When to sign logbook???

@Scalemaster

 

I never signed until the end of the day because once you sign it, it then becomes a legal document.

 

Always sign before you write anything on the page.

"I hereby certify that the above entries are true and correct"

If you don't sign it - then that makes you a DIRTY FILTHY SNEAKY LIAR

Nobody likes a liar now, do they . . . . . . .

 

Your log is a legal document regardless of the signature. What makes it a legal document is you are required to have it properly showing you to be on duty to legally drive. At this point there is no difference between your log then your CDL and medical card. All 3 are legal documents you are required BY LAW to have in your vehicle when you drive, unless of course you are a local driver. Now before somebody falls all over themselves rushing to be the first one to call me stupid, I am aware the medical card thing is changing but as of this date its not fully implemented. You as a driver can and will be held responsible for anything wrong with said log if discovered by DOT regardless of if its signed or not. I wrote to the FMCSA several years ago about this very issue. In their reply they clearly pointed out the signature was not required until after the log was finished, and was there for you to certify your log was correct because if you submit a false log you can be legally charged with a crime. If you think this is an empty threat I remind anybody what happens when you are involved regardless of fault in an accident. The authorities will do an anal exam on both you and your company. Some attorneys will via discovery get all of your documents fuel records, tolls, prepass, logs and bills. God help the driver that has signed those logs and is later proven those logs were false. I have seen drivers arrested and charged. This is why I always when mentoring told young drivers to be honest on those logs. Even if you have a 11, 14 or 70 hour violation, log it! Then put in the remarks section why.

 

I signed at the end of the day ,dot has never said a word about it..you signing is stating everything on your logs is correct.so if you sign at the beginning of your day dot may ask why you signed before your post trip.

 

I had one DOT tell me if you sign before 11:59:59PM that day it's considered falsifying logs. I went to e-signature on my tablet (DDL) which flags the time when you click "add signature" so I asked another DOT during an inspection, he said "that other inspector is an idiot, we can't expect you to get up at 12am to sign your log".

Luck of the draw I guess.

 

None of the dot's are on the same page.

 

I sign mines at the end of the day. Ive had one case where in Cali the officer told me to sign it before a lvl 3 inspection.

They are all different. Some will just flip through the pages and some like that big weigh station in the Delaware Memorial Bridge, got their calculators, ready to look for a mistake.

 

exactly...When l got my truck searched and they found my "other" logbook under the bunk,the officer asked me about it and l said,do you see my name signed in it? ..Oh its mine so l can get me a fresh 10 after l burn this 10 but can you prove it...

 

Per the FMCSA guidance on record of duty status a driver is to sign the log book at the end of their shift, or the next stop after midnight if they are still working. Also, a log book that is not signed can still be used as a legal document and enforcement against false entries can be executed. Here is a copy and paste of the guidance and the link to the page on the FMCSA website.
https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/regulations/title49/section/395.8?guidance

Question 24: When must a driver complete the signature/certification of the driver’s record of duty status?

Guidance: In general, the driver must sign the record of duty status immediately after all required entries have been made for the 24-hour period. However, if the driver is driving at the end of the 24-hour period,he/she must sign during the next stop. A driver may also sign the record of duty status upon going off duty if he/she expects to remain off duty until the end of the 24-hour period.
Question 3: If a driver’s record of duty status is not signed, may enforcement action be taken on the current day’s record if it contains false information?

Guidance: Enforcement action can be taken against the driver even though that record may not be signed. The regulations require the driver to keep the record of duty status current to the time of last change of duty status (whether or not the record has been signed). Also, §395.8(e) states that making false reports shall make the driver and/or the carrier liable to prosecution.