Log Book updating question.

You can buy the book at any truck stop. You should have received a copy from your employer as well.

 

my runs are usually only 6 hours but i know i get told job well done when cle elum scale looks at my log book for checking everything and showing it on my log half way thru my trip... plus i don't want to be the guy who dumps his load going thru the pass and shutting down I90 i kinda think they would make an example out of me if that happend

i would also like to get a hard copy of the rules but as soon as i read them they would go and change something i mess it all up...

 

Last change of duty status. That's the letter of the law.
Now for the spirit of the law: Probably a good idea to at least flag a stop once in a while. I wouldn't go for more than 4 hours without something updated. You have to check the tie downs on a flatbed load within the first 150 miles I think. You have to check tires on a Hazmat load every so often, maybe someone out there can refresh my memory on that.

 

The book used to say every 2 hours or 100 miles for the Haz Mat tire check...

After 9/11 they changed to every time you stop to eliminate the potential for a terrorist to follow a HM shipment [placards do give it away] knowing he has to stop sometime during the next 100 miles...

 

The pre-trip is to be done right before you start driving of the day (not drive 1 hr to your fuel stop & then do it) (not pre-trip then eat breakfast) right before you get behind the wheel.
The post-trip is to be done at the completion of each days work, you cant do it one hr before the end of your driving time just because you stopped and fueled.
There isn't any requirements for in between.. If you are on a haz-mat load they do not want you stopping just to do an inspection every 2-3 hrs, they actually don't want you stopping, you only inspect your equipment if you ARE stopping, that's only on a haz-mat load though. There is no regulation stating you must inspect your truck when you stop, again unless you are on a haz-mat load.
I do say it's always best to inspect things every time prior to driving the truck and noting it in the remark section.

The original question starting this post is " Is there a certain amount of time I have to update my log book & how long can my last entry be before getting in trouble? In a nut shell..

Your log sheets must be current to the LAST duty status change, plain and simple. Current means drawing the line up/down to the next duty status you are entering and enter the city/state.
I can't get the FMCSA website to work with the regulations section right now to quote what they state you can get by with without being placed out of service but I will try very hard to post exactly what the regs states about not being current and how long, however the regulation is clear
your log must be current to the last duty status change: Example: I go from sleeper to off duty, the duty status change (city/state) must be noted in the remark section, example#2: I go from driving to on-duty, the city/state must be noted and the line drawn on the grid as well in both scenerios.

Have a great & safe week

 

they changed this after 911 happened, see my last post.

Have a great week

 

I have not been doing that. If I am on a 10 hour break, my post trip reflects City/State. Sleeper for x amount of hours then go into truckstop for 15 minutes bathroom then back to sleeper do I really have to do City/State again? It's only obvious I am in the same City/State as there is no activity on the Driving line.

 

You only have to be up to date to "Last change of duty status" and you do not have to log anything less than 10minutes