Newbie with ELD and Logbook Questions

[robertlinton81]

Thanks for reading this. I got my Class A in January. I can safely drive, maneuver, and back a tractor trailer, but I'm not a real "truck driver" yet because I haven't driven more than 1000 miles. I have a few questions because I my situation is different than real drivers. I've done my research with FMCSA and Google and cant seem to find a consistent answer. I work for a disaster recovery/restoration company. I have a lot of titles/job descriptions, but the last job description I have is "truck driver." I'm just a guy who does a lot of different things who happens to have a Class A CDL. Most of my time is spent setting up, repairing, troubleshooting equipment and arranging job site resources.

1st question: ELD's. We have two Freightliner FLD170's; 1999 and 2000. There might be times I go 3 months without driving, then might drive 5 days in a row. Are we required to have ELD's in our trucks?

2nd question: Log Books. Currently I'm using paper log books because my boss says we don't need ELD's. If I work on the job site for 6 days then get a call to hop in the tractor, do I need to show the previous 6-7 days of job site work on my log books? Example: I drove yesterday. I hadn't driven in 3 weeks, but I had worked "on duty-not driving" 12 hours a day, 6 days a week. So, I went back 7 days on my log books to show I was on duty before I started driving. Is this right?

3rd- I have to do what my boss says. If hes wrong and I get inspected, how bad will it hurt me or my MVR besides getting shutdown at a weigh station or similar? Is an ELD violation on my employer or on me?

 

[ironpony]

Thanks for reading this. I got my Class A in January. I can safely drive, maneuver, and back a tractor trailer, but I'm not a real "truck driver" yet because I haven't driven more than 1000 miles. I have a few questions because I my situation is different than real drivers. I've done my research with FMCSA and Google and cant seem to find a consistent answer. I work for a disaster recovery/restoration company. I have a lot of titles/job descriptions, but the last job description I have is "truck driver." I'm just a guy who does a lot of different things who happens to have a Class A CDL. Most of my time is spent setting up, repairing, troubleshooting equipment and arranging job site resources.

1st question: ELD's. We have two Freightliner FLD170's; 1999 and 2000. There might be times I go 3 months without driving, then might drive 5 days in a row. Are we required to have ELD's in our trucks?

No. Only trucks built after 2000 are required to have an ELD.

2nd question: Log Books. Currently I'm using paper log books because my boss says we don't need ELD's. If I work on the job site for 6 days then get a call to hop in the tractor, do I need to show the previous 6-7 days of job site work on my log books? Example: I drove yesterday. I hadn't driven in 3 weeks, but I had worked "on duty-not driving" 12 hours a day, 6 days a week. So, I went back 7 days on my log books to show I was on duty before I started driving. Is this right?

It's 7 days if you're on the 7 day/80 hour cycle.

3rd- I have to do what my boss says. If hes wrong and I get inspected, how bad will it hurt me or my MVR besides getting shutdown at a weigh station or similar? Is an ELD violation on my employer or on me?

Logbook violations shouldn't appear on your MVR, but you will carry CSA points for 3 years and have a notation in your CSA PSP report if a federal inspection is associated with the violation.

Logbook violations whether paper or electronic are on you.

 

[mndriver]

There's also an exemption for people who drive less than 8 days per month too for hos records.

 

[ironpony]

There's also an exemption for people who drive less than 8 days per month too for hos records.

That might be difficult to defend at the side of the road, I'd think.

 

[Ontario Outlaw]

Don’t go by weigh stations. Look for two lane to get around them.

Obviously safety items need to stay in working order.

But, if you don’t get inspections, they can’t hurt your MVR.

Actually, you could look into a log app called Big Road. You could run that as well as paper logs, if you get a roadside just say “ELD on my phone”, show them big road and chances are they won’t even look at it.

Keeps your boss happy when you hand in paper logs, keeps the Man happy in case of a roadside

 

[ironpony]

Keeping two logbooks that show different stories. Brilliant advice for someone new to the game.

If you choose to do this, y'all will probably want to keep an attorney on retainer.

 

[Ontario Outlaw]

Just make sure all receipts and the paper logbook is hidden.

The chances of a roadside are slim to none, my last one was a couple years ago.

Good luck!

 

[Mike]

2nd question: Log Books. Currently I'm using paper log books because my boss says we don't need ELD's. If I work on the job site for 6 days then get a call to hop in the tractor, do I need to show the previous 6-7 days of job site work on my log books? Example: I drove yesterday. I hadn't driven in 3 weeks, but I had worked "on duty-not driving" 12 hours a day, 6 days a week. So, I went back 7 days on my log books to show I was on duty before I started driving. Is this right?

If you are required to run a log book, you are required to show all working time as on duty.

 

[Ontario Outlaw]

If you are required to run a log book, you are required to show all working time as on duty.

Nobody does that, though.

 

[Mike]

Nobody does that, though.

If the work is via the company he works for, it would be absolutely foolish to not do it. He would be held 100% accountable, by law, if caught. Not a risk worth taking for any reason.

 

[Ontario Outlaw]

If the work is via the company he works for, it would be absolutely foolish to not do it. He would be held 100% accountable, by law, if caught. Not a risk worth taking for any reason.

I’d never get a reset in, logging “legal”, the way you suggest

Maybe one day the Man will give my peepee a slap, until that day comes we will keep running the way we run, I guess

 

[Mike]

I’d never get a reset in, logging “legal”, the way you suggest

Maybe one day the Man will give my peepee a slap, until that day comes we will keep running the way we run, I guess

Your situation has nothing to do with this guy. Read what he has posted. Driving is just a very small part of his job, not even something he does every day.

 

[Ontario Outlaw]

Your situation has nothing to do with this guy. Read what he has posted. Driving is just a very small part of his job, not even something he does every day.

I did read his posts

We always used to scribble a 14 day off and head out on the next run, regardless of how much we’d actually worked in the last 14 days. If he’s on paper he can do the same thing. Come back, scribble a new 14 day off and head out again. That way you always had a fresh 70 and a clean 14 day.

That’s why I suggested running two books, one paper one electronic. Keeps it all legal and everyone’s happy

Whatever. Just trying to help the guy out

 

[ironpony]

I did read his posts

We always used to scribble a 14 day off and head out on the next run, regardless of how much we’d actually worked in the last 14 days. If he’s on paper he can do the same thing. Come back, scribble a new 14 day off and head out again. That way you always had a fresh 70 and a clean 14 day.

That’s why I suggested running two books, one paper one electronic. Keeps it all legal and everyone’s happy

Whatever. Just trying to help the guy out

Get in a serious accident with that going on, it will be found because they impound the truck.

 

[Rigjockey]

I think the easiest way to keep track of your work hours when you are not driving is to just keep a log book and every day drop yourself from line 1 to line 4 when you start work and then back again when you finish your day. That way you don't have to go back and try to figure out your hours when you do have to go on the road.

 

[mndriver]

That might be difficult to defend at the side of the road, I'd think.

no harder than anyone who claims local exemption for 12-hour work day and a 100 air-mile radius.