How do you log breakdown time?

OK... makes sense, what if, your broke down on side of road and the mechanic finished work, 14 hour clock is run out by 3 hours, is it legal to drive to safe location or are you stuck there until your 10 break.

Sorry to be persistent but I'm trying to apply all these rules to real life situations before I jump in.

 

Whyd you log it period? Company knows you were down, just tell them when you get home, don't screw yourself out of time.

 

I posed a similar question to an official at the MO DOT a few years ago. He said "no one would ever write you up for driving to a safe location". I just laughed.

 

haven't ever heard of that one..

 

OK lets go with that, Would you have to log a 1/2 hour break every 8 hours?

 

No. The half hour break is about driving also.

 

Alright thanks guys, so the only rule that apply is the 34 hour if you need to drive.

 

You guys make things overly complicated. Its real simple, on duty time is only relevant as it relates to driving time.

You can be on duty for 168 straight hours without logging a break provided you do what takes to get the time back. In this case a reset that includes two periods of 1-5 am.

You can be on duty for 13 hours take a 30 min break and drive 30 minutes then log 100 hours on duty
Still legal. Its the DRIVING that everything hinges on.

Responding to the OPs question. How you log it is sort of a grey area. If youre on the roadway id log it on duty. If im someplace where I can get out and walk around I log it off duty or sleeper. Had a flat in bfe texas once that took 11 hours to get a truck to. I was in a legal parking place and you can bet I didnt log it on duty. Common sense ahould rule.

 

What you are doing is way over thinking the issue. It is what you do in law school not what you do driving.

The HOS rules are to protect you from being forced to drive when you are not fully rested. They are your friend.

You asked originally about a breakdown and were provided with the correct information by rule. However, if you are broke down at the side of the road and are waiting for repair work, there is nothing saying that you can't crawl into your sleeper and log it as sleeper time. It is up to you how to determine what you are doing not the DOT.

Now let's say that you have a real jerk of a dispatcher who is cussing you out about a load. You log that break down time as on duty like the book says. You record the dispatcher telling you that you have to get the load to the shipper or you will be fired. Then you either do as ordered and report the problem to the DOT or you don't do what you are ordered to do and let them fire you. Being fired for following the law and refusing to put the public at risk is one of those golden ticket items. Money in the bank. Living the high life on Miami Beach.

My advice is to crawl into the sleeper every chance you get. Let those who are full of pi ss and vinegar log everything 100% correctly and wake me when you are paying me.

 

Sleeper time even if your ac or bunk heater dont work