Really Bad Experience with CRST

Oh no they are much smarter these days! That bum that comes up to you at the fuel island asking for gas money to get home is actually an undercover DOT cop just waiting to bust you!

 

By DOT law you have to log as on duty sitting and waiting to get loaded or unloaded. But honestly I don't know any one who does. And in my opinion, why should you?! It's not like you are doing anything on the truck, or are planning on going anywhere. You have some free time to do what ever you want. Some inspectors get ####y at time and ask for that, b..ch about it but the chance of getting one of those on your back is close to none.
And police officers will watch you (sometimes) only if you are put out of service and they are making sure that you wouldn't leave.
As far as undercover goes...., only "the little ladies" in some truck stops fall in to that category. I highly doubt that the government will spend money to pay undercover officers to watch for log violations

 

Time "waiting to be loaded or unload" is not necessarily on duty time.

FMCSR 395.2 Definitions

If the driver is puttering around on the internet or yapping with family or whatever, it is not on duty. If the driver is allowed to go to the local choke n puke for a burger, he is clearly not on duty. Even if he carries a pager or the customer will call on the cell phone. (This is mentioned in the DOT guidance in the Big Book, but I just don't feel like typing it all out.)

However! If you want to be completely technical about it, if the driver is at the controls of the vehicle, he is driving. Period. If a driver is anywhere in or on a CMV except the driver seat or the sleeper berth, he is on duty. Period. Now. Please, will someone tell me who is logging driving time while they are yapping on the CB radio in the truck stop? Who is logging on duty time when they wake up in the middle of the night and want a smoke...and it's -20*F outside, so they choose to sit at the passenger side window in the right side seat...and mess up a 10-hour break with a 10-minute smoke? Or, like me, are just too lazy to put on regular clothes to step outside for a smoke... Who is logging as "on duty" the time they sit in the right side seat taking off their shoes before going to bed? I know what's on the ground at a truck stop. I don't want that in my sleeper. So shoes are removed up front.

There is the letter of the law and the spirit of the law. Most officers are taught the difference in basic Police Academy. The spirit of the law is to maintain safe highways by ensuring drivers get adequate rest. Well, drivers are human beings and mostly adults who don't think they need a police state watching their every move. Luckily, most police officers have a brain and can tell the difference between when one is actually working and when the feet are on the dash, kicking back and having some conversation on the radio. But, if you're paranoid, get sunscreens to put up in the window so you can't be seen inside your truck.

There will be changes to HOS. One of the positive changes is allowing a driver to be off duty in the passenger seat. I hope that one goes through. I've had about enough intrusive guv'mint meddling in my life.

As for the information posted above, do with it whatever you want. I intend to keep on logging the way I do. We can just go to court over it if I ever get a ticket.

 

Trucking school must have improved in the last few years, the OP only has 2 months (his words) and he seems to know it all.

As far as logging fuel stops...I use electronic logs and since Aug 1 (when they were installed) I have not logged longer then 8 min for a fuel stop. I log it as I do it and they match to the minute. So if DOT wants to match my logs to fuel tickets they are more then welcome to have at it.

 

Give him a few more moths, he will sing a different song
Yes, electronic logs are more convenient than the reg. once

 

32 years and it was always a 15 minute log at a dock unless I had to do the finger printing and that even wasn't shown 99% of the time unless it was written on the BOL Driver Unload then I did the CMA! If I pay a lumper it's all off duty, if they, the receiver does the unloading it's still 15 minutes. When was the last time I loaded my own load? I can't remember that far back! If I'm doing produce I'll show more than 15 because I'm standing on a dock with that pulp thermometer and DOT pretty much in CA if he's in a bad mood du8e to the moron before me giving him a bad time can take it out on me! Meat loads? Who stands on a dock for 3 days?

A PTI is still 15 minutes as they do not have a 20 minute line and I'll be darned if I'll show 30 for less than 7.5 minutes over the 15! Until they make logs that break it down to the minute then I'd just make it a 15. The DOT knows this. Yes it will take you a while to get it down to a science when doing a PTI but just like paper work, fueling and other jobs you do when you get to the "do it the same way every time" you get to where you do not miss anything or screw up! Everything from launching the shuttle NASCAR pit stops to fueling the truck if you do it the same way every time you will get it right every time!

As Injun put it how hard can it be? I mean really?

Pull into the island, pull out your fuel card and points card jump down reach in and pop the side box latch grab gloves and window cleaner, swipe and push buttons (unless the key pad or swipe thing is screwed then yes time will mess up!) and while the thing is figuring out if it likes you put on gloves, put nozzle is in the tank turn it on flip the hood latch off as I walk by squirt windshield with my homemade bug melter/window/oil cleaner then the flip next hood latch open the hood from the side (easier than pulling and dropping the family jewels from the front!) squirt the other side of the windshield and then pull the nozzle and stick it in and start it then grab the squeegee and wet the windows down and scrub them and then do the engine check.

