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Category: Logbook/HOS
  1. Why do some truckers maintain 2 logbooks, especially if they get paid by the mile anyway?
  2. I am dumb. I still don't fully understand the 10/15/70 hour rules. Can you drive 10 hours, sleep 8, then drive another 10 hours? I am totally confused. Help!
  3. Can a driver log the total 10 hours driving with out marking any changes in duty status or do you have to break the 10 hours driving up?
  4. Do hours spent bobtailing need to be logged?
  5. I've heard several people say if you split your time up into 6 hours on duty, then 6 hours off (or 5/5, etc.), you never run out of hours. This is a common practice in team driving. But if you do the math, in the instance of 6/6, you total over 70 hours
  6. I run OTR without a sleeper. (yes, motel every night). When I stop at a truckstop for a break (1 - 2 hours, dinner, laundry, TV whatever) can I log this as OFF DUTY so it doesn't count up my 70/8? If I had a sleeper and watched TV in back for 2 hrs, that
  7. Since lately rules for driving and resting periods change to 11 hrs max driving, how is it possible that truckers "cook" their logbook and drive over the limits specified by the law?? I am new to trucking and will be starting school in september.
  8. What is considered 100-air mile radius definition? Does it mean count 100 miles only to destination from terminal? or does it mean (count) include miles to and from destination back to terminal?
  9. My DH is in school right now and 'we' have been getting a headache trying to understand the 34 hour restart. I have been to the suggested other web sites. So here is my question. After 34 hours and your on duty time prior to taking the 34 was say '64' hours, counting back seven days. Do you start out again with zero hours or go back and pick up the hours of seven days back. Hope this question is understandable. Nel
  10. Aren't we allowed to extend our 14 hour rule by two hours because there is no safe place to park a truck, weather conditions caused delay, construction delay's, accident (not me) delays etc? How are these logged without a violation?



  1. Why do some truckers maintain 2 logbooks, especially if they get paid by the mile anyway?
    I may catch some grief for this answer but here goes.... (Please read this ENTIRE entry, too) Most people that find it necessary to run two logbooks most likely do not properly know how to run one correctly in the first place. If they don't fit into the above, they may run two logbooks because the first book runs out of hours. You only have so many hours to run, of course, and if one reflects that you've run all your hours out, starting a new logbook can give you a bunch more hours to run on!! (But you would have to lie and say you hadn't done the work/driving that you had really done.) NOW, understand, though that if you get into an accident or something goes wrong and you're caught, you are in more trouble than you've likely ever known. If you're caught by DOT, your fine could be higher than your house payment. (Higher than several house payments in some cases.) Finally, as far as logbook cheating goes, understand that by doing this, you are taking on enormous risk. Enormous. Besides that, if you are out of hours, you are likely tired and worn out and need a break. For too many years drivers have lied on logbooks and in the end, we just stab ourselves in the back by doing so.
    Category: Logbook/HOS
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  2. I am dumb. I still don't fully understand the 10/15/70 hour rules. Can you drive 10 hours, sleep 8, then drive another 10 hours? I am totally confused. Help!
    You are absolutely not dumb!!! There are drivers that have been driving for some time who don't quite understand the rules... including this one when I'm too tired! :) No, but really, to answer your question. Yes, you may drive 10 hours, sleep 8 hours and then drive another 10 hours. An important thing to remember is that the 10-Hour Rule has NOTHING to do with a 24 hour clock. You CAN have more than 10 driving hours in one 24 hour period, provided that it is split up by a break. (This is also assuming that you are not going to violate the 70 hour/8 day rule) The break can be done in more than one way as well. After 10 hours of driving, in order to "restart" you can take your break by: *8 straight hours of SLEEPER BERTH --OR *8 straight hours of OFF DUTY (Some carriers don't want you to do this but the Federal rules say it is okay) --OR *A combination of SLEEPER BERTH and OFF DUTY, totalling 8 hours. An important thing to note is that the 8 hour break CANNOT be broken up. For instance, if you sleep 5 hours, then go ON DUTY for 15 minutes, you've broken it and must start all over. Another method of driving and breaking is the "split break" but I think at this point it might be more confusing than anything else. Split breaking is used more with teams than a solo driver. Keep asking the questions and I'll keep trying to answer them!
    Category: Logbook/HOS
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  3. Can a driver log the total 10 hours driving with out marking any changes in duty status or do you have to break the 10 hours driving up?
    You do not have to break the 10 hours up. Some little known state regulations might impose this, but Federal Hours of Service regulations do not require it.
