Short haul exemptions

Local boys don't have to do logs. Unless you work over 12 hours.

The 12 hour breakdown is this.
11 hours duty status. 15 minutes pre. 15 minutes post. 30 minute lunch. For a total of 12 hours.

That's how it was explained to me when i started driving my first local job in 2000. If anything has changed since then. I haven't heard it yet.

 

It's between you and your boss. DOT has no requirements as you are exempt.
Does your shift take a full 12 hours? Start early or stay late and take a lunch break.

 

If he does that, he'll be required to keep a RODS because the instant you run past the 12th hour you are no longer exempt under short-haul.

Federal regs state you don't need to take the 30 minute break. State law may or may not require it. If state laws don't require it then it is up to your boss. If he'd "prefer you not" sit idle for 30 minutes, then you can either do as your boss prefers or find a different line of work. You'll likely have more than enough "down" time waiting to load or unload that it is a moot point, anyway...and I can see the boss's point. I wouldn't want MY truck parked somewhere unnecessarily for 30 minutes while other trucks on the run kept going...only to have that truck now waiting behind a few extra trucks at the other end so it sits idle for who knows how much more time. 10 minutes here, 20 minutes there, no point in sitting another 30 "just because".

 

Aren't lunch breaks a fed law though?

 

That's why I ask if he runs his full 12.



But..... If you don't punch an actual time clock who knows when you start and stop.... just sayin.