Log Book Technicality

you havent offended anybody, lol. just use the logbook with the dvir , CYA . some confuse requirements of a company with what federal regulations require. you will get 9 million answers , all different.

you arent required to go under the truck to check brake travel on a pretrip for example.

but there is a way to check brake travel with one person only , if ya absolutely feel the need. ya just got to know how.

all i got to say is thank god for self adjusters, i was tired of that 1/2 wrench.


and rick g, the simple way around having so many copies of dvir for trucks and trl is simple, you simply have a dvir that a space for tractor and trailer number as mine does.

but one would think since the log page has to have all trl numbers you pulled for the day, it would be a natural occurence to pti each trailer you pulled.

 

Rickg,
I simply posted what is one the FMCSA web site, it is there interpretation as you and I both know there are so many loopholes, twist and turns to the FMCSA rules and reg that you almost need an attorney to understand it...

 

Yes, the DVIR is the paperwork involved in doing either a pretrip or postrip.....the DVIR section is actually a separate function from the daily driving log layout but for convienience most people use a combined form containing both the DVIR and logging functions commonly reffered to as a logbook. If you use a logbook that does not have the DVIR form attached then you have to fill out a separate DVIR form when you do your inspection....... 49 CFR Sections 396.11 and 396.13

 

A good lawyer would turn that around easily.

"Officer, what is the minimum time requirement to complete a pti?"

"There is none."

"So the government regulations do not specifically state how long it should take, only that the operator is satisfied that the vehicle is safe to operate, is that correct?"

"Yes, that is correct. "

"No further questions."

 

The only thing is whether you have drivers with assigned trucks or different drivers driving different trucks.

A driver if he rotates trucks tends to keep his logbook with him while the DVIR stays with the truck.

I would order the basic logbooks and separate DVIR inspection books that stay with the truck. If I'm not mistaken one DVIR book will last like 3-4 months. It has more pages than your standard 30 some page logbook.

If you need some logbook 411/101 you can go here....
http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/rules-regulations/administration/fmcsr/fmcsrruletext.aspx?reg=395.8

Employees are required to keep the previous 7 days logs and the employer must keep the copies on file for 6 months. DVIR's you must keep 3 months on file.

DVIR 101
http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/rules-regulations/administration/fmcsr/fmcsrruletext.aspx?reg=396.11

 

You will inspect the whole tractor. Every 24 hour period. Raise the cab, (everyone I know does that) inspect the motor compartment, for defects. lower the cab. Inspect the frame, 5th wheel, air lines, and tires. Move on to the trailer, check the 5th wheel for wear. Check all componets for wear. Ajust brakes (if needed) and inspect tires. Then drive 11 hours. If you fail to do this, you will be in violation and we will fine you Mucho $$$ The DOT. We have Drones watching you.

 

The basic thing to remember here is part 396.3 of the Federal Regulations must be followed. Seasonal driving or inexperience is no excuse for not following the regulations whether we like it or not; It can get you in a lot of legal trouble God-forbid you are involved in a fatal crash.
Having said that, I must remind everyone that most of the time is not What you say, but how you say it. If you are testifying under oath in a court of law, the jury will not care if the officer says there's no minimum time required to do a "pre-trip inspection" when they see the inspection required by federal regulation is physically impossible to be performed in about 15 minutes, even if you've been driving for 30 years and never given trouble by DOT at the scales or wherever. It's just a matter of logic. So in order to satisfy the requirement as certified by your signature at the bottom of the page, you can use the words "safety check" in a 15 minute line 4 description and be 100% legal as per part 396.3. If you write the words "pre trip inspection" you'll be nailed to the wall in a trial.
This advise I'm giving you is from the best lawyers in the transportation litigation field, not some "dial 800 traffic ticket counsel"


Peace.


.

 

One day I start at 5 a.m. . The next day I start at 8 a.m. . More than 24 hours has passed . Am I in violation ? I drove less than 11 hours . Is that another violation ?

 

What are you talking about signing ? If it's a log book FMCSR only require the city and state to be written at duty status changes . Describing what you are doing is not required .

 

The log book DVIR only has 2 copies a day . When we were instructed to use the log book DVIR I e-mailed the safety department and said we needed to leave one copy on each unit and turn one in . We would need a copy for the tractor and the trailer plus we often did drop and hooks which would require another copy . They needed to give drivers more than one log book a month so we'd have enough pages .
I got no response and the company later got cited in an audit for failure to properly store DVIR's .