Is going off duty on elogs while driving under 25mph a violation?

You know... I dont see why it is illegal for me to tinker on my truck on my own time, off duty... that is also when I clean it... i understand my 10 hour reset is so I get rested to roll again.. but, it is crazy that a driver who is logged off duty and in is the truck stop watching t.v. or playing video games for 5 hours is legal.. and a driver who is tinkering on their truck, maybe changing a light bulb or adding fluids for less than an hour is illegal...

I understand what the HOS of trying to achieve. .. but you cant regulate common sense and work ethic... if I am tired and feel I need a good long 8 hour sleep then yes, I take a quick shower, and get to bed... but, often, I need to unwind.. and doin my post trip, cleaning my truck before I shower is how I unwind....

Now, with the account I am on, if I do a lvld or lvunld it is usually pretty quick.. but, I do use that time to either tinker or rest...

I do think that playin with your elogs in a construction zone is just stupid... things can go wrong quickly in a construction zone.. and if it does.. and say, the car in front of me slams to a stop, and as I come to a stop the truck behind me doesnt and pushes me into the car... do you really think I stand a chance of being believed if I am logged off duty and when they check my phone I was texting...

It has been said before and it is so true... common sense is not that common in trucking...

 

So many "perfect angel truckers" here on these forums. I guess all those who stretch things a bit are out doing the work the angels can't/won't do and are too busy to waste time here. I wonder what the correlation of the "perfect, law abiding truckers" is with those who complain they always get crap loads with too much time one them?

 

Look, don't get me wrong I don't really disagree with you. However, as others point out, there are the by the book self-righteous types in here that will call foul on it, as I did previously.

 

No yeah.. i did not feel attacked. . I admitted myself to creative logging... and my tinkering on my truck on my own time during my 10 hour reset is an example of that...

There are drivers who are completely within the lines and I respect them for that... There are also drivers who color just a it outside the lines, like I do by doing a thorough post trip and taking care of what I can on off duty... yes, technically it is illegal...

You know something I have always pondered... every driver I ever talk to does a thorough and complete pre trip... yet, in the morning when drivers are getting ready to roll... I dont see a lot of drivers doing pre trips...
Same odd thing happens when you talk to drivers whos trucks are in the shop and the mechanic says the engine is glazed from low oil... the driver was diligent in their pre trips....

If we were all as good as we brag we are the roads would be a better and safer place for sure...

 

This is the kind of story I hear way too often. I was fortunate to have the best trainer at our company, but some of the stories I hear from other students about their trainers is despicable.

To the OP, just get another trainer, whatever you do. It just doesn't have to be this way and you deserve to learn it the right way. This guy is teaching you illegal habits that you are better off not committing.

 

I've been out of trucking for 3 or 4 yrs and a lot has changed, but one thing remains the same ol super truckers with their capes and tights and a bunch of nasty slobs looking like Chester the child molester making the average John Q Public lose any respect they might have for our profession. OP do the world a favor. Break the bum out. Your not a rat if your getting brought down and have nothing to do with it

 

So let me see if I understand. If a driver is Mr. Rogers and never colors outside the edges and never violates any law, they never crash or draw negative attention from the public .... only those who "work the eLog system" and drive 68 in a 65 are the problem in the industry, causing all the crashes and incidents ... got it. That makes things pretty simple then. All we have to do is fire all the drivers who ever "falsified a log" and the trucking industry will be 100% safe, almost instantly! Great!

 

That is what needs to be understood by the new drivers coming into the career. Another way to look at it is this: In a perfect world, all the regs could be followed to the letter, planning trips would all goes as planned even with some variables factored into each day.

Gasp! The world isn't perfect. Contingencies can and do arise that are completely unforeseen, and cannot be planned for in a great many circumstances. These can be fixed with a little creativity which of course, technically is illegal.

 

Theres a difference in what you do as a driver, and what you teach new drivers.

 

You're training with a whole year of experience? That is scary. No offense!