Why you don't stop on the shoulder!

Yes or no?

 

It's not as simple as yes or no. If the company policy mirrors an hos reg them yes, but if it doesn't exactly mirror the reg then no.

 

Simplify your answer as much as you possibly can.

 

I just did. I'll try to rephrase. If the company policy in question is the same as a fmcsa reg, then law enforcement can give you a ticket, but you aren't getting a ticket for violating company policy, you are getting a ticket for violating a dot reg.

Examples: a common company policy is no unauthorized passengers. There is also a dot regulation stating there can not be any passengers in a cmv not authorized by the carrier. Another company policy that is common. No weapons. Depending on the jurisdiction you are in, it is perfectly legal to carry a loaded firearm (assuming of course you have a cc permit in your home state).

 

And so, if the road is blocked for a certain amount of hours, do you know for sure if those drivers that stopped on the shoulder were able to move? DOT, yes...but what about company policy? What happens when the company says, DONT MOVE PAST YOUR 14 REGARDLESS OF WHAT HAPPENED ON THE ROAD BECAUSE YOU SHOULD HAVE PLANNED BETTER?

“Well, Six, they wouldn’t get a ticket by DOT?”

Are you absolutely certain? Another yes or no answer will do, although you refused to give one on the last question.

 

I refuse to give a yes or no because life isn't simple yes or no answers. You ask a vague question yet expect a very specific answer.

To the current question will they get a ticket for parking on the side of the road? Can't tell ya. That's like asking if i will get a ticket for going over the speed limit...officer discretion makes it impossible for me to say yes. What i can say for certain is they COULD get a ticket if an officer chooses to enforce that particular law at that particular time (assuming the place in question it is illegal to park on, which to my knowledge it is illegal to park on the shoulder of all limited access highways).

 

There were hundreds and hundreds of trucks dealing with many different company policies. You say the company policies are irrelevant and should not be mentioned in a discussion about the crappy HOS. Are they irrelevant? Apparently not.

I will state it again, some of those drivers may have done everything they could under the circumstances. Circumstances that we may not know.

 

On a side note i gotta ask. What #### hole companies are actually telling you guys you should have planned better when you get stuck due to an accident closing the road for several hours? And more importantly why does anyone choose to be employed by them?

Heck just a few weeks ago i went over both my 14 and my 11 by well over an hour due to something i actually could have prevented. Had planned to stop at the Beckley service plaza about 8 pm. It was packed full. In the 23 years I've been doing this i have never seen that place even close to full before midnight. My 14 ran out in wytheville looking for a spot. Kept on driving stopping at every little place i thought had a chance of having an open spot. Finally found one just north of Statesville nc nearly 2 freaking hours later. Called my safety explained what i did and basically said, what can i say.. first time down 77 since the elog mandate, had no idea parking was actually this limited. Would expect it in the northeast or near a major city and would have planned accordingly by reserving a spot at a ta or flying j but never expected it on 77 but moving forward ill be adding this to the list of limited parking lanes. His response was a simple life happens, all we can do is learn from it and move on. Make a notation in your log and try not to repeat the same mistake.

 

Im sorry man. I'm not trying to be obtuse here. I just don't get what you are trying to say. It sounds like you are saying a retarded desk jockey company policy should over ride common sense, and even fmcsa regulations.

The almighty black box is just that. A little box. It does not force a driver to do stupid things. And parking on the shoulder is stupid. The eld didn't force any driver to park on the shoulder, each of them could have continued to drive till they found a safe place for rest, company policy be ######.