Logbook Remarks?

Some "additional" information could save you a lot of money (fines). Although I do agree with your instructer, never give them any more than is absolutely required.

One critical item, can save you some grief though. Violations... If you drive over your 11 or 14, note the violation in the remarks area. And apply the neccesary action to correct it, IE 10 hr break.

A simple 15-30 minute violation will get you a scolding by the DOT. But will generally be allowed, without a fine, if you have noted the violation on your own. Some hard cases may ask you to explain your actions. But they take into account that you are NOT trying to hide the offense.

Of course, you will still get that audit from your logging dept. Telling you what a dangerous driver you have been that month. But what the hell.

 

Well as for remarks, keep them simple in your log.
Example:
Instead of Lunch, put Meal.
The dot doesn't need to know that it is breafast lunch or dinner for you.
Just keep it simple.

Hope this helped.

 

I'm not referring to an emergency exemption here. I'm talking about a simple violation. An emergency exemption, is just that...for emergencies, not improper planning or brain farts.

While the wrath of God may come down on us occasionally. Some of us just don't pay attention. LOL.

I've always noted these types of violations, they don't occur often. I've never been ticketed for them, even in CA during an inspection. Although the officer did rake me over the coals.

Simply put. The violation is noted, you took corrective action. You have broken the rules per se. But you have not tried to hide anything in doing so. Yes, it could be seen as an admission of guilt. But the law is simple. When you are "caught" violating the law, you can receive a ticket, and be placed OOS until the proper corrective action has been applied. IE a 10 hr break.

A crude example: Urinating in public...is a punishable offense, if you whip it out and let it fly. If you do it "in your pants" (accidental of course). EVERYBODY is aware of what happened. But the odds of actually getting a ticket for it...are less than .05% I would think.

 

It is not a DOT requirement to note what you are doing, however most companies do require it and it's really helps the log auditor in many cases to understand what the driver is doing.

Like I had drivers logging line 4 for meal breaks and if they did not write down meal break I could not contact them and say hey you are wasting your line 4 time. We give a meal card to relieve all responsibility.
So it really helps us out.

My opinion is if a driver has nothing to hide why not write down what you do (minues personal info such as using the bathroom).
A neat log, current log and everything written down is always a great looking log and less hassle as they feel you have nothing to hide .

Also your log book is a legal document, so IF ever a case happened to where you was accussed of something and you could not remember (because you did not note something on your log book) you might lose the case. I had a driver who noted everything and was accused of check fraud. He proved he was in a different state. I had a driver who was accused of hitting someone and they had the trailer # only. The driver had written what time he picked up the trailer in the remark section and took that to court and proved, he did not have that trailer at that time. So it's all about noting for your own good in many cases.
I don't consider this a major log violation just ask you to note it. So the violation means nothing really in my log department some take it more serious

 

I write everything in the remarks section, loading, unloading, meals, etc. I have never had a DOT officer complain or ask a question about my log book. If anything they compliment my on my neatness and I will not say that I run 100% legal.

My company prefers us to not write more than the city and state, but I prefer to do it, so I have a good record of what I have done. That way if I am asked about something that happened on a certain day, all I have to do is look at my log book.

If you are playing by the rules you shouldn’t feel like you have to hide info, right?

 

I've found that neat logs are appreciated by law enforcement officers, too. And I tend to include additional information not necessarily required by the DOT or the company, ...... but not TOO much additional info.
I'll note trailer changes --- location of changes --- and trailer dropped and hooked numbers.

This is very easy when running a totally legal log, but if you're being "creative" --- that's another story. And COULD getcha in hot water should proof of your location at a certain time become necessary.

If a Big truck driver indicates on their logs that they picked up a trailer that the Big truck driver who dropped it claims on their log book -- wasn't even there, ...... yet,........ Hooston, we have a problem.
Who will they believe?
:smt105

 

Great job and you are thinking way ahead like I tell drivers! Great notation