Exposing log book tricks

If everyone would log it like they drive it there would be a big change in this industry. Shippers wouldn't delay you at the dock as long knowing you only had a certain number of hours you would drive after being loaded. Brokers wouldn't expect a 900 mile load to be overnighted. But as long as there are cowboys out there that will do it it will be expected. If everyone ran legal, wages and rates would eventually go up.

 

That's a nice sentiment. Pure BS, but a nice sentiment.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not looking to pick a fight with you, and in fact, I used to believe it myself. The reality is that the industry is not controlled by the drivers. It is controlled by the big companies, the customers and legislators and none of them give a tinker's #### about the drivers. Never have, never will.

I used to be leased to a company that did try and make a difference. They run paperless logs so it is very hard to run anything but legal. They went to bat with the customer and said that we have to work within the HOS because we are running paperless. The customer (one of the largest retailers in N.A.) said they would put pressure on the shippers to ensure we got loaded in a timely manner. Plus, they live in a JIT (Just In Time) environment for many of their goods so that was also to their benefit. It made a very small difference. I can usually get the same shippers to hurry along--now that I'm leased with a much smaller carrier, working for much smaller customers--just as well as before....


which usually means not at all.

 

You can try as you might to juggle the log book all you want. But there is in fact always a way to prove your logs false, if you don't log it as you drive it. I have seen posts here about- I have no Qualcom or GPS in my truck, I pay cash for fuel etc. Those who think such tactics have them safe from prosecution or liabilty you are so wrong. Your just gambling with life! Be wary of the ECM on the engine every truck has one now and in some models it is more accurate than Qualcom. If they can prove a pattern of falsification and or "Evil Intent" your going to have less freedom than you would had you followed the dumb rules to begin with try getting a decent job after its all done and said with. Honestly they are not that difficult to follow. If you, as some say need to make more money or can't make enough following them. Trying to skirt or bypass the rules isn't the answer. The real problem isn't the rules it is that your buisness plan is terrible and flawed. There is alway an alternative and a safe one at that. But few seem to be able to bring themselves to do there homework and find a way to deal with the problems correctly. Perhaps it not that you don't make enough but that you spend to much Etc.

 

Sidewinder is absolutely right. There are way too many ways to prove dirty logs. I got a letter from CalTrans (CA DOT) a few months ago, they had a roadside camera that picked up my license plate and sent me a survey in the mail about a certain portion of US101 that they picked me up driving on at a specific time on a specific date. Get real people, this is an age of computers, satellite up-links and such. If it's not already happening, it's just a matter of time before all of those computers start talking to each other. As it is now, the chicken coops have computer connections to each other and a fed database that suggests to them whether or not to stop trucks from certain MC's based on their DOT numbers. My livelihood, freedom and money are way too important to be messing with this.

 

I think it is more so the companies that have the added benefit than LEOs, bureaucrats etc. But I think your dead on.

I believe the current HOS is supposed to be directly for the benefit of the drivers circadian cycle. But as long as the drive line is the only line the driver gets paid for, the incentive along with the responsibility to lie (be illegal) is the norm.

And I was thinking you were smart

Nobody really talks about this to people outside the biz. I researched the industry up and down before I entered. And now looking back I realized only a few drivers I talked too barely even eluded to this.

Now I find myself lying on my logs daily to conceal my work so I can make a better paycheck. What the *&$%?. I hide my work time so I can earn more money. Thats insane.

I knew there was going to be some uncompensated time/labor when I decided to go into trucking. But the amount of work, time doing it and having to lie about it make this rabbit hole to deep for me. Everyday I think, if I was as honest in my job trucking as I have been in my previous jobs. I would be shown the exit door by my company.

 

Most drivers of the big companies do log it like they drive it.

Its because people don't log it like they work it that is the problem.
The wages are low for all things considered (liability, standard of living, mental/physical health...), and the treatment of OTR driver is poor. But the real problem is me, and everybody else that lies about the amount of work time they spend.

The real kicker is OTR is really not what "long haul drivers " do any more. I think the last I read, avg lenth of haul is 700miles. Its only getting shorter.
Making it more of an hourly position than a "piece work" as the time spent at shipper/consignees doesn't shorten in response.

The cowboys are becoming dinosaurs. Paula Cole would agree.

 

"Log it as you drive it" protects the company. Not you.

Logging it as you drive and work it protects you. No more "ten hr breaks" at grocery warehouses..
No more hiding line 4 time. Look at Wal-Mart they'll give you a print out of your time arrival, time that your truck was docked, time you left. I think part of the reason they do it is to CYA


"log it like you drive it" and you'll be OK is bull the companies want you to believe. Just like they want you to put a ten hr break for those long "appointments" at the docks. They also expect a pattern of falsification with their drivers, its understood by Drivers, DOT, truck companies, shippers receivers... Guess who will pay proportionally the most if things go south. The companies factor in the loses from accidents. We just hope and have faith.

 

Interesting. I've never heard of that about CA.

As long as truckers get payed by cpm (cents per mile) trucking will be gamble. A gamble with four houses stacking the cards against you. Your company, the DOT, shippers/recievers. Also the uncontrollable factors like traffic, construction, weather, accidents...

 

Sidewinder is right. There are all kinds of ways to prove false logs. Why do you think we see all of these ambulance chaser lawyers with the billboards saying "I sue big trucks" or something like that. They have figured out how to track you electronically and if you have an accident, they can nail you. The thing about most drivers is they think, well I'm the exception, I'm a safe driver. The reality is something that is not even your fault could be career ending if your logs can be proven false. There are more and more drivers that are involved in accidents getting their cel phone records supoenaed and as far as paying cash for fuel, there is still a record of what time you bought that fuel at the station you fueled. Add to that the fact that they are now putting drivers who knowingly falsify their logs and hurt someone in prison, along with dispatchers and company owners. I can't see why anyone would risk their livlihood and their family's well being just to work harder. I am out on the road to make a living for my family, not to be a slave to anyone. I don't want to work 18 hours a day. I like to have some sort of life.

 

I've been driving for a month now after being out of the business since 1998,.. one thing I do is try and keep track of my first two or four hours average speed from when I leave the truck stop or shipper. I look at the time and an hour later the odometer and calculate how many miles and divide. On a 70mph highway I have found that after 3 hours running the speed limit I can average about 67mph. Of course, that's being able to run "free" and not be bogged down in any way, and being out of the city, so I guess what I'm saying is that the averages can be there. I don't log the speed limit but a few miles per hour under,..

I believe had the scale master wanted to he could have proved squat though, any accident he found in police computers, any weather or documented delays would have nailed you. In this electronic age all the information is there...

I just got home after 15 days on the road. I started "squeezing" my line 1 when I had to sit 3 or 4 hours somewhere. Pretty soon I was off the page being able to match up with pre-pay, EZpass or fuel stops. My sheets might have looked legal but research would have nailed me. I'm starting fresh after a 34 hour re-set and going to let my logs get "real",.. man, I was way too paranoid approaching chicken coops, I don't deserve or need the paranoia because my company owner needs to make more $$$$!!

Roy