Correcting log book violations

My company has a habit of requesting that the drivers correct errors made on log books. Instead of making corrections on the actual log that was turned in, they want you to completely redo the daily log. Can they do this? I try not to make any errors but sometimes it happens. I just hate to get a photo copy of a log that is a month old and have to try to redo the whole thing. Thanks........

 

I don't know if they can do this or not legally, but my company does the same thing. I've even heard of them calling drivers to Eagan and having them redo 90 days of logs...now THAT is a joke. I can see having 1 or 2 logs that I need to correct, but 3 months worth? Just another game that companies play, IMO.

 

Yes they can request a corrected log. You have to follow the rules for doing it...but I'm sure they do. I've even caught a SNAFU myself and sent a correction in.

Take everything else in this post with a grain of salt.

Advise, tell them it's correct...be done with it. Unless you really want to do it. You signed it, it's a done deal. They either live with it, or not.

Bottom Line: You signed it stating that it was true and accurate to the best of your knowledge. It may be wrong, but that isn't your concern. Unless it's within the past 30 days, and you're being inspected by a "Fed".

After that, it's all on your company. Unless you get involved in a fatality accident, and lawyers start asking for old logs. Then your screwed if it involves HOS violations.

Resubmitting MORE than 2 days, is total BS, and grounds for me to find a new job.

 

I dont know how you run a log book, maybe u do it this way, but pull the staples out and run loose leaf, right down your times you fuel and keep milage from your start to finish each day and make it work.

 

I went through the FMCSR again and tried to see if this was legal or not. The only place I found that might be used to say no is the section §395.8 (h) (5) (i) Filing Driver's Record Of Duty Status. It says "The driver shall submit or forward by mail the ORIGINAL driver's record of duty status to the regular employing motor carrier within 13 days following the completion of the form". You could say that a redone log sheet is not the original but I did not see anywhere in the regs where it stated how to fix mistakes. The only other part is where it says it must be in the drivers handwriting and must be legible.

I always drew a single line through the mistake and initialed the correction. If I were you I'd show the reg to the company and ask their interpretation of the reg. But I think they'll say that's their policy and you're fighting a losing battle. But it's worth a try if you do it when no one is debating the subject.

 

All the company is trying to do here is to cover their backside with the inspectors. If they are trying to get you to "correct" your logs, then they are probably also trying to get you to make "creative" logs to begin with.

It sure doesn't sound good to me.

OBTW, if I am wrong about this, somebody please let me know. I once worked for an outfit that required you to "correct" your logs. They also wanted you to run illegal, but turn in legal logs. That's not the way I drive. . .

 

As a not-yet driver, I understand all logging times should reflect the home terminal time zone. But if I understand your point here, the receipts for fueling, etc, don't always match your home terminal time zone, and can be used to show a falsification as quoted.

So, my question is this: when logging, do you indicate somewhere which time zone you're logging to? Do you write on each log somewhere: CST or PST (or whatever is appropriate)?

 

If they showed "different time-zone" fueling as log falsification ; even though you logged it correctly, that is THEIR problem and I would refuse to "correct" those logs. I had a similar problem with Landstar. I ran Eastern time, Comdata records were in Eastern Time as well, but some smart guy at Landstar decided that Comdata was "Central" Time because their offices are in Eastern Tennesee (Knoxville?). This was verified with Comdata several times. Landstar started requesting me to "fix" my logs. I refused several times over a 6 month period because to do so would mean that all other "Time Stamped" activities; such as PrePass, toll receipts etc, would be inaccurate. Finally, I stopped sending my logs in completely and they didn't get any log for about 4 months. When they finally caught up with me, I told them they wouldn't get any logs until they made a determination (in my favor) that I had been doing my logs correctly the whole time. Several hours later, they corrected THEIR error.