Leafless Logs

"inkless" I like that, although they can't get you for cheating, just not up to date, still makes for a bad day

 

It's true! I'm the worst at doing a log book. I keep track of my hours & everything in my head. And for some reason I just can't seem to supply ink to paper.... Although I'm working on it & getting better.

Just a couple months ago I got nabbed for a blank log book...

They had an overweight truck stopped on the scale. I was the next truck due on the scale. Mr. DOT officer walked out to me & said... "He's gonna be sitting there for awhile, so your free to go around him & move on down the highway. But since I'm here, let me see your log book!"

I replied.... "Why do you want to see it? There isn't anything written on it!"

So off behind the scale I go for a level 2 inspection!

I didn't get a ticket. Why? I don't know. I'm guessing because I have a great attitude. I told the officer everything I did that day & the times I did it. He did the math & said "That times out correctly & puts you right here at my scale." Hands me log back and says "Can you draw that out for me?"

 

I just pull the staples out

 

I do the same thing and DOT has NEVER given me a problem. Only difference is I'll take my 8 days out because I have 4 months worth of logs in one binder.

 

I just take the staples out of a log book and put the pages in a plastic clipboard. I have been inspected more than once in my 11 years of driving. Only one DOT inspector said anything. He just said that most inspectors look a little closer at drivers that run loose leafs.

I was inspected in South Dakota at the port of entry just a few days ago. The inspector looked at my log and the past 8 days. He had a couple of questions but gave me a clean inspection because my logs and the truck and trailer was all legal. He had no clue where I had been or what I had been doing. I'm not paranoid thinking someone was sitting beside me watching my every move. I knew I was legal and you can't ticket someone for doing their job and being legal.

What I don't understand is what do you do when you make a mistake and the log is still in the book? Also I will redo my daily log if I sit for more than 1 hour or if I drop under 63 mph average on my miles logged.

I show 30 minutes for loading and unloading and 15 mins for pre trips, post trips and fueling. This is what the DOT says is legal and what I was taught in truck driving school as well. I also show 63 mph for all miles ran. In 11 years of driving I've only gotten one bad inspection. It was because I accidentally logged 9 hrs in the sleeper instead of 10hrs. It was a simple mistake of not counting the hours correctly. This was back during the old log book rule days. I was shut down for 10 hrs just for a 1 hr mistake. (Greeneville, TN scale)

Running loose or whole log books are both legal. They sell loose leaf logs at the truckstops even. I don't buy them because they are too expensive. As long as you make your log legal there's nothing the DOT can do. Legal is legal. I know some rookie drivers will even log sitting in traffic. This is senseless. I've also heard rookies "try to teach" me that the DOT will fine you for logging 63 mph average. I've never been fined and I've had my logs checked more than 30 times probably. No DOT inspector have EVER said anything about the way I log because it's legal.

Aren't you guys running out of hours logging all that sitting time? Do you think you have to be exact with your Qualcomm? I ask because I don't have those worries. I'm an O/O and I will get out of the business before someone puts a Qualcomm or black box in my truck. The DOT sets the rules and I log it to where I'm showing myself legal. How is that cheating??????

 

Loose leaf all the way... way more profeesional looking 'if' you make a mistake....

 

It was fun before loose leaf logbooks came along, Trying to make things look good.
As soon as they started selling loose leaf That is how I logged. I have had less hits with with loose leaf. But then again when we had the old style the inspectors were more willing to let cut off pages go. because they made mistakes also.

 

I run loosleaf now...The guy I'm leased to just switched over to them a couple of months ago.
I like them!
I've always torn the pages out when I make a sloppy entry or don't get a line straight and I have never been questioned about the missing pages but it's nice with looseleaf because now I can keep'em neat and not have two books for one month.