Elog and bobtail questions

I wouldn't even call, I just park then go to customer service and let them know I'm only there to spend money then will be leaving.

In all honesty though, if you are just running in for one thing, there is no way they can get a tow truck there in the 15 minutes you will be there. In those instances I don't even waste time asking. Just park around the back by the loading area and you will be gone before they figure out you aren't there to pickup or deliver.

Don't do that at the Wytheville VA Wal-Mart though. The cops keep an eye on that parking lot and will ticket any trucks they see parked there.

 

Nobody mentioned this:

If you're operating a CMV on public road, you must have a PTVI done in the previous 24 hours, no matter on or off duty driving status.

Ontario does watch this and writes tickets for it.

The easiest way to keep you legal on this is to log a 15 min pretrip at the time you finish your last move with a post trip. From there, you have 24 hrs to use the CMV for pc.
In Canada you can only use 75 km off duty driving per day as long as you're bobtailing and you're not under dispatch. My elog does change to driving if I exceed the 75 km limit.

 

Not in the states....

 

The vehicle inspection within 24 hours requirement applies only to Canada, not the U.S. Also it only applies when the vehicle is being operated, which means it is not a requirement when off-duty, but would be required (as you mentioned) if driving the vehicle under personal conveyance and if it was more than 24 hours since the last inspection a driver could be cited.

(4) Required inspections (when operated)

(a) Trucks, tractors and trailers shall be inspected in accordance with Schedule 1 every 24 hours.​

- http://ccmta.ca/images/publications/pdf/nsc_standard_13_update.pdf​

The U.S requires that prior to driving, a driver shall "be satisfied that the motor vehicle is in safe operating condition"... no report required (§ 396.13 Driver inspection). And that a post-trip inspection be done, but no form is required unless deficiencies are noted (§ 396.11 Driver vehicle inspection report(s)).
- eCFR — Code of Federal Regulations