What duty status are you when you back into a dock?

I think if you are in the drivers seat they can perhaps infer that you are on duty. It would be better to sit in the passenger seat or be in the back and then make sure if they are talking to you, don't get in the drivers seat. And then again if you have the front curtains pulled too. But, perhaps someone else who has more experience with this would be a better authority.

 

New definition of on duty time per FMCSA: Does not include any time resting in a parked vehicle (also applies to passenger-carrying drivers). In a moving property-carrying CMV, does not include up to 2 hours in passenger seat immediately before or after 8 consecutive hours in sleeper-berth. This was effective 2/27/2012.

 

For me it depends on the situation, if I'm helping unload it's always line 4, if it's no touch load/unload, it depends on how long I'm there and what I'm doing. I get a lot of 3 and 4 hr load/unloads, generally I'll wait til I'm done and then break it down. Example, few weeks back I did a HHG unload, 5 hrs I sat. Logged 30 minutes line 4 at the start and end of the 5 hrs, the rest of the time was line 2, even though I spent part of it napping, part of it out walking around, and part of it either in the drivers seat or in the sleeper reading my book or playing games on my phone. I had a 4 hr drive on either side of that 5 hrs also.

 

some places have a drivers lounge, tv, vending machines, bathroom,, food wagon and so on, I'll log off duty if i'm there. some don't allow you in the cab, some want you in the cab and no where else,Occasionally, if allowed on the property I'll go for walk. if I'm unloading my self its on duty, how long does it take to sign in and out if required too? it all depends on whats going on.

 

If it takes you a half hour to back in I could see where you might want to fudge the time spent!

 

Also bear in mind: There isn't a DOT person at any scale anywhere in the country that'll hold you to THIS level of anal retentive rule acknowledgment.

 

tell that to the idiot in Wyo., NB I-25 @ Cheyenne who did dissected my log book so thoroughly a few years back that I became concerend he was going to cite me for using the wrong color ink since it was after Labor Day.

 

I log that I'm in the sleeper with 15 min on line 4 in front when I arrive and 15 min when I leave for "paperwork". Survived two DOT inspections and a company DOT audit logging that way.