Question about driving and working hours

If the OP works more than 12 hrs a day then he is no longer under TDOT rules, but federal rules.

 

I would report it to the proper authorities. You are protected as a whistleblower and if they terminate you then you will have a nice juicy lawsuit.

 

I seem to follow the info here.

https://www.drivermanagement.com/app/help/reguhelp/non-mapped/100_Air-Mile_Radius_Driver.htm

and here

https://www.drivermanagement.com/app/help/reguhelp/49CFR395_1.htm#49CFR395.1(e)

From what I know, and read, I can't drive more than 11 hours per day, I can't work more than 14 hours per day - period.

So I don't see the exception for delivering soda.

 

I drive for Pepsi also. At our facility, we are only allowed to be on the clock(punched in) for a max of 14 hours a day if we drive truck. Also if we go over 12 hours, then we have to take a 30 minute break and fill out a paper log for the day. We are also are only allowed to have 60 hours total a week. I know this for a fact because I have been called in the office once for being 4 minutes over my 60 for the week.

Do you get a delivery manifest each day with your route? We have them for ours, and it gives a total route delivery time for each days route of about how long it should take you. Our routes are usually dispatched to be close to 10 hour days. There are a lot of factors that can alter that time, but I am usually close to the manifested time for the day. If you do get a manifest and it is showing 13-14 hour routes each day, then they are loading your routes too heavy and something needs to be done to fix that. Seeing how you are new, it is obviously going to take longer because you are still learning. It is a very tough job to do and learn, especially if you came off the street and didn't have any previous beverage or retail delivery experience.

 

Driving 14 hours a day? That is not safe under any circumstances. When operating heavy machinery you need rested and alert people at the wheel or peoples lives are at risk

 

I agree with you on this. I have not hauled beverages, but worked a local delivery route for four years with 25-30 stops a day including about 300 miles of total driving from the time I left the warehouse to the time I returned. Yes, you WILL take longer seeing as how you are new. My first month or two it was taking me 12-13 hours. But once I got my route down and learned all of my customers I was able to get that down to around 10 hours a day. After a while you will get into a routine. In the mean time, I would definitely talk to your supervisor about your hours and let him know that you will not run illegal because it is your CDL and not theirs.

 

DO NOT REPORT THEM TO THE AUTHORITIES, that is Bad advice. You are legally protected, but they will screw you every way they can, give you the worst routes, worst hours, will never get a raise and they will watch you like a hawk until you make a mistake that they can fire you for. Then no other company will hire you if they find out.