides at the same time ever ever ever and the truckstops enforce it...

By the way, there is some leniency on fuel stop times. I mean, i've never fudged it intentionally, but like...what if you stop, get fuel, go inside and eat for 30 minutes, come back outside and then log it.....do you log that you fueld and ate or that you ate and fueled? Does it matter? Not really for 15 to 30 minutes, lol.

 

Lol no you don't. I'm not getting dragged in to this cat fight.
I already know the rules. I know how to bend the rules. Lucky for me i don't have to anymore.
I would recommend however, if you have questions about the rules, don't ask a truck drivers forum!!!
Which is why i asked for someone To do a cut and paste from athe FMSCA website. Since i am accessing this website from a cellphone, i am not able to do it myself.
Did i make myself more clear this time???