Logbook language; inapropriate or illegal?

Just where did you come up with this piece of information ? Please provide a link . Since most carriers have custom printed logs they pay for and regulations require the original RODS to be sent to the carrier and retained for 6 months (after which the carrier can dispose of it but most keep them for IRS records )what makes you say the logbook is property of the driver ?

 

Actually, the record of duty status (RDS/log) belongs to the carrier, and the United States Government. And carriers must keep an RDS for 6-months, not 90-days. In reality some carriers keep RDS copies for 7-years for income tax purposes. A driver only needs to retain the RDS copy for 7-days after its' completion.

I also wonder what any state enforcement official would have said if he/she got up on the wrong side of the bed that morning and then inspected that RDS.

From a retired federal DOT official.

 

Looks like you beat me to it, Rick. We must have been typing at the same time. But as we've said here many times before, to wit: stupidity is not illegal.

 

Well , you added some to it but confirmation always helps . Drivers should also keep copies for several years because IRS requires proof a driver is gone overnight to claim per diem .

 

To start off you were over 4'. Either fix it or flag it but dont blame the cop because you did not verify the load that was yours not his. Same is true on coments on your log book, you wrote it, what did you thibk they would pat you on the back?

 

This happened to me once sort of. A driver was being a smart ellic because we asked drivers to write down what they was doing on their log (well at first I never imagined I would have to specify " write down what you are doing minus your personal business) well this one driver was making snide remarks such as "I took a piss". I thought it to be rude but laughed, well my boss old fashion (as far as women go) he didn't like the fact he was writing that information on the log so he sent him a qualcom message telling him to never do this again.

It is a federal document and you shouldn't write anything on it that you don't want to get in trouble for.

Owner op or not all drivers should be treated the same in the log department! You all have the same rules and regulations! Owner ops trucks might be a little faster than a company driver that's about the only difference

 

Your logbook is a legal document and must be neat and proper.

 

date of original post.

WOW! Somebody is diggin' way back to bring this one back to life.

One thing to think about on your logs, and any other submitted paper work is this. These are legal documents, and could possibly be subpoenaed into court at some time or another.

So picture this scenario: You are a responsible driver. You get nailed for something that is purely chicken poop. You put your frustration into writting on your log. You know the cite is BS, the cop who wrote it knows it, the company will certainly agree that it is BS and even the court may agree that it is BS and dismiss it.

But a few weeks later, you are involved in an injury/fatal accident. It may not even be your fault, but of course the result is going to be a lawsuit. Now some enterprising scum bag of an attorney, that specializes in screwing over trucking companies, is able to get that log subpoenaed into court.

He then uses your own words to show the jury just what you think of the driving rules and regulations. With your own words, he shows you to (supposedly) be an irresponsible, hot headed scofflaw, that believes he does not have to obey the law. He makes you out to be arrogant, ignorant, and totally uncaring about what happened.

And he uses your own words, in your own handwritting to do it!

Not a pretty picture at all. You have gone from a responsible driver, who had an unfortunate incident, to being an accident looking for a place to happen. Totally negligent and unwilling to accept responsibility for your own actions.

I realize that this post looks like BS, unless you have ever been in court and seen a dirt bag attorney take something like this turn it into someone's worst nightmare. These guys are good at this, it's how they make their big bucks.

Let's don't give them any ammunition to use against us!

 

You got that right, Don

 

Sure would be nice to lock or stop posting on the old posts. If they want to expand it, start a new thread or something.