trip planning/logging correctly...

log actual driving time,log 15 minutes inspections, loading and unloading. everything else off duty,makes it simpler that way. b safe out there

 

Whether or not "legal" - my rule is this.

When the truck stops - sleeper or off duty. This includes fuel and post trips, bathroom breaks, backups, the lot.

All events are flagged only, 1 minute max. Flame away guys - but we still have to make it work for the pay check and home time.

Until the company informs me to change my ways, I'll continue. We're 100% drop and hook, but that is logged as sleeper too - who is to say we didn't hook a complete set.

 

No flame here, B&G, just noting that it's best if you log On Duty while fueling. My company emphasized this as a DOT inspection that shows no On Duty time for fueling is a red flag. Same thing if you do drop and hooks and don't show OD time. Best to have some time logged for those. Other than that I'm with you, if the truck is stopped I'm either in SB or OD. I'll also be OD if the truck is moving in a truck stop.

 

blairandgretchen that could be one of the reasons you are driving a corvette be safe

 

A corvette? Is that with a 13 speed?

 

Yep, log editing is an art form. Be sure to log verifiable items. Fuel purchases, shippers and receivers, food and supplies, these can be checked and verified by an in-depth investigation. You won't get that kind of attention from anyone unless something bad happens, like a collision, especially an at-fault collision. In that case, if you're at fault and the investigation shows you've been using the fudge factor on your logs? Bad things will happen to you. Somewhere in there is a balance between rolling miles/hours/truth. One thing you mentioned, Night, is "I forget to go to sleeper....?" E-logs require careful attention if they're to be a useful tool. For me, I pull into a fuel stop, go off-duty right there, and edit to the minutes I want later, I edit every time I sign off for the day. I use 7-10 minutes for fuel purchase, same for pre-trip. I own my truck, so I'm on it all day every day. If I drove a company truck or slip-seat work (never) I'd spend more time on the inspections. HazMat, I really do check tire pressures every stop, and log some of them but only a couple of minutes. Check that log every shutdown, edit appropriately. You'll need 2,500+ miles to make any money, so protect your on duty driving line.

 

I forgot to say, trip planning is probably the most important administrative skill you can develop. Use your GPS, RM Atlas (current version, like the new one shows rest areas, the 2012 didn't) and calls to shipper/consignee, all the information you can accumulate, then make the plan.Your hours, miles and income, expenses, everything you do when you're out will be impacted by your ability to plan your trips. Example: I used to whine about city traffic? Now I plan to go thru major metro at off-peak times, and rarely get into a slowdown. (can always happen, no matter the plan) If you don't have a good plan, you're leaving yourself vulnerable to whatever factors arise during your trip. If you run a HazMat load onto a prevented route, if you get into a low clearance, it's not just about making money. It's your time, make it good.

 

When my truck isn't moving I'm off duty. I save all kinds of hours a week! Never need a restart