Isn't this illegal?

Never happened on the 11 west I run. If it did then I be one pissed off son of a gunn.

 

They do the same in Maryland rest areas.

 

Ohio is bad about that. I've seen it even in the Turnpike service plazas. I've also been told by old timers to just ignore them when they knock. Or if they refuse to leave or demand that you answer to call the state offices and complain. Last time I slept on the turnpike, I heard somebody say on the CB that DOT was in the plaza knocking on doors. I peeked out my curtain up front and sure enough they were going door-to-door. When I got a knock, I just stayed still and quiet. He only knocked a few times and then went on to the next truck.

 

I am sure the HOS states,11hrs driving in a 14 hr window so after 14 hrs your a pumpkin.So if they knock on your door before you have reached the 14 hrs it would be legal after 14 hrs on duty I wouldn't think so.

 

I've almost been caught by Ohio on I75 south of Lima. I just left the the restroom when I saw them walking the lot. They were inspecting two doors down when I snuck into my truck and left.

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OCed and MEANbean

 

It's legal, but they cannot force you to come on duty for an inspection.

I had something similar happen:

Level 2 while driving as personal conveyance


Your break is also not interrupted by simply being awakened or disturbed and talking to the officer. It's termed 'incidental contact'.

You could tell the officer that he's welcome to perform a Level 5 inspection now if he wishes, but if he wants to do an inspection that requires driver participation, then you're planning to be back on duty at xxx hours (1 hour later than you'll REALLY be back on duty so that you can skedaddle before he gets back).

 

I have never driven a truck.

When an inspector knocks on a truck drivers door, please explain EXACTLY what they are looking for in ADDITION to a drivers license, medical card, logs, bills, insurance, mechanical discrepancies / failures or to see if the driver has any contraband in the truck?

Please advise.

 

when i first started out. i was specifically told to NEVER sleep at the scales. don't know that very comment sticks out in my head to this day though.

it's funny to see how many trucks sleep at the scales. the ones with great big parking lots i can understand but never see that many trucks using them.
the small scales with very little parking always fill up thoough.

but like the above post says. it's an unheard of practice in the west. REST AREA MEANS JUST THAT. REST.

 

You can be on duty after 14, you only can not drive after the 14th hour.

 

As I understand it, the states get funding from the federal government for enforcement of the federal rules as they pertain to transportation. The government puts 'strings' on this funding, and requires the states to perform a certain number of inspections per year - a 'quota' if you will.

When inspectors decide that they want to inspect a truck, they will perform one of the inspections found in this document. Then they will complete the appropriate forms, issue citations for any violations that they find, then sit back and wait for a check to come from the carrier to pay the fines assessed. Yes, the states have a vested interest in assessing violations. It's a profit center for them, and it should not be. I see knocking on truckers' doors in rest areas as nothing more than a shakedown by organized crime in the name of the law. The same could apply to 'random' inspections. There are enough trucks on the road with obvious violations that the states could keep so busy with those that there would be no need for 'random' inspections.