Off Duty Driving

I log off my elegant and go where I want.

 

I believe I have heard that some companies want to keep the off duty/personal conveyance to 50 miles or so. You do have to be out from under a load and have an empty trailer and preferably bobtailing. Husband leases his truck and has driven a lot further than that to get home. He most generally has made sure he has had his 10 off before the last load delivery, then to the dropoff location for the trailer. With accidents and the way people like to sue, we have always figured it was better to have the 8 or 10 off or within the 14 hr window.

 

Another ELD failure in recording correct duty status!!

 

We are allowed 1hr of off duty driving per day, but we arent allowed to be under a load, and we have to be bobtail.

 

Can you lead me to this regulation, please? I cannot find it.

 

There is no single set in stone regulation for off duty driving. There is an interpretation for it. The closest thing i could find was from jj keller.

http://www.jjkeller.com/shop/Catego...-is-personal-conveyance*072014_10151_-1_10551

 

The interpretation (395.8 Question 26) allows off-duty driving in only 2 limited circumstances - commuting from home to terminal, and short distances from enroute lodgings.

As the provided link shows:
Only two situations are specifically covered in the interpretation:

• A driver’s commute to and from the terminal (normal work location)
• Short personal trips from a driver’s enroute lodging.

 

Perhaps a mention of how the "guidance" section is considered and utilized by enforcement officers would be helpful. I fear some drivers feel it is "opinion"... the FMCSA's version of "Dear Abby."

 

The regulatory guidance, or "interpretations" of the Federal Regulations carry the full weight of law.

They are clarifications and refinements to the regulations. They have gone through Rulemaking and legislative procedures, been posted in the Federal Register, and published in the regulations.

If you find something in the interpretations section of the FMCSRs, you can take it to the bank, or to court in this case.

 

You are the reason we have elogs.