pre trip before pre trip

I dont think it is odd... it is actually a very common practice.... same as drivers who log "Off Duty" as soon as they arrive at the guard shack of the shippers and recievers.. then go dock, or drop n hook..

My first trainer, would log OFF DUTY as soon as we pulled into the fuel island.. would fuel the truck, wash windows, and then after pulling forward would log ON DUTY FUELING.. go in and use the restroom and come back and leave... she only ever logged maybe 7 minutes for fueling, 4 minutes drop n hook...

When I was OTR, I would do a thorough post trip... for the same reason, I would rather find something when I had time to deal with rather then find it in the morning with my clock ticking away...

I am now on a dedicated home nights and weekends gig.. it is a slip seat deal... but, it is common for drivers to get there early and pre trip and get there truck ready to roll, then log in and log on duty pre trip... then send the available for load macro and write down their load info at that time.. then when the pre trip time is up go grab their load...

Personally... I would rather a driver pre trip before pre trip then those that log in pre trip, then just sit in their trucks and do no pre trip what so ever... Unfortunately, another common practice...

 

When I was OTR... I would honestly have to say that I did not see very many drivers doing pre trips..

I like to have a cup of coffee in the morning, just sit and sip some coffee... in the morning I would sit in the drivers seat and just sip my coffee... I would see the driver parked on my left, get up, get in the drivers seat, and take off... no pre trip... didnt even go to the fuel island... would just roll out of the truck stop.. no pre trip, no nothing, just from bunk to driving... same with the driver on my right....

I will also say... that I saw more drivers, not every driver, just more drivers do a pre trip at the mom and pop truck stops than at the brand name ones like loves, pilot, flying js...

 

Why would they need to? There's not much that will break on a truck when it's sitting overnight at the truck stop with the driver sleeping inside. The DVIR that the driver completed the previous day is enough for them to be satisfied that the truck is safe to operate. Which is all that the regulations require.

 

Actually by law you have to show a reasonable amount of time on "on duty not driving" before starting your shift. Whether it's elogs or paper. By reasonable I mean at least 10 minutes on E-logs or 15 on paper.

A tire could lose air, a wheel seal could finally decide to leak, a nitwit could pull your fifth wheel handle,etc, etc.

 

There is no time requirement for inspection in the regulations. That would be 392.7 The driver must only be satisfied the vehicle is in working order.

 

There may not be an actual time requirement but if you don't show any on duty not driving time before driving an aggressive DOT cop will ask questions. Just like before the 30 minute break rule came into effect it wasn't wise to show 11 hours straight driving even though technically it wasn't against the regs.

 

I had someone pull out my trailer light, steal the wiring and plug, and reinstall the light, while I was sleeping at a service plaza on the Indiana toll road. YES!! They left my good tail light , but stole the harness .

 

You, obviously ,do not believe in magic.