Time Management

No such rule. Post the reg. if you can.

EDIT: I really don't care.

 

That is a very helpful guide... I have posted the link to it about a dozen times on the forum.

There seems to be a common misconception amongst drivers as to "flagging" and "logging". Flagging is still logging, but for periods of time less than 15 minutes.

There is no "fuelling" rule or exception.

 

There are individual company stipulations as to how they want you to log. Especially if you are running reefer.

 

Quaint tricks to fool yourself aside, keep the left door closed. That simple, no trick, no gimmick, no fuss, no muss.

Your being paid to get the rear end of that trailer into a specified point usually as quickly, safely, and legally as possible. Limit your activities to doing that unless something else becomes absolutely necessary and your time will be maximized

 

Flagging does not reflect a change of duty status. If you are driving and then you stop to fuel you must show a change of duty status. The only way to log a change in duty status (in this case driving to on duty not driving) on a paper log is to move from line 3 to line 4. The smallest hash mark is a 15 minute increment.

You cannot fuel while driving. If you fuel at 1105 but your log shows driving from 0600 to 1400 with no change of duty status for the fuel stop you will be charged with a log violation if your logs are audited. Just try it sometime. Most of the larger carriers submit all logs to be audited by a third party service such as RAIR. If you flag a fuel stop while on line 1, 2 or 3 you will get a log violation if your log is audited.

Now if you are already on line 4 for whatever reason then you'd likely be okay. But you cannot be logged on any other line while getting fuel assuming there is a time stamped record of it.

 

you're missing the point of the multiple stops for fuel, sure if you time it right you can fuel quicker, however you lose your time slowing down from highway speed, exiting, waiting on lights, getting into the island, fueling, getting back onto the highway and back up to highway speed. When you fuel, fuel. Keep the doors closed unless you actually need to stop. There are no tricks to get more time out of your day, if you think there are you're only fooling yourself.

 

There likely is no FMCSA rule stating that a minimum of 15 minute be used for fueling because of the ability of electronic logs to show change of duty status in 1 minute increments (maybe less).

But my point is in paper logbooks the minimum increment of a duty status is 15 minutes. The key thing is a change of duty status from driving to on duty not driving must be shown and flagging does not accomplish this requirement.

 

No I'm not missing the point. If you have read my posts I emphasized the key for this to work is a very rapid in and out so the time of day you do this and knowledge of which fuel stops you can get in and out quickly is key. You don't have to get 100 gallons of fuel. You turn the pump on long enough to make the log book entry, you hang the pump up and you're off. I have done this with success and I have timed it with my watch as well as with my GPS and have done it with a total of 4 minutes lost as reflected by my GPS projected ETA.

If you want to pass on utilizing this strategy because you don't think you can do it that's fine but I have done it on several occasions and found it is possible if you pick your spots wisely.

I never made a habit of employing such tactics, but in a pinch I have resorted to such measures. I have all my logs audited, I have my every movement tracked by satellite and company GPS guided big brother. Most drivers do not know how to make things work when they get squeezed. With some knowledge, experience and good execution you can push things and make very tight deadlines without incurring big brother violations. This forum as I see it is a way to pass on tips and tricks that can be helpful when in a bind. If you are unable to see any benefit and don't want to try it that's fine just get the load there an hour or a day late or just turn down the preplan and let someone else take it while you sit. But don't poo poo the idea and say it can't be done because I have done it and I am very precise in recording times and assessing my own successes and failures. I like to think of it as striving to improve and a relentless pursuit of excellence. But I do know there are cynics who have failed and cannot believe that anyone else can succeed if they haven't. I guess another way to look at it is there are no winners without losers. No hard feelings, I do appreciate the extra freight and miles I get as a result from the naysayers.

 

spend your times trip planning, if you think you need/want to play fuel games to deliver a load its probably one you might want to ask for more time on. not trying to fight with roadkill, I'm just opposed to this strategy.