Do you really understand the 14 hour rule?

I had a couple of questions I was hoping you guys could help me out with.

395.1(g)(1)(i)(C) says,

May not drive after the 14th hour after coming on duty following one of the 10-hour off-duty periods...

I read this a few times but still don't know if that means 14 hours regardless of what you do after the start.

By that I mean lets say I start working/driving following 10 consecutive hours off-duty and then after 2 hours I decided to take 10 consecutive hours of sleeper-berth (for whatever reason) time. When I get finish with the sleeper-berth does my 14 hour reset or do I only have 2 hours left in my 14 hour and then need to do another 10 hour?


My second question is about on duty time.

395.2 (5) says On duty time is

All time loading or unloading a commercial motor vehicle, supervising, or assisting in the loading or unloading, attending a commercial motor vehicle being loaded or unloaded, remaining in readiness to operate the commercial motor vehicle, or in giving or receiving receipts for shipments loaded or unloaded;

and 395.2(6) says On duty time is

All time repairing, obtaining assistance, or remaining in attendance upon a disabled commercial motor vehicle;

If you back up to a dock and (for whatever reason) have to wait 6 hours until you are finished being loaded. Is there anyway that this can't be considered on duty time without going into the sleeper? For example, can you lock the truck and walk away while its being loaded (or unloaded)? What if you are required to unhook the trailer and park somewhere else?

If your truck breaks down and it can't be fixed for a while, is it possible to be off duty at all? Your waiting for it to be repaired and what happens if they don't get there until 12 hours later?

Thanks for your help.

 

I know, it's tough!

 

I understood all of it except for the split time. I was told my a DOT officer that that was eliminated all together!

 

395.1(g)(1)(i)(C) says,

Question 1
Any time a driver takes a 10 hour "CONSECUTIVE BREAK" your 11 & 14 hour is now reset. Keep in mind the line 3 total hours does not mean you have violated your 11 or 14 hour.
Once you enter lines 3 or 4 that 14 hour clock is ticking. Example
I start # 12:00 am today and I log 15 minute pretrip, puts me # 12:15 am and I drive 11 hours, I do a 15 minute post-trip 11:15 to 11:30 posttrip, puts me # 11:30 I take a 10 hour break, which puts me # 9:30 pm, I do a pre-trip line 4 which puts me # 9:45 I can now drive from 9:45 pm to the next day at 8:45 am. DOT does not tell you how many hours you can drive in a 24 hour period, the tell you in a 14 hour period how many hours you can "work".

Your example: YOu would have a new 11 & 14 hour period.

395.2 (5) says On duty time is

All time loading or unloading a commercial motor vehicle, supervising, or assisting in the loading or unloading, attending a commercial motor vehicle being loaded or unloaded, remaining in readiness to operate the commercial motor vehicle, or in giving or receiving receipts for shipments loaded or unloaded;

and 395.2(6) says On duty time is

All time repairing, obtaining assistance, or remaining in attendance upon a disabled commercial motor vehicle;

If you back up to a dock and (for whatever reason) have to wait 6 hours until you are finished being loaded. Is there anyway that this can't be considered on duty time without going into the sleeper? For example, can you lock the truck and walk away while its being loaded (or unloaded)? What if you are required to unhook the trailer and park somewhere else?


No you have to log it on line 4 unless that customer says you can run to wal-mart or do whatever you want. The only way to even log off duty is to be free to do what you want or use the exception (if your company allows it) to go eat etc, most customers are not going to let you leave their property, unless maybe there is a taco bell next to them, then I would use the meal break and log it as off duty. Just go to the sleeper and read a book or relax or talk to us
If your truck breaks down and it can't be fixed for a while, is it possible to be off duty at all? Your waiting for it to be repaired and what happens if they don't get there until 12 hours later?

If you can go do what you want while that truck is being repaired, yes you can log it off duty. However DOT has record when you are dealing with those repairs and that should be logged on line 4. Look at the receipts time put in shop & time taken. Them times should be logged 15 minutes.
If you can run to eat while they fix your truck, that's the best thing to do. If it's going to be a while don't pick up the truck for 10 hours later and ask the shop can I pick it up 10 hours later.

Just keep in mind logs are real life of what you are doing and all you need to understand is what lines 1,2,3 & 4 mean. I can explain them to you!

 

SPLIT WAS NOT ELIMINATED, HOWEVER IT WAS CHANGED!

 

First the DOT states there is no reason to drive passed the 14th hour or the 70 hour rule for any reason. They only allow you an extra 2 hours of driving to get to your destination if could have been made without the delay, however the weather condition/issue if know prior to dispatch would not be acceptable.

Did you drive passed your 14th hour?

What I tell you is log it as you did it and usually they officers are aware of the major weather issue's and will probably cutt you some slack. They don't have to, however they will wonder are you using it as an exscuse and possibly check how true the situation was.

 

LogsRus,

Thanks so much, you answered all my questions.

 

logsrus ,that was very well put, i will be joining you all in the next orientation after christmas. the 14 hour rule is very simple, but i wish they would go back to the old rules.

 

you CAN work more than 70 hours.... you just can't drive once your 70 is up. But you can still be on duty, working.

 

Well great, however I have been instructed since it is Thursday, Friday & Saturday class that we need to cut it short. So please when you see my class it is not the normal one! So ask me here any questions you may have.
We don't normally do this and I am not liking it (even though I wish I didn't have to teach logs in front of 30 people). I am shy, believe it or not, but introduce yourself I always wonder who I am talking to and I don't judge.