Question and Concern

So I'm new to trucking besides what I did in the military. I'm working for a small company. But regardless a small company and large company have to follow the same rules and regulations so I have a few questions for some of the more veteran guys.

First of all when I went to my CDL course I was taught that I had to do a full pre inspection on the rig prior to me accepting it to drive. Which is very understandable and I have been doing over the past 3 weeks but now I'm being told differently.

My company meeets another driver at a halfway point and we swap trucks and then return back to my home Port. up until this point I have been conducting a pre-inspection which includes what I'm told not to do anymore is low air warning and tractor protection valve test. I'm being told that it is too much time consuming and not to do it anymore and to just do a walk around the truck and a quick engine inspection and then move on I do not feel comfortable with this since it's my ### on the line and no one else's.
Apparently the other driver was the one that said something to my boss and told him that it was not necessary because he conducted a full inspection on the rig that I was taking over earlier in the day.

Second my shift is a 9 hour shift. But my boss has me coming in after I sleep for about 7 hours to load the truck up and then return back to my house to rest for a few more hours before coming into my full shift. Unfortunately I'm not getting a full 10 hours off and I'm having to come in on my off-time 2 load up my truck and then go home and expect to rest for a few more hours before I have to drive 9 hours

I just want to do the right thing and not end up getting points or losing my CDL when I just got it

 

As for the inspection, you don't know that driver from adam, f him. I would check the truck twice from now on. its your hide. My opinion. As for the jacked sleep schedule, they better pay #### good.

 

How well are your hours documented there? You are required by law to have ten off, whether you or your company wants you to or not.

 

I got a chuckle when you said the other driver went to your boss over you doing a pre trip.I'd like to meet this guy,lol.Anyway when you swap trucks you do need to do a full inspection and log that as well.Its beyond me why that other driver made a big deal out of it.If I swap trucks and/or trailers you bet I'm going to do a full blown inspection.I don't wanna get blamed for something the other driver did.Keep doing what you're doing and to prevent any arguements between you and other drivers just don't tell them.Now as for your other issue,you take your full 10 and tell your boss you'll come in after your brake.Don't let this company start teaching you bad habits.

 

You need to find a different place to work.

 

Your 10 hour break cannot be split unless 8 hours are spent in the sleeper berth. If you are off duty (which you would be at home), then you cannot split your break. 10 hours means 10 hours. If you have to come on duty to load a truck before 10 hours have passed, you haven't had your required break and you need to start the 10 hour break again from scratch. If you drive before completing a full 10 hour break, you are in violation of the HOS.

As for inspecting the truck, regulations prohibit you from operating that vehicle until YOU are satisfied that it is safe for operation. You don't have to take somebody else's word that a component functions properly, because YOU are the one who will suffer the consequences if the brakes fail to work properly during a roadside inspection (if you're lucky) or when traffic ahead comes to an abrupt stop (if you're not). It is YOUR ### on the line, so do what YOU feel is necessary to ensure that the vehicle YOU are preparing to drive is safe.

 

I forgot to ask,why did you and other driver swap trucks?

 

There is the law and there is real world. It stinks but this kind of crap happens all the time. That 10 hour break rule and the inspection rules are codified in FMCSA rules. However unless you log the loading on line 4 it will never be documented. Best advice is to get out of that situation.

 

I've done a few shuttle loads. The trucks are swapped in the middle of the run.
It's a local thing, usually day cabs. One driver runs the load half way and meets up with a driver running a different load in the opposite direction. They swap trucks and complete each run (or leg of that run) in the other direction.

 

If it's tractor trailer rigs, why not just drop trailers and swap?