More on Swift E-Logs

Let me get this straight, they ran out of elogs to install. If I don't have mine installed by the deadline, (no fault of mine) I may be charged for install.

This is pure unadulterated post processed sustenance of an udderly challenged, testicularly intact bovine of the masculine persuasion!

 

Yes, you have to be vigilant in that. I got a phone call one day, log problems. I would change my status, and forgot to hit approve. Got hit for showing fueling, and the log showed not doing this. Got also hit for a few other small things.

 

If you don't have it done by a well established predetermined deadline, how is it not your fault?

And, by the way, the word is 'utterly'.
Udderly implies an udder.

An udder is an organ formed of the mammary glands of female quadruped mammals, especially ruminants such as cattle, goats, sheep and deer. The udder is a single mass hanging beneath the animal, consisting of pairs of mammary glands.



Please try to be more precise in your usage of words.

 

Well, if I go down to the terminal that are installing them and they don't have them and I am sent away, then, voila, Feb 1 gets here then they magically have some available but I have to pay for them is what I'm getting at.

A masculine bovine is utterly udderly challenged lol

 

Udders ... mmmmm.

 

Yup, he is at that.

My point was that if you put off the inevitable for too long...
because many are trying to wait until the very last minute to switch over.

 

They'll tell you "eventually" you won't have to do the Mac 10 any more. But who knows when that will be? For now - - - if you don't do the Mac 10 the E-Logs won't care, but when you are ready to be dispatched on your Mac 9-accepted preplan you'll be told the "Auto Dispatch failed because driver failed to report hours"! You will have to do your Mac 10 before you'll get a dispatch on your preplan. Perhaps you could ask your DM to execute the dispatch, but don't waste your time with "after-hours" folks 'cause they're usually just sitting there filling a chair and (perhaps) answering the phone.

As for the never-ending game of "Beat the Clock" always make sure you give yourself anywhere from 1 to 3 hours to find safe haven. Otherwise prepare yourself to call the police to get authority to move that truck. I was told by my Safety Manager to call the police regardless of who or how large and important the customer was that delayed you. I once sat at a dock being unloaded for 4 1/2 hours and was two hours over my 14-hour clock by the time they finally released the dock hook. I should have called the police, but relied on what the night dispatch told me instead. BIG MISTAKE! You'll be told you can use the "16-Hour Exception" to find safe haven, but don't believe it. That's for "unforeseen and unavoidable delays" (check it out in your FMCSR). The E-logs will tag you with a violation that your Safety Manager will refuse to remove. They'll just leave it sitting there waiting to bite you when you are most vulnerable.

Your ONLY defense is a good offense! Make sure you allow plenty of time to find safe haven before that electronic clock nails you. "Plenty of time" will vary depending upon your situation: time of day - day of the week - proximity to a large metropolitan area - popularity of the road (some are more heavily traveled than others). If you're beginning to see the interstate rest areas overflowing be warned you probably won't find any parking in the truck stops either. Plan ahead! Because the QC E-logs are merciless and so will be your Safety Manager.

 

Big Mike

E-logs do have a lot going for them, but keep some important facts in mind when you make the switch:

1. You were accustomed to reporting in 15 minute time periods on paper. E-logs track your actions down to the minute. So they will never agree and the longer you go between 34-hr resets the greater the discrepencies will be.

2. There is no 'creative writing' wiggle room with e-logs. Well ... maybe a little but you'll have to learn that on your own.

3. Double-check and triple-check before accepting your e-logs. You can edit everything except line 3 driving time. But don't get carried away, every edit is tracked by the system. Try to do it right the first time.

4. QC e-logs are unforgiving and so is your safety manager. Don't expect any sympathy for busting your 11 or 14 hour clock. There are ways to regain some lost hours on the 70-hr clock but, again, you'll have to learn those on your own.

 

Inkeper

"They" claim the Santa Claus can visit every little boy and girls in the world in one night too! Don't believe it! The two systems can never "be the same" because paper logs track your time in 15-minute increments rounded to the nearest quarter hour while e-logs track your actions down to the minute.

When taking home time always make real sure your QC e-log is set to "Off Duty" and remember to LOG OUT of the system. That's the only way you can be sure of not coming back to a nasty surprise of finding the e-log has considered you "On Duty - Not Driving" for the whole time you were at home; especially if you leave you truck in the shop while you are at home. Believe me ... I've been there, done that, got the T-Shirt and fought the battle.