Construction workers filling out Logs?

If you fill it out and hand it over, whether you are required to have it or not it had better be right! If there are ANY mistakes, the officer can write you up even if you didn't have to draw them up. The proof that you though you needed them at the time is the fact that you were keeping the log.

A simple rule of thumb, if you aren't required to have something, don't have it. If you are required to have something, have it.

They can't write you up for not having something you aren't required to have.

Bottom line, know the rules of the game you're playing to know what is and isn't required.

 

Short haul non-cdl is 150 air miles which I believe is 162 statute miles.

 

I've don't recall seeing a pickup rolling through a weigh station or port of entry. I do recall signs that say 'no pickups'

What defined a pickup truck? I've undertood as 1 ton and under.

I know its a business and you need to see the law in print.

 

I have but they were towing a trailer. I don't know if they needed to though.

 

I would err on the side of caution, and train your workers to use one. But, also stop and see the people who enforce the regulations.
Talk to the local State Trooper Headquarters for your region. They are going to have the most accurate information. They want us all to comply and not have a violation. They hate paperwork as much as the rest of us.
They are the ones who will have to time and desire to tell you what you need to know.

 

You're better off reading the rules for yourself. Any time you're relying upon somebody else to explain the rules to you, their interpretation is going to be bent in their favor. They aren't going to explain to you the loopholes that might allow you to do something else. Why not? Because they'd rather you have that log book...lets them see where you've been and how long you've been working. It also creates opportunities for them to find things you did wrong. Every cop on the planet will tell you there is no quota on the number of tickets each cop has to write...but if they aren't writing enough, higher ups start wondering what they've been doing all shift.

So don't expect them to tell you about the short-haul exemption, or the regulation that allows you to continue on to the next safe place to have repairs made if a defect occurs while under way, or any of the other special circumstances you may or may not fall into that allows you to do something you wouldn't otherwise be able to do. They are bending the rules to give them the best opportunity to find something to write you up for without telling you to do something wrong. Your company will bend the rules to their favor, so that you'll be more inclined to move their freight or whatever else they want you to do. As long as you're relying upon others to interpret the rules for you, you'll never get the full picture. Read them yourself and use whatever tools you find to your own advantage.

 

In Florida all companies getting a new DOT number are sent a letter telling you that you MUST attend a state sponsored (Free) class to explain all of this sort of rules. I assume this is relatively new but I'm not sure what they actually started it, (At least 3 years ago).

It was 3 years since I went and I mostly only paid attention to the parts that were relevant to me and my company so I'll not answer the initial question (As I do not fully remember and DO NOT want to give bad advise here) but I will say that in a case like this I would recommend calling your state DOT and ask to speak to a supervisor in the DOT Commercial vehicle enforcement division. Be sure to get his/her name and if appropriate rank. Ask for a clarification and if they say no log book, no CDL or anything that means you do not fall under the rules requiring then say, "Great, can you help me find that statute in the book? What is the stature number"? Then go read it for yourself. Then, keep that name/rank and a copy of the retentive statute handy because you just may need it to help make your case to the friendly officer that is not as well trained as "Supervisor Major John Doe" in the home office. (Replace "Home office" with the actual name of the correct city) have that office phone number handy as well and politely offer it.

The advise about not having a log book if you are not required to is spot on. Required or not, if you have it, it better be perfect.

As for the "Air miles" and "Statute miles" thing. Do not get real fancy here. When they say "Air miles" they are not talking to pilots. They are not using aviation terminology. What they are saying is "Mileage in a straight line" or "As the crow fly's"

 

All of the companies that have set up shop to market ELD's mention the fact that the units can be installed easily on class 2-5 trucks, which is what you are describing. There must be a need for them.

 

When the FMCSA refers to air miles it is, in fact, referring to the aviation term; straight out of the FMCSA...

Question 12: What constitutes the 100-air-mile radius exemption?

Guidance:

The term “air mile” is internationally defined as a “nautical mile” which is equivalent to 6,076 feet or 1,852 meters. Thus, the 100 air miles are equivalent to 115.08 statute miles or 185.2 kilometers.

https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/regulations/title49/section/395.1​