Qualcomm E-log: hours to be gained

This is straight from the Current DOT Interpretation

"The driver must be operating a completely empty vehicle, either bobtailing or with no cargo onboard."

https://mbasic.facebook.com/notes/j...al-conveyance-is-it-really-pers/455543408227/

I think the word "or" is the key, and that allows an empty trailer to be pulled. Unladen does mean "not loaded".

It is my understanding that one must be Unladen, not advancing a load, not repositioning any equipment, and not doing any company business what so ever.

 

Yep, I only lasted 90 days with that company... They put you on Elogs, dispatched you like me you were on paper, and expected you to run like you were on paper.

Told them once I didn't have enough time to get to a shipper, had 3.25 hrs left, shipper was 4.5 hrs away. Next thing I know I get a message that I had 5 hrs so proceed. I looked down and sure as ####, I all of the sudden had gained 1.75 hrs...

I went ballistic on them for changing my logs after I had approved the originals. Told them I was not moving the truck until they were returned to what they were.

I have pictures of those messages too.

 

I don't really give myself a time cushion for the very reasons you just stated. What I do is I plan each leg of my trip with an option "A", an option "B", and, occasionally, an option "C" as far as where to stop. They're all usually within a 60 to 70 mile stretch on the map, and I start going through my options during my last hour. If option "A" is full then I jockey down the road to option "B", and so on. I never take more than a few minutes at each stop to determine if there's enough parking, so I can get to the next option (if need be) without blowing my 14.

I'm sure there are better methods but this has worked for me ever since I started doing it this way.

 

Trip planning, parking, road hazard, unexpected weather or other circumstances are what will cause most newer drivers the most grief! Until enough "experience" is gained to be in a mode of "out of habit" any run will have it's given amount of un-plannable or unexpected moments or situations.

This topic, like so many others, vary with region. What works simply out west is often impossible on the east or deep south. I have never understood how these desk jockeys can try to achieve a "one size fits all" expectation on the different variables we encounter depending on region and commodity. Not to mention the different "interpretations" of one specific rule or regulation offered by individual or groups of law enforcement and State authorities.

 

How much time would you have in reserve for option A?. Would you end the day with hours or minutes left on the clock?.

 

I just finished training with a mega a month ago and this is what we were taught. Total miles\ 50 * 1.1 equals number of hours which are to be rounded up. So 400 miles divide by 50mph equals 8 hrs times 1.1 which is 8.8 so in their math you need to plan for nine hours of drive time which would keep you safe from traffic jams. In reality it is a pain in the butt. I tend to have in best case scenario stop and a couple of back ups

 

Unless you are driving at 50 mph, that seems like a bit of overkill. Even if you are governed at 62, and running at 57, 400 miles should only take 7 hrs with no hangups, so you are already factoring in an hour cushion at 8 hrs, why add a second hour? That's just crazy.

 

Sixty two would be fast for my truck. Now 400 miles pure highway than seven makes sense but throw in a couple of cities and you average mph goes down pretty fast. I never said it makes sense just what they teach

 

I agree with you KMac, that does seem like a lot of time, but I can also see why new drivers would be encouraged to add that much of a cushion.

I know I would be paranoid about being late and as no one can predict accidents tying up the roads, maybe 2 hours cushion is just safer?.

Spend enough time on here and you hear the same advice. "Don't be late for appointments" and almost in the same breath "Show dispatcher you can run hard so you get the good loads". Leaving enough of a cushion so you aren't late also means that you are not using your hours efficiently which will keep you off the dispatcher's "A Team" list.

I guess finding the right balance is what makes a good driver.

 

Very much so, and one should always add a cushion in, but he realistic about it.

I average about 65 mph, so I plan on 650 miles a day, leaving an hour of cushion. Some days are better than others. Yesterday I ran 720 entirely east of the Mississippi, I was making good time, so blew passed my planned stop.

Trip planning never ends, I am always adjusting mine through the day based on conditions, I also plan to always be an hour early, so there is another cushion built in.

By running hard, I think what people mean, at least what I mean, is if you have a 1000 miles load and three days to get there, don't run 400, 400 and 200, Run 500 and 500 and see if the reciever will take it a day early, if not, is there a drop yard near by you can drop it, let dispatch know where you are and how early you are, there may be a driver in the vicinity running late and you can save a load. At worst, you get a day off to do laundry and such, bit always get the load to final as early as possible. You just never know.