Maximizing my time, logging off duty while loading/unloading?

Actually you did over complicate it ... 8 years at Swift all I ever did was show 5 minutes on duty ... sometimes. The rest of time I show off duty.

At my current company I don't even show that. The only on duty I show is yard move. And then only if I'm going to move long enough to trigger the drive line.

To the op ... yes go off duty. And as long as you're off duty at least 2 hours the 14 hour clock will pause. But, depending on your company policy and your ELD's methodology, the pausing may or may not happen.

 

Mazel Tov!!!

 

I'm Shlomo also.

 

All this talk about extending the 14 hour clock so that you can, what... work even longer hours without getting some much needed quality rest?

 

Yes you have interpreted correctly in my opinion. Yard move is all about whether the property has public access, and it is private property.

 

Actually it provides helpful flexibility. Here's a scenario as an example. I have a 3 AM appointment and I'm some distance away. Instead of having to wait where I am and start my clock late and drive at night, which I personally prefer not to do. I can start my clock so that I can drive to the area before it's dark. Park close by or at their staging area if they have one, and then pause my 14 until just before my appointment (I usually take a nap while I'm waiting). Then go the place and still have time on my clock to go someplace else after I am finished. The split will allow me to drive during the daylight hours, as I prefer and still work it all into my clock. It provides that flexibility and I like it. It can also work to help me avoid heavy traffic times and deal with finishing one load and starting the next when the clocks just don't quite add up to do it another way. So, I commonly use the split and like the flexibility it provides me.
If others don't want to use the split, then don't. Run things how you want. But, it is useful to me and I use it to my advantage.

 

I don't think anyone can debate that the absolute WORSE HOS status an OTR driver can be under is on duty (not driving), basically the truck is stopped, you have stopped making money, and your available hours are being sucked out. I know what is in part 395, and especially in part 395 regulatory guidance. Unless there is a special situation forcing your hand to stay in this status, do your best to get either off duty, or sleeper. I remember something that happened to me back many years ago. I went through a week from hell. I was inspected by DOT twice. In one place I had to get out of my tractor and actually stand inside the door while I was loaded. Between those inspections and those crazy loads, I went through my 70-hour clock like a hot knife through butter. I remember telling my fleet manager I had about 30 minutes left and was going to park at the flying fish hook. I did not have time to go to Mars candy and pick up a loaded trailer. Somewhere I still have that logbook. Of those 70 hours, about 20 of them were on duty (not driving) no matter what I did that week I could not get off that status. As an OTR driver, that status is VERY TOXIC, do your dang best to limit it to the absolute minimum!

 

This is the absolute truth.

 

15 min. On Duty Not Driving to open doors, bump dock, drop, chock, slide, whatever’s needed, then Off Duty, to save Driving hours. This has been the acceptable procedure for years. Considered relieved of Duty while others are Loading or Unloading You. I once had a DOT call the receiver and ask what I did while getting unloaded. Dummy was trying to give me a ticket for being off duty while in a dock. They couldn’t. They weren’t the sharpest.

 

you only need tp be on duty when you sign your BOL.