Can I log this off-duty?

Way I understand the law.. You are correct.. My interpatation is that you only log on duty time as time dealing with the load ie.. helping unload or load, getting or signing ppwk or dealing with shipper/receiver.. that's the way I understand it.. I've always logged just the 15 mins on duty b/c most of the time you can back the truck in, open the doors, and deal with the ppwk in that time frame.. Now there are some times you can't in that case you might log 30 mins on duty but I've never logged more than that unless I'm loading or unloading the truck or assisting..

 

Your employer needs to give you permission to go off-duty and there is a format to that letter and the law.

I'm on my phone and that's on my computer.

 

No. If you are behind the wheel, whether you are driving or just sitting there day dreaming, DOT considers this On Duty-DRIVING.

Be very careful about this. If you get a knock on your door in the middle of the night and you are summoned from your sleeper birth by The Man, you had better not sit down in the driver seat as you roll down your window or open your door to talk to him! If he/she wants to be a jerk, he could then tell you that you need to re-start your 10 hour break at the time you sat down in the driver's seat, because according to DOT, you were just on duty-driving!

 

Better refresh your knowledge . See part 4 (i)

http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/rules-regulations/administration/fmcsr/fmcsrruletext.aspx?reg=395.2

 

The statement about being ON duty just because you are sitting behind the wheel is no longer true. Someone will be along to post the new regulation about that I am sure.

 

My mis-information can be attributed to my trainer who's been doing this for 30 years. The definition for driving is

http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/rules-regulations/administration/fmcsr/fmcsrruletext.aspx?
reg=395.2&keyword=driving

Looks like the crux of the matter is "in operation". I suppose that rolling down the window is not considered operating the truck. Thankfully.

 

I'm going to try another angle. My answer is still No.

According to the FMCSA definition of On Duty:

http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/rules-regu...fmcsrruletext.aspx?reg=395.2&keyword=off duty

The key here is that you are "waiting to be dispatched" and therefore technically not off duty.

I believe this is what MN driver was referring to here

 

That just shows the quality of of trainers nowadays . Totally clueless .

 

all kinds of stupid people say stupid stuff
worse part is when I am the adamant stupid one.........sigh