Can a carrier tell you when and where to take your 30 minute break?

Discussion in 'Trucking Industry Regulations' started by HoustonTrucker, Oct 16, 2017.

  1. tucker

    tucker Road Train Member

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    You could always stop before or after your 30 minute break and grab something to eat,
     
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  3. HoustonTrucker

    HoustonTrucker Light Load Member

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    That's their problem. Each leg of the trip is supposed to take a certain amount of time. Go over that and they get #####. Since the 30 minute break is federally mandated I had been using it essentially as my lunch break since I have to take it anyway. There isn't anywhere near the terminal to eat besides a gas station which just has chips and candy.
     
  4. Driverdad

    Driverdad Light Load Member

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    I would find a place that can treat you like a capable adult . If they dont trust you to make simple decisions , it is usually indicative of a employer who is themselves doing somthing shady
     
  5. ZVar

    ZVar Road Train Member

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    Yeppers. There is nothing in FMCSA that either limits or requires the company to specify where the break is. As a company driver they can mandate anything they want as long as it's not illegal.

    That being said, if you are hauling hazmat, that is an exception as you need to break at a "safe haven", which may or may not be where you like to stop.

    If you don't like their policies, simply move on. They have no hold over you to keep you there.....
     
  6. Hulld

    Hulld Road Train Member

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    There is nothing written in the fmcsa regulations that states this.
    But there is also nothing written in the fmcsa regulation that states who you can marry or what you have to eat for lunch.
    But that doesn't mean because it's not written in to the regulation the company can dictate those things to you.
    I recommend your first approach should be a meeting and explain your position and you may be able to resolve the problem easily.
     
    Last edited: Oct 17, 2017
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  7. againstthewind

    againstthewind Road Train Member

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    as with anything what you do depends on how much you like that job.
     
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  8. FwL

    FwL Medium Load Member

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    You could pack a lunch.

    If you just don't want them telling you what to do, that's a different story.

    Is this negotiable? Are they prepared to fire you for not doing what they want? How bad do you want to keep the job?
     
    deathB4decaf, peterd, misterG and 3 others Thank this.
  9. Justrucking2

    Justrucking2 Road Train Member

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    I don't know, I'm usually to busy to fit one in.
     
  10. againstthewind

    againstthewind Road Train Member

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    when your not a slave to debt and save your money and quit living in fear of not being enough then nobody can tell you what to do, is that a good enough answer for everyone or no?
     
  11. driverdriver

    driverdriver Road Train Member

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    Deleted
     
    Last edited: Oct 30, 2017
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