    Category: Logbook/HOS
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  4. Do hours spent bobtailing need to be logged?
    That depends. In certain situations, a bobtail tractor can be considered "Personal Conveyance." This means that you are using the tractor just as you would your own personal vehicle. You must not be under any obligation to perform work or to pick up a load, etc. The arguement I have heard regarding this, however, is that if you drive a company truck, you are ALWAYS "obligated" and responsible for it, meaning you're never truly off duty if you are driving it. Therefore, I've heard of many more Owner Operators using this rule than company drivers. Also, even bobtail, you must go into any open DOT weigh stations.
    Category: Logbook/HOS
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  5. I've heard several people say if you split your time up into 6 hours on duty, then 6 hours off (or 5/5, etc.), you never run out of hours. This is a common practice in team driving. But if you do the math, in the instance of 6/6, you total over 70 hours
    There is no way to ensure that you will *never* run out of hours... Even a team can run out if they run hard enough. I think what you might be missing here is the fact that it is impossible to run 6/6 constantly. In other words, there is unloading, layover and dock time in there, too, making it nearly impossible to maintain that 6/6 or 5/5 for 6 or 7 days straight. How a driver runs, whether it be 5/5 or 6/6 or 8/8 or even 10/8 is all in the driver's preference. Myself, I like a straight 10. It takes me at least an hour or two to even get into the mood to drive and it takes me an hour or so to wind down after I've been driving a long period. If I tried 5/5 I'd spend more time revving up and gearing down (pun intended) than I would driving. Again, though, it is all in what the driver likes best and also and perhaps often more so, what the load requires. No matter what the preference, some loads must be run in a certain way dictated by the logbook - not by the driver's preference.
    Category: Logbook/HOS
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  6. I run OTR without a sleeper. (yes, motel every night). When I stop at a truckstop for a break (1 - 2 hours, dinner, laundry, TV whatever) can I log this as OFF DUTY so it doesn't count up my 70/8? If I had a sleeper and watched TV in back for 2 hrs, that
    You can if your carrier has provided you with a "Meal Stop Memo." This allows you to log that time in the truckstop as Off Duty. This will NOT be the case when the new rules take effect. With the new rules, once your driving/on duty starts, you have to finish it within 14 hours.
    Category: Logbook/HOS
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  7. Since lately rules for driving and resting periods change to 11 hrs max driving, how is it possible that truckers "cook" their logbook and drive over the limits specified by the law?? I am new to trucking and will be starting school in september.
    There are many, many ways that drivers "cheat" the logbook. Backlogging, speed averaging and not claiming on duty time are the most widely used... In the end, cheating only hurts all drivers, but to follow the rules to the letter would impose a significant financial burden to the driver and this is why cheating is rampant. Since the new rules are not yet in effect, it is hard to say how drivers will "cheat" those but they will cheat, there is no doubt. The new rules are no better than the old and possibly worse. The worst thing about the new rules is explained well here: http://www.jjkeller.com/news/newsinfo/T_news1062.htm?ticket=1448514878498249767466146899&pageseq=10000. Since you will be coming out of school in late 2003, you will be lucky enough to be right in the middle of the changeover. Hopefully your school will be teaching the new rules.
    Category: Logbook/HOS
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  8. What is considered 100-air mile radius definition? Does it mean count 100 miles only to destination from terminal? or does it mean (count) include miles to and from destination back to terminal?
    Please see: http://www.newbiedriver.com/articles/100MileRadius.htm
    Category: Logbook/HOS
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  9. My DH is in school right now and 'we' have been getting a headache trying to understand the 34 hour restart. I have been to the suggested other web sites. So here is my question. After 34 hours and your on duty time prior to taking the 34 was say '64' hours, counting back seven days. Do you start out again with zero hours or go back and pick up the hours of seven days back. Hope this question is understandable. Nel
    Man, I must be out of the loop, but I don't know what a "DH" is... :) I assume it is a significant other or something, but I suppose it doesn't *really* matter....? As long as you are not over the 70 Hour Rule, you can take 34 hours off duty and restart at 0.
    Category: Logbook/HOS
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  10. Aren't we allowed to extend our 14 hour rule by two hours because there is no safe place to park a truck, weather conditions caused delay, construction delay's, accident (not me) delays etc? How are these logged without a violation?
    Yes and no. You can extend your day by two hours but only in non-forseeable, emergency situations only. Not having a safe place to park does not qualify, nor would construction delays. Weather that was not forecasted would be the exception as would an accident.
    Category: Logbook/HOS
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