Truckers Report Jobs

Find Trucking Jobs

Company Driver Company Driver Dry Van Dry Van Flatbed Flatbed Refrigerated Refrigerated Specialized Specialized Owner Operator Owner Operator
More Trucking Job Searches ⌄ Fewer Trucking Job Searches
⌃

Longer than 14, shorter than 24.

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by truckermario, Apr 2, 2008.

  1. Apr 2, 2008 #1
    truckermario

    truckermario Road Train Member

    2,321
    561
    Sep 24, 2006
    0
    I'm simply annoyed beyond belief by this practice. Just earlier today I delivered a load I picked up from Anheuser yesterday late in the afternoon. The trip to the receiver would require a full day of travel. I could get there, but they would be closed. The scheduled appointment time was early in the morning. WAY past my 14 hour mark, but still early enough so that delivering on time would require an interruption of the DOT. The green book states that anything you do at the customer requires you to go to line four. If I were to finish out my break at the customer(which had a small parking lot), I would've had to stay there a good three extra hours. I thought Con-way would adjust the ETA based on my dispatch time like they USED to do, but NOPE! Still want it delivered on time. Did they conveniently choose to ignore the required DOT that supposed to be there?

    So I called up the overnight staff and asked for advice.
    "I don't know."
    . . . .
    Once again I have to think for myself.
    "Well maybe I'll park at the customer and just interrupt my sleeper to deliver and then shut down immediately."
    "Okay."

    Once again I've put myself in a situation where I'm at risk to get bust if found driving down the streets past my 14. Another practice I hate is the customer pounding on your door telling you that you can't park at a certain place and have to move it to the streets while you're trying to get your DOT.

    So how so you get around a situation like this? Do you lie and stay on lines 1 or 2 even though you're technically working? You're either late or you're in violation. Hmm. Which to choose?
     
    truckermario, Apr 2, 2008
    truckermario, Apr 2, 2008
    #1
  2. Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.

  3. Apr 2, 2008 #2
    panhandlepat

    panhandlepat Road Train Member

    3,255
    2,243
    Jan 12, 2007
    0
    many a time i've had to go directly to the shipper, log my 15 min for unload and go to sleep. only to wake up at apt time and bump the dock to get unloaded during my 10 hr break.
     
    panhandlepat, Apr 2, 2008
    panhandlepat, Apr 2, 2008
    #2
  4. Apr 3, 2008 #3
    Sandlapper

    Sandlapper Light Load Member

    208
    35
    Feb 6, 2008
    Simpsonville, SC
    0
    I log off duty while being unloaded. If you log on duty for waiting to be unloaded you will never have enough driving time to earn a living.
     
    Sandlapper, Apr 3, 2008
    Sandlapper, Apr 3, 2008
    #3
  5. Apr 3, 2008 #4
    Cynical Driver

    Cynical Driver <strong>"Eternal Cynic"</strong>

    237
    36
    Aug 27, 2006
    Wisconsin
    0
    I had a very concise response to this, but my connection flopped out, and I don't feel like re-typing it all...

    Bottom line, deliver it late! If you try to explain that action to the DOT, the company will abandon you with a line like "We never told him to do that, safety is our top priority."

    Unless you recorded the conversation, or got it on the qualcomm, you have no defense against that. :evil3:

    They are preying on your willingness to do this for them, even if it puts your financial status in jeopardy. No load is worth that fine, or hurting someone.

    I support legal logging.. maybe I'm in the minority. :|
     
    Cynical Driver, Apr 3, 2008
    Cynical Driver, Apr 3, 2008
    #4
  7. Apr 3, 2008 #5
    Cynical Driver

    Cynical Driver <strong>"Eternal Cynic"</strong>

    237
    36
    Aug 27, 2006
    Wisconsin
    0
    You should log the first 15 min on line 4, then run it up to line 2 rather than line 1.

    Off duty is defined as not being in the truck, and not performing any work-related activites while away from the truck.

    If you are not doing the unloading yourself, and you're not forced to wait inside, you should log it as sleeper, since you are not working, and you are in the truck. This IS a legal way to log this.

    FYI for all: The DOT and the FMCSA are working on a new way of auditing companies that will lead to the ability to fine drivers for infractions from months to years prior if it shows a habitual trend. So when they go in and have access to all the paperwork it will eventually come out that you broke the law. There will be nohiding from them soon enough.
     
    Cynical Driver, Apr 3, 2008
    Cynical Driver, Apr 3, 2008
    #5
  8. Apr 5, 2008 #6
    Brickman

    Brickman Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

    12,907
    12,209
    Sep 17, 2006
    WY
    0
    OTR unless they change the law to only keep log books for 6 months your statement about fining drivers from months or yrs prior won't work.


    When I was waiting to load/unload I would mark line 2 so as to not eat up my 70. I always figured if the DOT asked what I was doing I would tell him that outside of me WAITING for the shipper/receiver to get off their dead butts and to to work, that it really wasn't any of his business but if he must know I was reading a book, posting on the internet, making and eating a samich, taking a nap, watching a DVD or doing the wife. (that only works if she is along)
    Be sure to have a response ready if you get asked.
     
    Brickman, Apr 5, 2008
    Brickman, Apr 5, 2008
    #6
  • Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.