logbook what do I have to show?

FYI: Before I retired from the FMCSA I had the right to use Qualcom to check for falsification and I've been retired for almost 7-years now. But most times you don't need it.........for a very simple example; how hard is it to detect falsification when there is a fuel receipt at your main office terminal in your truck file (and the carrier must keep that receipt in case of an IFTA compliance review and because the FMCSA requires the carrier to save it for at least 6-months and has required this for at least the past 20-years) dated today and signed by you with your truck number on the receipt from Trucker Jimmy Bob Bubbas in Butt Head NY and your logs says you've been in Beavis, IL off duty beginning 3-days ago until next week?

 

At the end of each week, I go through my Toll Receipts and Fuel receipts and check the Time to my log to make sure that it lines up. I also put the time on my Fuel receipt since they don't put it on the paper one you get, Why? because I know that the Log sent to the Company does have the time. and DOT can and does call in to see what time you stopped.
Do I squeeze the Log to that......??? I can't say. but make SURE those tolls and Fuels line up to within 15 min and you should Never have a problem Unless you do have an "Accident" Of course We don't have Sat. tracking on our trucks. Thank God.

 

I've got a friend that also puts his odometer mileage on his log book for every change of status. I myself put the miles driven between each at the bottom. Several officers have told me this is very helpful during inspections. I've only had one that sat and calculated miles driven vs. time during an inspection in ID that lasted 2 hours. I was hauling hazmat at the time and he tried very hard to find something wrong. I passed. Of course, if you are giving them all this information you must also be running legal.

 

Well the law depends on which dot you ask you ask 10 youll prob get 8 answers. What i have always done is flag PT then under it just the city and state.

 

Anybody ever consider how many important things like brakes , tires , and suspensions don't get checked because these officers spend so much time asking silly questions about logs ? They have to spend 8 hours a day inspecting . Jerk a couple of drivers around a while asking about logs and that's one less dirty truck they have to crawl under .

 

Well maybe you should check you OLD facts. Because 5 yrs ago the courts told them they could not use qullcomm records for audits. This is why they are going back to have the desission over turned. They want to use something they have no buisness haveing to screw the company and the driver. Quallcomms are not there to track the trucks for Big Brother. They are there as a buisness tool for the companies.

As for fuel reciets. Most drivers for most companies don't sign anything. You just fuel and go. It's all done by computer. Oh they still keep the records. But if the Feds want them they print out a computer sheet with a buch of numbers and hand it to them.

 

But the point of this is that if you do things legally, why are you so pessimistic Re. using the materials to determine your compliance? I have testified in criminal and civil trials where a driver has maimed, and killed persons. In those trials, and through discovery motions, attorneys have used Qualcom printouts and fuel receipts from the credit card company to show falsification, and fatigue which does nothing but increase any criminal sentence, or monetary liability. Personally, if I were driving, I'd rather have the FMCSA discover it than some attorney after I was arrested for to say the least manslaughter.