Off duty driving

There was an article in The Trucker newspaper-- the one you pick up at TA/Petro when you walk in for your buffett breakfast-- anyway this owner op was in Arizona, got the call that someone died back home in Arkansas. He finished his load and Off Duty deadheaded back home to AR with his empty flatbed. He got through many states but was put OUT of Service 50 miles from the house because the DOT said they did not believe he would return to the 'terminal' Arizona, as the green book states (must only off duty drive for short distances for food or lodging/ or- from terminal to home then back to same starting point back at terminal).

That all said, I have Off Duty drove 3 times out of Texas to home in northern California, once out of Casa Grande AZ and many times out of Los Angeles and once out of Reno/Sparks to get home and never once had a problem. Even passed a Level 1 inspection at Chowchilla CA scalehouse.

 

Sure you can log off. Then the safety guy at your company is going to ask you about the miles you just ran while logged off. That's not such a great idea. These companies are not going to let you do whatever. It all depends whether you really care or not. Safety Is going to be on your "hacienda" about it but hey it's only a computer. Only thing is you're also in violation but that's OK right??
Yes its a ##### if you're gonna run out of hours 50 miles from home, but that's life sometimes. If you ran paper logs then it's a piece of cake. I'll agree many times Elogs are a real pain

 

I was just trying to make sure I had the rule straight by offering a scenario . Not trying to break a company rule over safety . The companies I have worked for could actually care less what I did as long as I paid for the fuel . I am a local driver so really usually have no use for knowing a lot of rules that do not apply to me . this rule was told to me in driving school . They how ever had it a bit wrong . But I am looking into OTR so this is a good thing to know .

 

The regulation for off duty driving states short distance to and from food and lodging.... but never defines what a short distance is.

 

True. Really is comes down to common sense and being prudent about how you use it. I use ODD frequently, but do so in a somewhat responsible manner. Like dropping the trailer in town and bobtailing home about 20 miles ODD for time off, then ODD back to the trailer and back to the regular game. Similar to the going to eat or lodging thing. Running half way across the country dragging an empty trailer is stepping outside what would be considered prudent.

 

Seems to be their business model . Just like how many hours over is considered egregious or how many points on csa is needed to take actions and .... All I can say is do not get a ticket fora burnt out marker light since that is absolutely defined as worse than plastered drunk driving on the csa scale . I think certain gov employees and politicians are in need of a daily drug test.

 

dont know what scale you are looking at, but a marker light out is 2 points, while alcohol is 5 points.

[TABLE="align: center"]
[TR]
[TD="width: 31%"]392.5(a)
[/TD]
[TD="width: 17%"] Possession/use/under influence alcohol-4hrs prior to duty
[/TD]
[TD="width: 17%"] Alcohol
[/TD]
[TD="width: 17%"] 5
[/TD]
[TD="width: 17%"] Y
[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]


[TABLE="align: center"]
[TR]
[TD]393.9(a)[/TD]
[TD="width: 20%"]Inoperative required lamps[/TD]
[TD="width: 20%"]Clearance Identification Lamps/Other[/TD]
[TD="width: 20%"]2[/TD]
[TD="width: 20%"]Y [/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

 

And a seat belt violation is 7 pts. Now how is not wearing a seat belt more unsafe than a drunk driver or speeding?

 

more drivers die from NOT wearing a seat belt. The points are all based upon crash data not any other rational. speeding 15 over is 10 points.

 

Maybe more drivers, themselves, die from not wearing a seat belt than do, but why did they die in the first place? Mostly because they themselves or someone else was doing something stupid that earns fewer points on the CSA goofy stuff. Sure, going over 15 mph might earn 10 points, but that also earns a 6 month time suspension of the CDL. That is one of those suspension earning moves. At least folks could be honest... seat belt violations are primarily revenue generation games. It is akin to cigarettes. Cigarettes kill also, but God forbid they be actually banned. No sir, can't do that. And why? Because they are such a cash cow for the government. And they do a wonderful job at it. They demonize the product so that they can justify raising taxes on it without getting much static from the public. The very same coercive mindset is used regarding seat belts. The one and only reason that government is even concerned with someone's safety is so they can bleed them via taxes. A person who is dead or disabled is not a cash source. They need folks whole so they can milk them dry. That is the ONLY reason government even gives a rip about anyone.

Should seat belts be worn? Of course. Are they a good thing? Of course. But I have been around long enough not to fall for any government gives a rip about anyone's safety idea surrounding seat belts.