Time Management

My co doesn't let you combine fuel and pre-trip in the same 15 mins. So check your companies regs for logging. I basically run nonstop all day minus any fuel stops. I don't drink coffee anymore because it makes me pee 4-5 times in a 4 hour period. But usually I can drive 8 hours at a time without a stop. A lot of people can't do that and it's ok. Its just what I do. I used to try to pre plan my 10 hour break location but found that it's pretty futile when you have construction delays and accidents. I usually wait till I have an hour or 2 of driving time then start checking the truck stop guide for where I want to park for the night.

 

I do believe that is a law not a company thing. I wasn't talking about logging it that way though. You show a 15min pretrip, 15 min fuel on your log. So it takes you 15-20min to do both you just bought yourself 10min or so. Skimming 10 min here and there can add up to a lot.

 

Sure in the sense that you don't even have to skim. You log exactly how long it took you, fuel stops take me about 6 minutes. Not to mention every time the truck stops you just switch to off duty. Takes about 3 seconds to change your status.

 

OH, yeah time skimming is good as long as you watch your miles. I can't log faster than 64.9MPH. If I need to make up some time I can stop at a rest area at say 6:37 and log it as 6:30, then leave at 6:53 and log it as 7:00. Our qualcom tells the log dept we are driving once we pass 15mph but we only have to be accurate within 7-8 mins so if needed I can pickup and extra 30-45 mins if I need I just try not to abuse it too much.

 

Here's another way to skim: When you fuel, you must log a minimum of 15 minutes right? If you are running nights or are going by truck stops that are not busy you pull in to the pumps get 10 gal of fuel that will take you 3 minutes total and log it as 15 minutes which is the requirement of paper logs. Do that 4 times in a day and you can drive 11.75 hours and legally log it as 11 hours.
(Dang why am I revealing all my secrets?)

 

No law other than log it as it happened. There is no "minimum time to log" requirement for any on-duty activity as far as the FMCSA is concerned. If it took 10 minutes, then flag it and note 10 minutes in the remarks. If it took 25 minutes then you show 30 minutes on-duty, not driving. Fifteen minutes for fueling and certain other activities seems to be a number accepted by tacit approval, but that approval is not guaranteed by any means. Some companies have a policy of logging 15 for fueling, 15 for pre-trip, etc., but strictly speaking, that doesn't mean you take 10 minutes and then get to add 5 to your driving.

You are quadrupling the time used to slow down, get stopped at the pump, shut down, get out and fuel, pull ahead, get your receipt, shake the dew off the lilly, log the fuel stop, pull out of the truck stop, get back up to speed, etc. No time savings and you'll use all of that "extra" 0.75 of an hour... or more.

 

Here's another way to skim: When you fuel, you must log a minimum of 15 minutes right? If you are running nights or are going by truck stops that are not busy you pull in to the pumps get 10 gal of fuel that will take you 3 minutes total and log it as 15 minutes which is the requirement of paper logs


And at .95 to $1.50 a swipe on Comdata either your carrier or you bank account will have a fit.........

 

Fueling is an activity that the FMCSA requires you to log as opposed to flagging. If you flag a fuel stop you will be guilty of a log violation and can be fined for such. If you can quote a part of the FMCSA handbook that disputes this please feel free to do so.

Secondly the concern that stopping could take longer than 3-5 minutes is a real one and that's specifically why I noted this strategy is usually only effective at night or at fuel stops where there is no waiting. When you drive many of the same routes over time you know which truck stops are busy and when. I know for a fact that I've used this strategy a few times and it has worked as planned. My GPS shows me my ETA and in most cases is pretty accurate. When I was rolling on the interstate it would show an ETA of 1307 and after I had fueled when had gotten back up to 62mph the ETA said 1310 or 1311. I pay at the pump, no need for a receipt no shaking off of the lilly. I logged the stop during the 60 seconds the fuel was going in the truck... it is called multitasking. I can understand that you and many others might not have the skills or ability to pull such a feat off, that's why I was able to get more miles, run more loads and get my loads to their destination on time legally while you turned them down and shaked your lilly at the truck stop waiting for a load that was more acceptable for you while I was making the money.

 

You really think they are worried about an extra $6 that day? Heck I'd save or lose that each day by fueling at truck stop A vs truck stop B due to the difference in price per gal of fuel. If I miss my appointment or they have to repower the load to get it to its destination it is likely to cost them over $1000 easily.