sleeper berth vs. non sleep: Off-Duty in a Daycab?

I wasn't "interpreting" anything, just posting the plain-English regulations.

It must be a shame to run around so scared and uncertain all the time, worrying how an enforcement officer might "interpret" the regulations. I feel sorry for you.





P.S. Be sure to point out anywhere I suggested that SLEEPER-BERTH applies to a day cab... gramps.

 

Wrong they can't make you show receipts. Done been down that road before, they can ask. They can't put you OOS if you don't have them, done been down that road too. This is a game they play for those who don't know better

 

Why would anyone be stupid enough to show the audit people anything that may harm them? Fuel receipts mostly have no time on them just date.
Tolls or anything else isn't required at audit. I would only show what matched up logbook, rate sheets and what ever fuel tickets I could find.

 

Glad you have it all figured out.

Can't wait to read about your audit>EPIC FAIL!

 

Well, those fuel receipts may not have a time on them, but the fuel stop operation does. It is a simple thing for an FMCSA regulator to get the time. You failed to take into account the regulations on the fuel operator. Really, the only time you could theoretically get by on not logging a fueling would be if you got your fuel at a company yard and they did not have some card reader kind of system on it.

As for toll receipts, well that depends on what also shows up as to where the truck was running. Unless you have absolutely no way of tracking the truck, there is always a record of where that truck traveled. And virtually all but the most limited operation has some form of vehicle tracking on it. And that can be demanded of an FMCSA investigator as well.

In a rare case, they can also subpoena the cell phone records and location data. Yes, you may have the location feature on your phone off, but the cellular provider always has a record of the towers you pinged off of. Some of you really need to go thru an audit and get a feel for this. They can give you a real anal exam if they want. And attitude is everything in that situation. Play hard ball with them, and you had better wear your cup.

 

If you're an O/O and pay for fuel in cash there is no record of you buying fuel for your truck .

 

Better take a good look at the fuel receipt. They have a number on it and it CAN be traced.

 

You really don't believe what you posted do you?

 

And this is why you want paper logs instead of the computer generated ones. Life is messy sometimes and the square pegs do not always fit in the round holes. No one sensible or responsible wants to put anyone else in danger, some trucking company dispatcher's however really want to get freight delivered on time.

The real problem is the hos rules do not serve anyone well. One size fits all in an industry with very few simples just does not work all that well. Sometimes the next load is 16 hrs away and you have 20 hours to get there.

You can do this completely safely by driving 12 taking a 4 hr nap and driving 4 more, then catching another nice long nap while they unload you. The rules completely fail to account for things like this.

Some rules are no doubt necessary to keep the companies from applying pressure on the drivers to drive longer and harder then they should. This aspect though has never worked well. Piss of the dispatcher and you will no doubt learn exactly how he can make your life a living hell.

The whole fiasco is trying to fix all the responsibility on the party that has the least amount of power in the equation. This is why it never works right.