Log books, What's really in them?

I spent a summer once helping a landlord of mine who farmed. Back then if I stayed within so many miles of te farm I could drive a CMV w/o a CDL. Kinda like a farmers permit for your 15 year old.
Things may have changed since then. Call the DOT in St Paul and dounle check with them. Batter safe then sorry.

PS: Send us some snow up north.

 

Check with your states DOT and license bureau, but in most states a farmer hauling products from or for his own farm within 150 miles of his farm is exempt. Additionally, many states have an "F" category license for drivers of trucks on a farm. When I worked full time on a farm, some of our other workers had "F" class licenses, which could be gotten as young as age 16. It involved going to the license bureau, getting the CDL study book and passing the test, but did not require the road test done by an outside evaluator. We had a couple of 16 year old guys that drove our semi trucks with no problems and were completely legal. I held a CDL because I drove our truck commercially, hauling for other farmers and the local co-op, which put us and the truck licensing into a commercial category.

As for log books, if you are staying within the legal distances, then your hourly pay records will be a suitable substitute for your on duty time, and there are exemptions that cover the longer hours needed for harvest and planting seasons.

The rules for farmer operation of a truck and trailer have been made relatively easy in most states, and I would be highly surprised if Mn hasn't followed suit here.

 

Some companies racked up so many HOS violations that they are required to run electronic logs. (electronic on-board recording devices). These things have buttons to push to change duty status, and are equipped with GPS systems, so they can't be cheated (not easily, anyway). If your truck has one and you use it, you don't need to complete a paper log. HOWEVER, the EOBR needs to be capable of printing a paper log for the last 7 days on demand. So if you get pulled over, the statie asks for your log, you print it for him.

In theory at least, it seems like a better, more efficient system. Only problem is, you need to work for a company with lots of HOS violations to get a truck with an EOBR. I don't know of any companies that have implemented these EOBRs voluntarily. Some like to brag about it, like it's a GOOD thing, though. Conveniently failing to mention that they have no choice in the matter. -Dave

 

In MN you have to have a yearly inspection of all tractor trailer combinations. You have to have a inspection every 2 years on straight trucks. Seems kinda pointless though. The inspectors are local mechanics. If you do business with them they will often over look little things like window washers etc. As long as you have brakes, lights, and fairly decent tires you pass. But, If you get pulled over by the police they will write you up for every little thing even if you have passed inspection. So, what's the purpose of the inspection?

Purty sure in MN I don't need a class A or CDL but, as I said it might be a good idea to get one anyway.

We should be OK on weight but, our "Bridge" is a little short. (I didn't even know what that was or, that it mattered before this) So, legally we can only haul 950 bushel instead of 1000 bushel which if we were hauling that much would put us right at 80000 lbs. Still every one we talked to says if your a farmer, hauling for yourself, close to home, and under 80000 the cops will not worry about the bridge. Around here they usually just walk into the elevator and pull tickets to make sure your not overweight.

We also go down no interstates of near any weigh stations. I don't even know where there is a weigh station around here. Near the state border on interstate 90 I'm guessing. That's many miles away.

Have a nice day.

 

You can be on duty up to 60 hours in 7 days or up to 70 hours in 8 days. This clock can be reset by logging 34 or more consecutive hours OFF duty. Note that it's highly unlikely you'd log 60 hours in 7 days DRIVING without running afoul of other HOS regulations. The 60 hours includes all time on duty, not just driving.



OK so how do you not go over your 60 hours in 7 days if you are logged on duty driving or not driving for a 14 hour day?

 

Not easy. If you truly work 14 hour days, then your time is up for the entire week after (about four) days. But from what others have told me, there are tricks to stay legal without falsifying the log. Example: You have an 8AM appointment to deliver a load. The night before, you drive to your final destination, park there (or very nearby) and log yourself off duty. Log yourself back on duty when they actually start unloading you. Even if that is well past noon the next day. OTOH, if you drove to get to your destination that morning, your day could be half over before you are unloaded.

 

very true. It is just brain racking trying to figure out how you dont go over 60/70. Obviously though you dont drive 11 hours everyday with loading/unloading times dependning on the length of haul. So I am slowly understanding the whole HOS system. These post are definetly informative. Keep up the good work.

 

Iowa Resident Farmers Operating a tractor trailer combination are exempt from a Class A CDL if they operate in 150 mile radius exemption as a Farm Vehicle Driver.,,,,,but they need a Class D Chauffers license with a number 1 endorsement