logbook question

U can drive legal and make a living.. Lying on your log may seem to be the only way when your starting out. Companies will try and push you into breaking the rules.. why? their neck isn't in a noose YOURS IS.. They don't pay the fine YOU DO.. Youwant to know how to run legal... Just log it like you ran it.. turn in those logs and see what happens... I bet they'll be calling you and try and get you to "change" them to somthing legal..

Your trainer is a typical example of todays trainers.. They're newbies themselves with usually less than 1 year themselves behind the wheel.. Now <poof> they're magicly transformed into a "trainer"! They don't know enough themselves...1/2 of them don't give a dam, they just want the $$..

Not doing a pretrip.. or even checking under the hood just proves my point... He doesn't care... He does as little as possible to just get by. I bet if he finds somthing as simple as a bulb out he won't change it..

Just my 2 cents on the subject.. It definately is different out here. I hate getting up some mornings and dealing with the idiots on the road I am forced to share the road with. Most of them are so called "drivers".

 

I work for the same company as the original poster does so i do know that is trainer does have at least one year driving. Only advise i have for him would be to tell your trainer you will not run illegal. If that does not work call and talk to the safety department and the one who is in charge of the schools and tell them what is going on and they will take care of it. As far as the pretrip goes just take the key out and do it before you start driving since you are the one responsible for it at that time.

 

Calm down turbo, it not that serious. If you re-read my post, i stated that i do belive there should be regulation, but they should take into account daily activites that cut into drive time. As a former driver, you should know how that goes. I knew that the HOS rules had some driver input, but im sure alot of input was only from the outside looking in.

I understand your mind frame, as DOT its all about safety and compliance and thats where you are coming from which is cool, but within saftey and compliance, there should also be functionallity as well, thats all i was saying.

Think Big and Win Big, God Bless and Ill See You At The Top!

 

I'd leave the company but keep my logs and copies of supporting documents proving you were shown to run illegaly while training . They should be reported anyway but when you leave let them know you have copies of those records and demand a release of the contract on that basis . Just for kicks tell them you'll send copies to MADD , Public Citizen , and other groups that will pressure FMCSA to fine them to the max . If you don't have access to a copy machine you can take pictures of bills with a digital or phone camera . Stick it out another week or two and keep a detailed record of your activity in a notebook .

 

psanderson , this post is quite interesting . I really doubt such sting operations take place now . I also doubt felony charges will ever be filed against any of the ATA megacarrier management despite it being well known they force or allow many drivers to violate HOS . But as to cautioning that a driver is responsible and faces consequences if HOS are violated , what about your undercover sting drivers ? Was their driving in violation any less safe than any other driver doing it or did they manage to gather enough evidence without violating any regulations themselves ?

 

Just a thought...............

Now would everyone here complain if the situation was slightly different?

Allow me to offer a view..............As drivers we complain about what?
Not having time because of the dropoff/pickup times.........

Would we complain if the time was only 15-30 minutes between them.

NO we would'nt..........But this is not really anyones fault. When a company is contracted on a load on any given day, it is most of the time that they do not know for sure who (which truck) is going to be there to make that pick up until almost that day for sure. This is the nature of the beast/industry. Those running dedicated runs do not have the same problems unless their is a problem on the load.

You as the driver must do what is the legal and safest thing for you to do. If you cannot legally run a load based on the legal time you pick it up to deliver on time and legal then don't. A company would be a fool to make any flack with you for following the law. We unfortunately live in a sue happy society and as I believe (PSANDERSON) mentioned above,
If something happens as in an accident when you are illegal you will lose everything that you have worked for. It is not worth it.

Document everything, cover your A#$%........ send everything over the Q/C Don't have those types of conversations over the phone because whoever will deny it.

These standards have been set up for the overall safety of ourselves and the public.

 

Who said anything about illegal actions? The only illegal actions transpired by the carrier.

Re. the sting operation: All I can say is that is was still active as of December, 2004.

 

Yes your truck can move when you are off duty. You will have to bob-tail and can only go to say a store or get food, you can even go to a park. Just don't go to a store 40 miles away from where you are staying.

 

I am not so sure of this ............A couple of months ago I had a discussion with a DOT Officer in Tx., his explanation was that anytime the tractor is in operation bob-tail or hooked the same rules apply.

I have not had the time to look up DOT reg.'s to see if this covered in the book or not yet, but will look into it to clarify soon.