Going OTR with CDL permit. Legal?

As long as he is awake and paying attention yes.

 

off duty, personal driving practice on the log book

 

You're going to have to check with every state you hope to drive through. Although MOST states recognize the permits of the other states, there are a handful of states which do not. Every state will also have certain restrictions placed upon learners permits...such as no night driving...and those restrictions will vary from one state to the next.

As long as you know which states will recognize your permit and under which conditions you cannot operate under, then there is no reason why you couldn't go OTR with a permit for your training.

 

If you are a permit holder, he'd have to be on duty. He isn't "off duty" because he is still responsible for the vehicle going down the road...he's just not at the wheel. He can start his day while you are in the sleeper, and he can drive for as long as he feels like driving (within the HOS). Then, he can slide over into the jump seat and go on duty-not driving and extend his day for as long as you are driving. There is no law against exceeding the 14 hours, just that you cannot DRIVE after the 14th hour. You are the one driving...he's on duty. Then, when you're done driving, the truck gets parked for 10 hours and you start over again.

 

Unless they changed it. You couldn't cross state lines. Only INTRAstate

 

Not sure where you get that...intrastate restrictions are only for people under 21 years of age. MOST states recognize learners permits issued by other states.....always have for as long as I can remember. Only a handful of states do not recognize out-of-state permits.

 

That maybe so. I'll do some more research to see. I think the best thing for this guy to do is call the state and ask if they recognize learners permit from another state. He is actually involved in interstate commerce because he is pulling loads.

I'm sure the permits were designed for the schools or people to learn in state so they can get ready for the CDL test. Driving across the country on a permit just seems a little fishy to me. I have never heard of it, but in my brief inquiry I have seen some states that do allow people with permits to cross state lines. So may not be as unusual as I think.

I just don't see the advantage to the O/O whose 70 hour clock will be eaten up by sitting in the jump seat on duty not driving for 11 hours. The last thing I want is to be learning from somebody who just drove 11 hours and is sleep in the passenger seat. No thank you.