Out of service

Copy he just wanted to get home for the holidays. Thanks.

 

I’ve gotten and overweight citation years back. You can’t predict how wet/green lumber can be, anyways, I ran a local load and didn’t think I was overweight until I got red lighted at the scales. I was 2k over on each of the both tandems, and had 20 miles to go for delivery. The Leo ask me if someone was coming to adjust the load, I replied yes when actually I hadn’t contacted anyone cuz I knew that particular scale closes at a certain time. After I replied that “Yes” someone is coming, he said sign here, I’m giving you a break and not citing you for over gross and 2k over on each of both axles, I’m just citing you for 2k on one tandem. I said thank you, then he drove off to the sunset. I waited for about 15 minutes and drove off the opposite direction.

 

Best advice, DON'T! I was part of a conversation about a driver that violated an Arizona OOS order at the westbound I-10 port of entry back in the summer. My information is 2nd handed but I heard the driver was fined $2,000 plus the tow bill and storage fees, and the load was really late. In addition, there is a great chance you will lose your CDL for a while.

 

By the time you’re OOS, they have your VIN #, ID, company info, driver’s license #, etc.

I don’t think a Thanksgiving turkey is worth the termination (if employee), 2000 dollar fine, and court dates.

 

What was the OOS for ?

 

Tried to cheat the Log Book but wasn’t too smart about it. Went over on 70 now stuck till Wednesday 6pm

 

I do believe you have unions and government confused.

You start in a union as an apprentice, then move up to journeyman. Any sign saying “Licensed mechanic on duty” is a literal paper weight. Your boss can tell you to watch a five minute video and tell you that you’re now certified.

 

***Only try this if you own the truck & MC you’re operating under*** Better said is you keep your mouth closed and don’t get smart with the officer. After he walks off make what repairs are needed if any, then sign the inspection form and drive off. It’s not the officers job to verify your credentials and as business owner you can “ certify” yourself as a mechanic.

 

I was put OOS at Banning scale for inoperable brake lights. Pulled out to the lot to a wild pack of mobile mechanics drooling like hungry wolves to get at my truck, I quickly whipped out the fuse that had burned out and replaced it and returned to the inspection bay where I was put back in service and had to pay a $25 administrative fee.

Another time in Arizona, hauling hazmat, I was pulled over on the side of the highway within 5 feet of live traffic and instructed to open my trailer doors. The trooper crawled 40 some odd feet deep into the trailer to find the thing he wanted to put me OOS for, a pallet that did not have sufficient plastic wrap around it. I happened to have a roll of tie wire that I wrapped around the pallet and he was satisfied with the safety of that pallet's transport integrity, nevemind that the load had traveled over 1000 miles to that point without blowing up....

Upon further scrutiny of the exterior of the trailer he found a 1 inch by 1 inch remnant of an old hazmat placard that he determined was of the Corrosive variety and put me OOS for that til it was scraped off.

Whiskeytown scales put me OOS for slack adjusters out of adjustment but since the trailer was empty, after few minutes he just put me back in service arbitrarily, but the extra 2 points for OOS still apply under CSA.

And going way back in the way back machine, of my rookie days, I was put OOS for an expired registration cab card which was quickly remedied by my company faxing me a copy of the current one.