E-logs and Reality

But if your paid by %, your not getting anything for empty miles... hence, not working. And if I'm not being paid... why not be at home?

For what it's worth, I personally sleep better, and get MUCH more rest at home, NOT in the truck.... Therefore, I'm pro-active in mitigating myself from being overly fatigued behind the wheel of a 29,000lb vehicle.

It's win win for EVERYONE!

 

If you are logged off duty and going to a restaurant or fuel stop you may not be getting paid .
That is a point for argument with our drivers though . We work out of 2 terminals 120 miles apart . If a driver based at one terminal pulls a load from another terminal he is paid for the bobtail miles between terminals . Since he is being paid the miles should he be able to log PC returning home bobtail ? They do it all the time . Is 120 miles too far for PC ? Corporate safety said PC couldn't be over 100 miles . We challenged them to produce the regulation or company rule stating that . We got no response . Our boss told us just run 30 miles down the road bobtailing on duty then go off duty and bobtail 30 miles PC .

 

I'd challenge you to produce a REGULATION that allows PC. Not an interpretation, an actual regulation.

 

I'd challenge you to produce a REGULATION that doesn't allow PC. Not an interpretation, an actual regulation.

 

§ 395.2Definitions. Driving time means all time spent at the driving controls of a commercial motor vehicle in operation.

 

They won't Meltom, because they can't. They continue to say that's it's 'fine and legal" to do this or to do that in a given situation, then when you ask for where this is spelled out in a way that is not open to interpretation, they fall silent. Most seem to err on the side that "fit's their interests/needs short-term" I prefer to err on the side of caution that will work long-term, past the point where the rule-makers finally fix the voids in the language and specification.

And many talk about a "Line 5" . Where the hell is "Line 5" even mentioned in the FMCSA guidebook? I get the fact that drivers, in certain situations are allowed to use (drive) a truck (company or otherwise) for personal conveyance, but if you're off duty, you're off duty, so why utilize a "Line 5"? And where does any carrier get the authority to add a line 5 to an EOBR system and what are it's hard and fast rules and requirements for use? If it's spelled out somewhere, please share with us.

 

Try the definition of Off Duty . When you are relieved of duty you are not under regulation . I was surprised when reading one list of guidance questions to learn drivers are allowed to stop and buy alcohol on the way to a hotel room . They are off duty and the regulation prohibiting alcohol in a CMV doesn't apply . Yes , company rules could still be enforced .

 

What does "in operation' mean? Loaded and working(laden)? Movement? none movement?

If I'm at the controls and not moving, am I driving?

Your 'rules' may not be a clearly defined as you think

 

Does your company have e-logs ? Our carrier does and there is an option for personal conveyance while off duty . Miles driven under personal conveyance don't show up as daily miles on the log.

 

Yep we have eLogs and Off Duty (PC) I'm just bored.