Swift - Input Requested from Current / Recent Past Drivers

On duty is for when you are working. I think you might need to retake the logs class.

 

I've seen this routine before in other professions. Essentially lazy people with no initiative, that when everything isn't handed them, they feel they are being picked on because they are different.

They want the world to conform to them and will spend an inordinate effort to justify why organizations should bend to their will. The idea of learning how the system works and learning how to work the system never occurs to them.

 

I agree. If you have not moved from your post 2 days ago, you have already had a 34-hour restart. As for not being given an MT trailer, did you ever consider that the terminal wanted you to go find your trailer on their lot? Some terms are like this. You either need to go inside and ask for an MT trailer listing; or, search the lot for open MT's w/o red tags and call them in or send in their #'s on the qualcomm. Not all terms operate the same.

In regards to the picture above, you could have approached that in a couple of ways: one, move the truck to the right to get more room on the left; or two, exit from the passenger side. I do not see any truck there blocking yours.

I have no idea what you are expecting from truck driving; but whatever it is, I hope it works out for you.

 

OK first let me try to explain hos.
On duty driving self explanatory I would hope. When you are driving you are in this status
Off duty not driving you are doing what you want to do watch TV jerk off etc
On duty not driving this is used when hooking a load or anytime you are doing work in regards to load. If you are backed to a dock and you have to monitor the load you are in this status. If you are watching world go by playing on your phone you are NOT in this status.
Sleeper berth well I hope u get that as its sleepy time in your bunk.

These are things you should have learned in school. It is also in the green book as well as on the internet. If you are not able to learn at a fast pace this job is not for you. You need to be able to think on your feet. Dispatchers have to deal with up to 90 drivers all ######## and whining and they don't care about excuses. If you are not happy at swift go to a different company. I don't know how much time you have but I assume not much so either man up or leave to a different company.

 

I don't know who taught you how to log, but it is as simple as this: if you are moving (hooking/unhooking trlr, driving, etc) you are On Duty - Driving (Line 3). If you are performing a PTI or performing other misc work and not driving, you are On Duty - Not Driving (Line 4). Regardless if you are under a load or not, anytime you are sitting and not performing any work (waiting to be loaded/unloaded, waiting for a new load, on home time, etc) then you are either Off Duty or Sleeper Berth (Lines 1 or 2). To be sitting under a load and not moving for any reason would put you on Lines 1 or 2. Until you are doing some sort of work, there is no reason for you to be on lines 3 or 4. How do you log when you go to sleep while under a load? Surely you log Line 2. If you still log Line 4 at the end of your day while under load, that is wrong and DOT will see that as a log-book violation (unless Swift gets to you first). As others have suggested, you might consider going to a log-book class. The instructor at Edwardsville, KS is very thorough. Next you get there (if you get there), take their class.

I know Swift has gone to e-logs, but in their paper logs, the 1st page is a letter authorizing the use of Line 1 for meals and other routine stops as long as they meet the following provisions:
1.) Your vehicle must be parked in a safe and secure manner so as to prevent obstruction of traffic and theft or damage to the vehicle and cargo.
2.) The off-duty period must be no less than 15 minutes and no longer than 15 hours. (I think the 15 hours parts was changed to include home time)
3.) During the off-duty period, you are relieved from responsibility from your vehicle and cargo.
4.) During the off-duty period, you are free to leave the premises which your vehicle is parked and to pursue activities of your choosing, as long as your ability to safely operate your vehicle is not impaired as required by Part 392, "driving of Vehicles", of the Fed Motor Carrier Safety Regs.

I hope this helps your understanding of logging.

EDIT: you posted while I was typing this. That's crazy to be ON DUTY for your full shift with nothing going on. You should be going OFF-Duty at every opportunity to save your time. By doing what you are doing, not only are you limiting your ability to take loads, but schedulers won't send you loads because to them, you are working. When I worked for Swift a few years ago, I was taught what I just explained. I got loads all the time and my miles were pretty good. Yes, I did have to jump on loads at a moments notice, but the schedulers and dispatchers also had a pretty good idea of my HOS and would schedule around my 10 hour breaks. If not, I would simply inform them of my current HOS and let them modify my loads accordingly. You are the driver, you are the one in control of your time. If you want to make money, quit logging ON-Duty when you are sitting doing nothing.