dot log book inspections

The cost of printing a log every day is not to me a good investment! Thats a lot of paper and then the ink and that's both types! Color and black! It will have to be a total of $40 a month depending on brand of printer! You also have to take into account that not all DOT officers are teck savvy! I actually had a DOT officer at the scales on I-71 just north of Columbus just before they closed several years ago that had to be 20 years YOUNGER than me ask "Whats DDL?" No kidding he had never heard of it and I'm glad I had my book (paper) up to date as he told me if I didn't have it he would have written me up!
I'm also a cheap b tard and that cost is just to much to bear! The company gives me free log books and I can draw faster than I can click! I just use it to check my day. I don't have to turn on the lap every time I draw a line as I know the book is ok from the first time I go on duty. count 14 hours down the top line and put a little tik mark on that 14 hour mark and you're fine. I just at the end of the day use DDL to check my work and then schedule or look at the schedule for the next day.
But as I said that printing is a big waste of money to me! I'll just use the free log books and just in case there is another non savy Officer out there I'm good with the paper! Who needs the hassle!

 

I use DDL and print my logs everyday--two copies--and it doesn't cost me $40 a month in supplies.

1 ream of GP copy paper from Wally World: Less than $3... lasts 250 days.

1 printer cartridge (black only) for my HP F2200: $14... lasts almost three months when you print using the "Fast/Economical" setting.

That works out to about 30 cents a month for paper and $4.60 for ink... not to mention the time savings--it takes me less than 3 minutes in the morning to update, print and file my log. With regular books, it took longer than that just to fill out the top section of the new day.

 

Thats close to what I figured my ink is a little more but will do 300 -350 copys so thats about a years worth. I already have the printer/scanner in the truck and since I'm a O/O under my own numbers only need to print 1 copy

 

do they make DDL for Apple MacBooks/

 

Not according to the web site. You might want to send them an email and ask them.

 

So point out exactly why you feel you need a shovel?

 

i leave mine on and plugged in allday. takes the same amt. of time or less then paper.

 

Why do you care? There are flashlights that have alcohol detectors on them. Try not to drink when you work.

 

Just another reason to work for a company that forces drivers to run legal - hand em my log along with my line-haul pay-sheet that I'm not required to produce and everything corresponds to the minute. Last time I was DOT'd in Pa we ended up BS'ing about cars for 45 minutes after 2 seconds of log book talk. For you newer drivers, I cannot stress how important this is. I did it when I drove OTR not understanding what I was risking and who I was risking it for - just something to think about..