Why you ask do I do the window first and not the engine oil? Because the oil is still flowing back to the pan and will look low if you reach right in and pull the stick! Let the engine drain and let the antifreeze cool down just a bit for proper levels. Adding oil to a full engine can blow seals! Expensive repair for being in a hurry!

That done I do my walk around and by the time I get to the passenger tank it should be done and do the top off hang the nozzle and replace the cap walk around and drop the hood and go back and do the latch ( UNLESS your truck has the passenger side stick then close it as you go back around the front and catch the latch after your walk around) Catch the drivers side and then finiosh the top off put your window cleaner and gloves in the side box close it and then pull forward!

One thing to remember. When you hang up the master pump the time stamp is set! This is the time that your company and DOT will use to match to your log book. This is where I always tried to have the thing shut off as close to or before that 15 minute line (15,30, 45, 00) I know most companies and even a few DOT w3ill allow you maybe 30 minutes or whatever. If you get a dead set by the book DOT then if it's not within a 15 minute frame you're but can be grass!

Simple and do it the same way every time! You will miss nothing and you will get that "on duty not driving" line at 15 minutes unless Murphy sticks his ugly face into the rhythm!

Any repairs you found needing to be fixed you can do after you pull off the fuel island and go park. Don't fix it on the island if they are busy as you'll be blocking the guy behind you having to log the same as you! Be considerate of the other guys even if some of them are complete morons!

I'll let you in to how my "paper work is done in a short form"

When I pull onto the fuel island OR the line to get to the island I write on my pad stuck to the windshield my information. miledge and town then when I hang up the nozzle I look at the time on my watch or cell and climb back into the truck and write that time down on that pad. an then pull forward and walk in get the receipt (if you still do this ) and then when I get bak in the cab NEVER put that paper anywhere BUT in either the trip pack envelope or your notebook after writing the information on your trip sheet IF you have to do that chore and then draw your lines and go do what you want to do!

Remember if any piece of paper is worth money or proof of your existence on this planet do NOT just throw it some place where Murphy can do his tricks with it! Put it in it's place! If you didn'tt try to hit on the fuel island girl or buy the store out or go sit on the throne and clean your belly button, when you get back to the truck and you write or fill out any information you should on the trip sheet and the guy behind you can not be ready to pull up unless he just needed to run in and go PP! Then he can wait the same amount of time that a fueling customer would on another!

That 15 minutes on the fuel island is about all I've ever logged and unless there was a really long back up you aren't getting hurt that badly.

The same with a pre trip! Once you get the walk up to the truck and look under the front for puddles of liquids it will be the exact same trip around the unit! Do it the same way every time and learn it it will take you 20 minutes! remember that 5 minutes over 15 is NOT 30 minutes on the log! I promised one day I would draw a PTI Guide and I have started. I wish someone at Alliance Tractor Trailer Driving Academy, if they still have that guide they had back in the 90's when I instructed there would post it or send me a copy and I'll blow it up but that was the best guide I've ever seen!

Mine not so!
I'll get it done soon!

 

It took me a while thnking about this timeline to understand what happened. I'm reading that you didn't return to the road this entire time? You were off the road from Sep 7th through Nov 3rd? There was no way you could have taken a few days off (Sep 7th through 10th to be with your family member and see your doctor) then go back out for a couple of weeks, return home to see your family member and do your sleep study, (Sep 26th or so to maybe Sep 30th) get your results (or lack of) and reset another appointment for Oct 19th, go home once again (Oct. 17th or so until Oct 21st) to be with your family member and repeat the sleep study and then return to your job while awaiting the second set of results?

No wonder they thought you quit. There was nothing preventing you from going out between these appointments. You voluntarily took nearly two months off, yet expect CRST to pay for your medical insurance and unemployment benefits....um...if I were you, I'd be pounding the pavement looking for another job ASAP.

No idea what makes you think you have a case.




My condolences on the loss of your aunt.

 

texting while driving cmv in Texas = $2,500.00
#of DOT in U.S. waiting to pounce upon U = 0, especially since most are likely siting at home collecting Pogy

 

Browning Ferris Industries, last I checked or ever saw those letters, their listed on the stock market.

 

Cooking while driving, I probably woulda threw his #### griddle out the #### window, if he didn't stop when I ask him to. Texting and driving is bad, if you felt uncomfortable, speak up. If no results, same as griddle incident. I thought all of CRST was e-logs. So how can you log any differently than how long it takes for fuel stops?

As far as the reason they let you go, it's debatable. As Injun said, why could you not go back to work while waiting? If they said not to, then you had a case. But if you called your F/M and told him that, then he should have informed you to come back. Not his responsibility to, but that would have been the right thing to do.

Good luck.