OFF Duty Driving

Those of us that truly understand how PC driving works typically won't use it at all because we know that it's of no benefit to us.

 

But would you walk a mile for a camel?

 

Not necessarily, as an owner operator I bobtail from the house to the terminal to be dispatched and then at the end of the day when I'm done I bobtail back to the house. All off-duty. Noting in the remarks section "personal conveyance" I do this every day.
NJ, NY, CT, PA DOT never made an issue of it. They didn't like the airlines held down by a bungee cord on the catwalk though.



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That is a valid use by the clear interpretation from the FMCSA. It is a beneficial use of the PC provision. It is similar to what I do. I leave the trailer at a specific location, effectively a "terminal" location as it is where I would normally leave and report because it is where the trailer is, and drive home using PC. Then I return at a later time, also using PC, and hook up, do a pre trip, all On Duty, and then head on out. No gray areas here. Clear cut valid use of PC. Just as much as bobtailing to go eat, shower, shop for groceries for the truck, get a motel room, etc.

 

a lot of us have used PC to just flat out go home. no matter the distance.

i used it to go home empty. 750 miles. i heard a driver went from phoenix to detroit. to go home. empty. oklahoma didn't like that idea but the company went to bat for him.

 

I think each co. has their own "versions" of PC. My former co. required driver to have at least one hr left on their 11/14 and 70 to be able to use PC. My actual co. doesn't require that. And they "allow" their drivers to use PC for no longer than 20 miles even if under a load for safe haven parking. IMO that's is violation but will not argue with safety director... as we have had our exchanges before... I try not to use PC if I am under a load. But I just find this odd, since this co. is soooo preoccupied about getting any violation so they can maintain the great CSA score they have.

 

Yeah, paranoia trumps reason every time.

 

20 years ago the PC in the regulations also include wordage such as... You must return to the location where you last got empty...prior to being dispatched on your next load- otherwise you would have to log the travel. Then companies started abusing it and dumb drivers acting on Verbal Dispatches got the PC rules more severally limited. Companies would have drivers bobtail 100's of miles to pickup loads and told them to just log it as PC.

 

Drivers still try to do this, with and without being told by dispatch. I used to hear things like "I needed a shower" or "I always eat at this diner". Naturally they'd be 100+ miles from their consignee and within 5 miles of their next shipper passing multiple truck stops, rest areas, and other dining establishments.

 

wow gpsman

we agree

there IS a God