fudge logbook.........

Nothing has changed, LOL. I have seen DOT pull up to a truck beside me in a rest area causing me to almost break a leg getting back into the sleeper and shutting the curtain

 

I do that quite frequently, LOL

 

I've read a few different articles from legal trucker advice columns and the consensus seems to be...it is a gray area. If you can conceivably be considered BTing at the request/direction of the company, you would have to log on line 4 (i.e. BTing to p/u load), but it's tricky because say you dropped a load and are now BTing home--in some cases drivers can still get ticketed (and fail their appeal) because it is determined that the company, by authorizing the driver home time, is, in essence, directing the driver to go home, ergo, the driver is not under a load and is BTing home, but still must log as on-duty/driving because the company directed the home time. Interesting, huh? If you are BTing to a store for shopping, going to a movie, etc. then drivers have successfully argued they are off-duty. What is comes down to is it is a very very gray area and dependent less on what is the law, and what individual officers believe the law is. Personally, when I BT for personal reasons, I always log on duty/driving until I've completed my errands/arrived at my final destination. If I didn't encounter any safety officials or make a fuel stop, then I rewrite my log sans my personal BTing time. That way I still protect my work hours, but don't leave myself exposed to being in violation if I am stopped for any reason. If someone knows more info or can point me to a site about this situation I'd be interested. -dfk

 

BT for personal reasons should be allowed. This is legal control that has nothing to do with safety. There should be no Grey area here and drivers should be allowed to operate a vehicle in off duty time without penalties. This is a part of the DOT laws that needs to be addressed.

One such way could be to add another line for off duty driving in the log books that does not count against a drivers on duty time, but still should not be necessary as drivers are authorized to drive their personal vehicle without a log book and then get into a truck and drive the legal limits.

Makes no sense to me.

 

^ But what if this driver is bobtailing to pick up another load? If he had a trailer he would still be considered driving/on duty.

 

It is similiar to nascar,its ok to be creative,don't get caught in between and keep entries legal in the end. You can cheat in nascar,but,don't get caught doing something stupid,and be sure in the end that log or car passes muster. Alot of common sense goes a long way.I cannot tell you what I know here in print and won't. In most case scenerio I let the company dictate rules and limits as long as I can make a living for them first,then myself in most cases,as long as they don't use you or put you at risk.Alot of drivers are in jail because of stupidity,don't let yourself be one of them,think first,then react.

 

Makes the best of sense, but legal just can't cut it for some as the cost of living is too high. Something must be done to re-regulate the portion of Transport laws that protect bottom end freight freight rates to protect owner operators and labor laws to protect company drivers. Only then will we see compliance. The only other option is revenue creation on the side and that takes open minds and people who have vision, ambition and the desire to live better.

Its a simple thing but like common sense, it isn't all that common!

 

You would think this common sense would solve all problems, but unfortunately NASCAR and driving for a living on the open highways is like night and day. You are right on when it comes to the paycheck. No one will ever dictate that people be slaves for slave wages and expect them to be happy.

Yes, to a lot of drivers in Jail over stupidity. I have seen it happen more than once; too fast on the down hill and run over vehicles; not check breaks and lose them on the way down; fall asleep behind the wheel and back end another vehicle; etc. We must know our limitations and live by them. Don't push beyond as your time and luck will run out!

 

Very true and here we need protection because we are on the clock and no pay the majority of the time. The 18th Amendment abolished Slavery, making DOT rules and regulation partially illegal under the Constitution. Who's fighting it?

You buy equipment or lease it to make money and not to provide assets for others to get rich while you go hungry.

Who's side is the Government on?