Trainee with Log Book Questions

New driver, just came in after my first 3+ weeks. Real experience for me,
saw 22 states, personally drove about 9,000 and learned alot -- both good and bad. Trainer was something else to say the least: He's a "veteran" of seven months whose only motivation seems to be money, drove like a maniac, was an absolute slob who ate constantly, showered rarely and wore the same food-stained clothes for days on end, stole from truck stops, left the truck “parked” in the fuel aisle for hours 'cause he didn't trust anyone and hated to walk, picked up a crack-addicted homeless ##### and transported her 500 miles as "payment" for a BJ in a shower stall ("you're not going to be a snitch, are you?"), ran weigh stations, #### near ripped a trailer door off backing up ("it's okay, I'm such a hot driver for them I can get away with anything"), lost his fuel card -- claiming it was because the terminal distracted him on the Com System and that he was washing his hands of the whole situation -- leaving me to deal with whole hassle of EFS checks and authorizations for 4000 miles ("it's part of your training"), and never filled out one piece of paper honestly the entire time -- which brings me to the Log Book. For while this guy could doctor the hell out of one (refused to let me fill in the Total Miles Driving Today mileage in mine so no red flags would come up), he had no idea how to fill one out correctly -- which left me to learn on my own from the FMC Handbook and the company's "we'll fine you if you don't" list. Can someone answer a few quick questions?

1. Does the Vehicle Inspection Report (on the back) get filled out AFTER your shift?

2. On the Vehicle Inspection Report, do you log all known problems with the vehicle each day (passenger windshield washer does not work, prior accident damage on side, etc.) or just when you leave and return to the yard? Trainer said just the company and vehicle info, a check mark in the condition is satisfactory box and a signature only -- anything else could invite a Class One Inspection.

3. I was instructed to make an entry for Pretrip Inspection prior to each drive, is there a form for this?

4. What is the difference between a Pretrip Inspection and the Posttrip Vehicle Inspection Report?

5 Regarding the Recap: If a restart is taken (line 2), do Line 1 and Line 3
also revert back to zero? (Couldn't find this in the handbook)

6. During my 10 hours off, does all time have to be logged as sleeper? In the company paperwork it states "To be off duty on a trip, you must have authorization from the main terminal." If so, what about eating, showering shopping, etc?

7. Are all hours spent waiting to be loaded logged as on duty, not driving? For teams, isn’t all the work done during this time supposed to be accomplished by the driver at that time? We did six pickups in Salinas one day, my trainer stayed in the truck the entire time and sent me to deal with all the paperwork and standing around in 34 degree coolers – was up for 25 hours during this time alone – and then had to
pull a 650+ mile night drive to Flagstaff while he slept (“it’s part of your training”).

8. Is there any way for teams to legally drive a split shift? Seems like all you can manage when constantly moving is a few lousy hours of sleep anyways until you are completely worn down.

Thanks for your time, anything else that anyone can think of that might help me would be certainly appreciated.

 

Thanks Fozzy. Good stuff in there, wish I'd have had you instead. I'm a 48 y/o who left a big time management position to pursue this as my "retirement" job and would really like to know how to do it properly; didn't take long to realize this self-proclaimed "Outlaw Trucker" wannabe was an insult to the industry -- not to mention my intelligence. Still up in the air about burning though, I'm new and don't want to get a reputation right off the bat.....

 

Wish I would have looked ALOT harder for an organization that places more of an emphasis on training, unfortunately I followed directions at my CDL Mill and was honest on my applications -- a pair of DUI's 21 & 22 years ago respectively -- and was rejected by the "major" players without a second glance. Instead I ended up at Carolina Cargo, where three weeks of training qualifies you as a trainer. Look hard, Led, VERY VERY HARD, don't compromise your standards and integrity -- there just has to an honest, reputable carrier out there somewhere...