My trainer screw up today with my dot time, how that happen?

As a wannbe, I have no direct, required experience running a logbook. However, wanting to be truck driver (having to wait on some personal affairs before I can make the move) I figure the responsibility is mine to learn how logbooks work. I went to the FMCSA site and have read up on what the service hour rules are. They even have numerous examples of correct and incorrect logbook entries for how it should be done. I went to my local truck stop and bought a logbook just to be familiar with it all. Occasionally I transport human remains a couple hundred miles to the closest major airport as a side job and I practice logbook entries, even though it is not required, just for the experience and familiarity. Being knowledgeable and competent on logbooks and service hour rules is something any driver should possess. Like it or not, it is the rules we have to live with. Also, knowing the rules and at least how a paper log works is attainable before you actually get in a cab. It is a required 'skill' when being a professional truck driver. Any and all drivers should, on their on initiative, learn and know it. Learning how to apply all this with elogs or comdata or whatever other digital log form will be in use I can't speak about other than learning how to use them is, once again, the driver's responsibility, as it is their career.
Anyway, I think it's on the driver to learn this stuff. I'm sure not waiting to be hand feed this kind of info. But, maybe I'm better than some at self-learning. But, I do think if I were having issues with it, I'd be on my trainer to teach me and not wait till he got around to it. It's not his career.
Just my thoughts, sorry if they sound kinda gruff. I just feel it's my responsibility to learn this stuff because I wannbe be a driver.

 

I agree with six9GS. I'm thinking this goes a bit deeper than the trainer not training. Why come on here before asking the trainer for an explanation? He is the one you should be asking these questions. How many days have you been driving with this trainer? You should know how many hours you have driven over the last few days. We need more info before we can help you figure this out. By not giving us any info it makes me think that you are not letting the trainer know that you are having trouble with this. Speak up! Don't be scared to ask him why. If you don't you will never make it as a truck driver. It's a job where you don't have anyone to fall back on. It's just going to be you out there! All alone! If you can't keep track of your hours/miles how are you going to know if your pay check is right? This is your only chance to learn from somebody else. Use it!

I'm sorry but this post makes me a little mad. I hate to be that way but i'm not a driver yet just like six9GS and i've spent a lot of time reserching this proffession and a lot of time getting my ducks in a row so I can have the chance that you already have. I already know the HOS rules and i'm a plumber!! People don't take driving an 80,000 lb truck seriously enough.It would be nice if it was all sitting back and listening to the radio, watching the pretty trees go by but it's not!

It's time to step your game up and figure out what is going on for yourself! Who are you going to blame when you are all by yourself in the middle of the desert and out of hours, and fuel and don't know where a truck stop is because your trainer and the school didn't teach you trip planning? you can only count on yourself!

I have a feeling the next post will be about getting screwed on your pay because you are not sure how many miles you drove but it took a long time so it had to be a lot!! And your trainer said you would make $1500 a week so it's gotta be wrong!

If your trainer is stealing your hours i'm sorry for this post but I can tell you that this plumber would know if my hours were getting robbed!

You are wasting your opportunity to be a truck driver by not paying attention. Pay attention!!

 

About a quarter of a century ago, an old school old fart told me that if you want to work around your log, you had better understand what it is you're working around. This turned out to be very sage advice- something I've strive to do to this day even being on E-Logs now. Nothing is changed, I-the driver- must understand the regulations. It is an obligation on the driver just as it is an obligation to understand and have a good working knowledge of all the regulations that affect us as drivers. If anyone comes out here and remains ignorant than that person justly deserves to get burned which is exactly what will happen.

So you newbies and greenhorns- it is NOT your trainers' responibilty to give you what you need to know to survive that first year and begin to build a foundation for the rest of your driving career- it is YOUR responsibility! If you even a have small feeling that you are not getting that, even a little little squirlish feeling in the pit of your stomach that something isn't right then do something about it to make it right. You have a moral responsibility to others and yourself to make #### sure you are getting all the information and training you can possibly cram into how ever little time you are given to do it. To fail in this, to not take advantage of it, is just not to fail in your career but get badly burned or worse because you failed to do so.

This is not a game. It is not a simulation. It is real hard core in your face reality. And it will do it's damnedest to kill you. If you are not prepared you have only yourself to blame.

My $0.02 worth and I've shot my wad.

 

I didn't know CR England used log books.

 

Even if you didn't have the hours, your trainer should have. I don't understand why he would just park the truck?!

No you don't get 11 hours of driving everyday. Its going to depend on what you did the previous days and when you last took a break and how long. If you stopped driving at 11pm Thursday night then once midnight comes around and its Friday that doesn't mean you now have 11 hours of driving. You will have to take a 10 hour break and your day of driving will start at 9am on Friday morning. Now depending on what you did the last 7 days will determine how many hours you will be allowed to drive today. Provided you aren't maxed out, you should be able to drive 11 hours.

I really think you need to consider switching trainers if this is happening. Obviously your trainer is not qualified to be teaching someone the rules when they themselves don't know what's going on. I would highly advise you call your safety dept and immediately get a different trainer before something happens! Your company will probably thank you for bringing this to their attention. They don't need a trainer out there training new guys the wrong way and comprising the safety of the truck.

Do the right thing, get out of that truck! Remember your license is your "bread and butter" and if something happens, your career could end very abruptly! Currently you are putting your license on the line because of this numbnut trainer who doesn't know what they are doing!

 

A couple tips. While the DOT regs state; "log it as you do it" there are ways to minimize the amount of time spent on line 4 (on duty not driving).
Line 4 is for those activites such as fueling, PTI's, checking in with customers, or physically loading a trailer. This time is usally UNPAID so keep that in mind.

The key for earning money in this business is to minimize the amount of time spent on line 4 with activities that do not earn you money. When possible combine duties.

When fueling wait until morning to get your fuel (this limits the possibility of fuel being stolen overnight). Begin fueling the truck and perform your pre-trip inspection at the same time. Remember a Pre-Trip and Post trip inspection has no specific time REQUIRED by DOT regs (some carriers will have a time requirement but that is COMPANY POLICY not DOT regs).
Another tip would be to log 15 minutes on line 4 while at a customer for loading or unloading. As long as you are not required to be present during the loading/unloading you can log that time as off duty or even sleeper berth. Carry a book to read or computer to keep yourself entertained. The key here is you have been relieved of responsibility for the truck and its contents and are "free to do other things."

When arriving at a customer after hours (and if your familiar with the customer) you could dock your trailer, show "RCVR unload" and "Post trip inspection" in the same 15 minute time frame, and then go into the sleeper berth. When the customer opens in the mornng they will knock on your door and you hand them the BILLS for the load and then go back to bed. This strategy also permits the driver to acquire his mandated "10 hour break" before beginning his next duty cycle.

The key to making money is to "keep those wheels turning". The more hours you spend on line 4 the fewer hours you will have to use on line 3.

Veteran drivers have learned these things over the years and make good money because they are careful with the logs and they utilize the same concepts I have just listed.


For those that are interested here is a link to an older thread that may offer some insight into the way things were done and why regs are changing;


http://www.thetruckersreport.com/tr...rs-advice/33752-exposing-log-book-tricks.html